The Economical Insurance Group has been named the winner of the 2011 Technology Innovation Award by the Insurance and Accounting Systems Association and Ward Group.

A.M. Best, Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s (S&P’s) released ratings updates. The following are some of the most recent:

Former Vice President Al Gore touched on everything from Moore’s Law to Minnie Pearl while pondering the impact of technology on the insurance industry, during his keynote address at the 2011 Insurance and Accounting Systems Association conference in Nashville.

When I heard that former Vice President Al Gore was speaking at this year’s IASA Educational Conference and Business Show, I expected political posturing and bloviation mixed with carefully chosen fuzzy bits of science. I was not disappointed.

Even his harshest critics will acknowledge that Al Gore has considerable insight and wide interests.

More than half of property and casualty insurance companies are implementing new policy administration systems, according to a survey by Ward Group. And almost half of them are over budget, as they proceed.

The thunderstorms that struck the United States from May 20 to 27 will result insured losses to residential, commercial, and industrial properties, as well as automobiles , of between $4 billion and $7 billion.

Cover-All Technologies introduced a suite of data collection and analysis software that can draw information from nearly any existing source in an insurance company.

StoneRiver is launching a new launch page.

STG Billing solution chosen for ability to support direct bill, agency bill and other unique billing requirements.

Advancement of LifeSuite to open up new business, operational opportunities with time-saving features.

With an eye on cost efficiencies, including negotiations with health insurers, employers are making employees’ health habits a top concern.

Organizations need to defend their data assets against internal threats, not only disaffected workers but also trusted administrators who hold the keys.

45,800 jobs were added to the IT sector in the past 12 months, but the financial services industry has seen a decrease of 25,000.

Paper notes exchanges as “active purchasers;” offers support to states.

J.D. Power reports breaks down how State Farm, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive use humorous advertising to snare customers.

Core systems renewal and improving the customer experience help optimism hold the lead over pessimism.

New study from Oracle and INN finds that aged IT systems remain operational impediment for insurers.

Borders of the office are being redefined forever by collaboration and engagement on Web platforms

2011 IT spend projected at $125 billion for small and midsized businesses, insurers included.