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AUGIE Sets 2012 Priorities

Published: 1/18/2012 - Author: Michael Carroll - AUGIE released its 2012 priorities this week outlining plans and goals for the year. Several of the items were pulled directly from the Real Time Survey. Each priority is linked to a specific group that will focus on that area and is chaired by a member of the AUGIE Leadership.

"The AUGIE Leaders established these goals and are working collectively and with AUGIE members to get even more done in 2012," said Cal Durland, CPCU, Director of Member Relations for ACORD. "Seeing the successes of last year, this year's goals are even more ambitious. It shows the dedication AUGIE Leaders have to improve efficiency across the industry."

Some groups, such as Real Time and Commercial Lines, are continuations of efforts to further grow those areas. Others, such as Consistent Carrier Implementation of Lines of Business, are new initiatives.

2012 Priorities

Real Time

Chairs: Joyce Sigler, Jones & Wenner and Stu Durland, Seely Durland, Inc.
Real Time is the predominate workflow of the automated independent agency today. However, more work needs to be done to reach full saturation.

Password Advocacy*

Chair: Gray Nester, BB&T Insurance Services, Robert Slocum, Slocum Agency, Inc.
Today, everyone is faced with a multitude of usernames and passwords leading to password overload. This group will monitor and/or participate in current efforts within the industry as well as provide information on existing standards and documentation.

Commercial Lines – Application to Download

Chair: Ted Joyce, Board Member, Nexsure Users Group
This is an ongoing effort to provide agents with the knowledge they need about Commercial Lines capabilities.

Consistent Carrier Implementation of Lines of Business*

Chair: James Bielak, ACORD. Liaison to P&C: Brian Bartosh, Top O'Michigan. Liaison to 2020: Gray Nester, BB&T
AUGIE will support the ACORD Working Groups and 2020 activities in specific areas identified by the group. These include Dynamic Forms, Company Specific Codes, Consistent Carrier Implementations, eForms, eSignatures, and Handheld Strategies.

Engaging Carriers*

Chair: Ron Binning, Binning & Dickens Insurance and Andy Fogarty, ACORD Board of Directors
This group will continue its work to engage regional carriers and increase awareness of Real Time and download capabilities.

Productive Visits

Chair: Steve Aronson, Aronson Insurance Agency Inc.
The Productive Agency Visits document is being rewritten and will target field staff support of efficient workflows that result in higher retention and sales.

Real Time Makes More $$$$$

Chairs: Stu Durland, Seely Durland, Inc. and Kitty Ambers, AIMS Society
Based on the updated document, the goal is to encourage agents to use the tools available, freeing them to build relationships and cross sell.

Young Professional Initiative

Chair: Keith Savino, Warwick Resource Group
Following a successful launch in 2012, the goal is to bring more young professionals from all parts of the industry into AUGIE, ACORD, and our industry and developing a next generation of AUGIE leaders and members.

User Group Implementations

Chair: Carl Schlotman, CAI Insurance Agency Inc.
The focus of this initiative is to raise awareness and offer support for each other's goals and plans.

AUGIE Communications Task Group

Chair: Randy Vogler, Couri Insurance Agency
This group continues to focus on spreading AUGIE's message, accomplishments, and activities throughout the industry and by various methods to reach a larger audience.

* Indicates Priorities Stemming from Real Time Survey and established as high priorities by respondents

"These are ambitious goals as always but AUGIE is determined as ever to accomplish them. By working together – the agents, carriers, solution providers, and other industry members – AUGIE makes a difference in how business is done by utilizing technology and workflow enhancements," Durland said.

Learn More, Get Involved

To learn more about these individual priorities, download the document here.

These priorities, along with other issues, will be discussed at the upcoming AUGIE, ACT, AIMS Society meeting, February 15-17 in Tampa, FL.

To learn more about AUGIE, meetings, resources, and initiatives, visit the AUGIE website and follow AUGIE on Twitter (@acord_augie).

Get involved in AUGIE and be a part of these initiatives by:

• Registering on ACORD's Web site (www.acord.org)
• Emailing workinggroups@acord.org and ask to be added to AUGIE

About ACORD

ACORD (Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development) is a global, nonprofit standards development organization serving the insurance industry and related financial services industries. ACORD’s mission is to facilitate the development of open consensus data standards and standard forms. ACORD members include hundreds of insurance and reinsurance companies, agents and brokers, software providers, and industry associations worldwide. ACORD works with these organizations towards a goal of improved data communication across diverse platforms through implementation of standards. ACORD maintains offices in New York and London. www.acord.org