Issue 2010-08 -- February 23, 2010
This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry, and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry, insurance products and the marketplace. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.
To subscribe to this newsletter or view past issues.
To forward a copy of this newsletter, update your account or unsubscribe - use the links at the bottom of this newsletter.
Participants and Sponsors:
Thanks to PolicyWorks for renewing their annual Professional Section advertising program with Tile Ads, Logo Ads and Listings in:
Distribution
P/C Carrier Technology Research Report just released: iter8.
Toronto, ON. - February 16, 2010 - Recently, agents and brokers had their say about P/C carrier technology in a robust survey sponsored by iter8, conducted by Deep Customer Connections. iter8, an insurance solutions software developer, commissioned the research in order to give independent agents and brokers the opportunity to indicate their technology needs in an open-ended format. The report, "In Their Own Words," identifies the themes in agents' responses and cites dozens of direct quotes from agents and brokers alike in response to four questions:
Progressive Launches Mobile Web Site.
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio - February 4, 2010 - Nearly a third of mobile phone owners browse the mobile Web at least once a month, but most mobile Web sites fall short of delivering the best experience, according to connectivity consulting firm Yankee Group.
Claims
IBC HCAI Steering Committee accepts pilot findings and recommends that 100% insurer adoption occur in March 2010.
On January 26, 2010, the IBC HCAI Steering Committee accepted the pilot findings and made the recommendation to proceed with full adoption by all auto insurers in Ontario by March 31, 2010. The IBC HCAI Steering Committee?s recommendation is currently under review with all governance groups.
Zurich Japan Deploys Guidewire Software for Claims Management in Japan.
SAN MATEO, California, February 16, 2010 - Guidewire Software®, a leading provider of flexible core systems to property/casualty (general) insurers, today announced that Zurich Insurance Company Ltd, Japan Branch (Zurich Japan), the leading foreign general insurer in Japan, has successfully implemented Guidewire ClaimCenter®. The new end-to-end claims management system, which Zurich Japan refers to as 'Z-Trust', is now processing the company's auto and motorcycle claims. Additional branches will be brought online with full deployment expected March 2010. 'Z-Trust' will then be extended to other lines of business in additional phases.
eBusiness and Technology
Independent research firm recognizes SAS as a leader in predictive analytics, data mining.
CARY, NC (Feb. 05, 2010) - SAS has been named a leader among nine vendors in The Forrester Wave: Predictive Analytics and Data Mining Solutions, Q1 2010 . SAS predictive analytics and data mining solutions were evaluated by Forrester against 53 criteria in three categories through vendor surveys, product demonstration and vendor-reference interviews. SAS earned top overall ranking in all three categories - current offering, strategy and market presence ? including perfect scores for functionality, professional services, licensing and cost, direction, and company financials criteria.
Demand for Mobile Financial Services Grows: eMarketer.
FEBRUARY 16, 2010 - While mobile coupon and mobile commerce usage may not have grown as quickly as many marketers hoped, Americans appear to be eagerly adopting mobile banking. The "Mobile Money Study" by Data Innovation found that a strong majority of US smartphone users (68.7%) had accessed banking or other financial services on their mobile phone in the past three months.
2010 P&C Insurance Technology Conference
"Real Time Insurance: Agile, Integrated and Aligned"
|
The eighth annual Insurance-Canada.ca P&C Technology Conference Monday 22 February 2010 in Toronto.
|
Thank you to those who attended for the content and the networking.
Thank you to the speakers, who provided the content, the reason people attended.
Thank you to the sponsors, who made it all possible, and also provided many great speakers.
If you didn't attend, to see what you missed conference overview and topics and speakers.
Finally thanks to those who helped immensely, Bobbi, Corcoran, Doreen, Kathy, Marlene, Romana
.....The Hosts: Dave, Patrick and Doug
|
Platinum Sponsors
|
Marketing and the Market Place
Industrial Alliance and IA Clarington Launch Joint Brand Advertising Campaign.
TORONTO, Feb. 18 2010 - Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. ("Industrial Alliance" or "IA") and IA Clarington Investments Inc. ("IA Clarington") are pleased to announce that they have launched a joint advertising initiative to build awareness of their brands in Canada.
What Is the Future of Social Media?: eMarketer.
FEBRUARY 12, 2010 - In the few short years that social media has been a marketing vehicle, it has already had an enormous effect on the way companies do business. In the coming years there will be even more changes, as social media marketing extends from the marketing department to nearly every aspect of a company?s business.
Retirement in North America: TD's First Ever North American Report on Retirement Reveals Stark Differences North and South of the Border.
TORONTO, Feb. 10 2010 - Living the dream or going back to work? Worried about finances or confident in the future? How current retirees in North America feel about the state of their retirement is largely dependent on where they live, with more Canadians saying they weathered the impact of the recession significantly better than their neighbours to the south.
Our People
LIMRA and LOMA's Virtual Worker System Receives 2009 Product of the Year Award.
WINDSOR, Conn, Feb. 4, 2010 - LIMRA and LOMA announced today that their Virtual Worker System has received a 2009 Product of the Year Award for exceptional innovation from Technology Marketing Corporation's (TMC®) Customer Interaction Solutions magazine.
LOMA Launches Innovative Delivery Method for Courses.
ATLANTA - February 2, 2010 - As part of its comprehensive plan to enhance its designation program courses, LOMA recently introduced an exciting new way to offer its award-winning, industry-specific content to learners. This new delivery method, the LOMA Course Portal, is an online, blended resource through which learners access everything they need to study and prepare for the course examination.
Manulife Financial takes the next step in promoting employee wellness.
WATERLOO, ON, Feb. 18 2010 - Manulife Financial Group Benefits now offers employers access to a full suite of employee personal health assessments, ranging from executive medicals to a number of worksite employee health screening programs. Health assessments are the next step for employers to better identify and manage health risk factors in their employee population. For the employee, the service is quick, convenient and provides a valuable health profile.
Business of Insurance
RIMS Celebrates 60 Years as Risk Management Industry's Preeminent Association.
NEW YORK (February 17, 2010) - This year marks the 60th anniversary of The Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS). Since its inception in 1950, RIMS has actively advocated for risk managers by developing pertinent educational programming, lobbying for effective policy, fostering a community of risk managers and offering students of the discipline opportunities to pursue careers in the field.
Insurance in the Community
Top Ontario Curlers Recognized at 2010 Curling Championship: Gore Mutual.
February 16, 2010 - Gore Mutual Insurance Company is proud to once again sponsor the 2010 Ontario School Curling Championship. This sponsorship is believed to be the longest consecutive sponsorship of a sporting event in Canada.
Consumer Information
Province rewards "green" vehicle owners: SGI.
February 11, 2010 - The provincial government is once again rewarding vehicle owners who "go green" on Saskatchewan roads. Owners of hybrid and qualifying fuel-efficient vehicles will receive a 20 per cent rebate from SGI on their 2009 insurance and registration costs.
from Doug:
Life has been a tad on the hectic side over the last weeks, preparing for our P&C Insurance Technology Conference yesterday. Today, a sense of relief - that it is over - and of satisfaction - many remarked positively about the conference. I think the relief will be short-lived however - the "wrap-up" to-do list is not short!
The Chronicle is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry,
and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly by Insurance-Canada.ca Inc., and
notes information about the use of the Internet and related
technologies in the industry, insurance products and the marketplace.
Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.
NOTES/Subscribe/Unsubscribe:
To subscribe, use the "Subscribe" link on the page at /newsletter/newsletter.php. If you are subscribed and wish to be removed or have you address changed, or are otherwise having any problems with the newsletter service, send a note to Doug Grant.
