Issue 2010-23 -- June 8, 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.
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Participants and Sponsors:
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Product Announcements
The Co-operators takes the LEED: New insurance discount for environmentally-friendly dwellings.
GUELPH, ON and MONTREAL, QC, May 31 2010 - The Co-operators today announced the introduction of a 10 per cent insurance discount for eligible Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified dwellings. The Co-operators is one of the first insurance companies to offer such a discount which, together with its other sustainable products and services, is intended to encourage and reward environmentally responsible behaviour among its clients.
eBusiness and Technology
Pitney Bowes Business Insight and Salesforce.com to Deliver Insurance Industry Solutions in the Cloud.
TROY, N.Y.-- May 19, 2010 -- Pitney Bowes Business Insight (PBBI), today announced an alliance with salesforce.com to deliver flexible, agile insurance solutions in the cloud on the Force.com platform. Through the alliance, Pitney Bowes Business Insight will deliver policy quoting and underwriting solutions on the Force.com platform to help agents and insurance carriers increase profitability and strengthen customer relationships. Pitney Bowes Business Insight is a unit of Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI - News).
Progressive Car Insurance Recognized by CIO Magazine for Excellence in IT.
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio - June 1, 2010 - CIO magazine has once again named Progressive car insurance to the CIO 100. The CIO 100 award program, now in its 23rd year, recognizes organizations around the world for operational and strategic excellence in information technology.
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Make Insurance Smarter: Create a Superior Customer Experience
An online Briefing, Thursday June 17, 10:00am EDT
1. Keynote: Customer Experience Management and Global Brand Leadership
2. Customer Intelligence: Differentiate Your Business with Tangible Results
3. Panel: What is Getting Between You and Your Customers? Successful IT Strategies for Better Service
Session details.
Register now and more about the IBM Virtual Briefing Centre and this Briefing.
Distribution
IBAO Insurers Announce Their Support of iClarify Broker Validation Services.
Toronto, ON - May 31st, 2010 Aviva Canada, The Economical Insurance Group® (TEIG®) and The Dominion are pleased to announce that their commitment to support Ontario brokers will include using iClarify validation services delivered by Compu-Quote. This support will continue past the pilot phase right into full production.
Advisors Plan To Expand Services Offered In Response To Clients' Evolving Retirement Needs, According To Latest Fa Vision Survey: kasina.
New York, (May 10, 2010) - In response to the changing needs of their clients, financial intermediaries are planning to augment the services that they offer, according to results released today from kasina and Horsesmouth's FA Vision service. The results are based on a survey about retirement income that was conducted as part of FA Vision. 550 responses were gathered between February 17th and February 24th, 2010.
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Free Webinar - Credit Risk Management: Knowing the Score
June 23, 1:00pm EDT
Don't miss this opportunity to acquire strategies on how to effectively manage the credit risk challenges your insurance business may be facing. Discover the latest in best practices via real life business cases with Nadim Abdo, an Equifax credit risk management expert with more than 20 years of experience.
Register now!
Consumer Information
Workplace Violence and Harassment: Ontario Bill 168 - A Timeline, by Sandra Muir, Cowan Insurance Group.
On June 15th, Bill 168 amendments to the Ontario Health and Safety Act (OHSA) with respect to workplace violence and harassment will take effect. Statistics Canada estimates that 17% of all violence in Canada, or 356,000 incidents, occur in the workplace in a 12-month period. This bill was created in the aftermath of one of these devastating incidents of workplace violence.
IBC and FCM announce winners of first annual Watershed Awards to recognize communities adapting to effects of climate change.
TORONTO, May 29, 2010 - Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), in partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), today announced the winners of the first annual Watershed Awards to recognize Canadian municipalities that have taken proactive measures to reduce their vulnerability to storm and wastewater damage.
Car Owners Win As Auto Crime Plummets During Games: ICBC.
VICTORIA - May 17, 2010 - Strategically placed bait cars helped send vehicle thefts downhill to a 14-year low during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Solicitor General Michael de Jong, QC, announced today. "We warned car thieves that bait cars would be everywhere during the Games, and it appears they got the message," said de Jong. "This success is all the more impressive given the number of visitors' vehicles in B.C. during this time ? not to mention that there are about 400,000 more vehicles on Metro Vancouver roads than there were in 1996."
Many Americans Not Fully Prepared For Natural Disasters: IIABA.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 24, 2010 - Most Americans are not fully prepared in the event of a natural disaster, according to a new national survey by Trusted Choice® and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big "I"). Of all survey respondents, less than 22% said they felt they are fully prepared in case of a disaster. More than half of respondents (51%) admitted they are only somewhat prepared, and more than a fifth of households (22.7%) reported that they were not prepared at all.
Marketing and the Market Place
Manulife Investments helps Canadians better plan to protect their retirement income.
TORONTO, May 31 2010 - Manulife Investments is taking its Product Allocation strategy to Canadians coast-to-coast, to help them work with their advisors as they plan ahead for retirement. As part of an initiative launched for advisors in 2008, Manulife is adding a new rich-media investor website to help consumers learn more about Product Allocation and how it can help them better plan and protect their retirement income.
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Importance of Price to US Insurance Shoppers Increases, While Satisfaction with Price Decreases.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 25 May 2010 - Price is a key motivator in the insurance shopping process and final purchase decision and gains in impact on new-buyer satisfaction, compared with one year ago, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Insurance Shopping StudySM released today.
B2B Spending on Social Media to Explode: eMarketer.
JUNE 1, 2010 - Despite social media marketing's sizable popularity, business-to-business (B2B) companies are still fairly new to the discipline. According to a November 2009 survey from Business.com, 73% of B2B respondents who were using social media had less than two years of social media marketing experience.
Business of Insurance
LIMRA Study: Guaranteed Living Benefit Riders Remain Popular With Variable Annuity Buyers.
WINDSOR, Conn., June 1, 2010-Overall, guaranteed living benefits (GLB) were elected 87 percent of the time (when offered) in the first quarter of 2010, which is slightly down from the annual election rate in 2009 of 89 percent, according to LIMRA's most recent annuity study.
Claims
Hospital Cost Shifting Adds to US Auto Injury Claim Costs: IRC.
April 22, 2010 MALVERN, Pa.- According to a new study from the Insurance Research Council, low reimbursements from public health insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, have prompted hospitals to shift costs to automobile insurance companies?raising auto injury claim costs and forcing auto insurers to more closely scrutinize and negotiate hospital bills prior to payment.
Insurance.com Lists Top 10 Most Dangerous US Cities for Drivers.
CLEVELAND - May 12, 2010 - Boston residents are world-renowned for their demolition derby driving style, but what city do Boston drivers consider "wicked scary? Probably Baltimore. That?s right. Baltimore. The city known for such number ones as the first public library system and first U.S. stage coach route, can now add No. 1 Most Dangerous City for Drivers, according to a new study from insurance.com. It tallies the most claims for everything from fender benders to vandalism and theft.
from Doug:
We are just home from a long weekend at our annual heritage conference, this year held in Vernon BC, at the head of Okanagan Lake. We learned much about the area, both the history and the current scene. As is so often the case, every place becomes fascinating when you dig into the stories. It is also a great opportunity to renew old friendships and make new acquaintances. A good time it was.
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.
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