Knowledge Management as a topic and evolving discipline has been a topic for centuries. The advent of the computer for information storage and processing, and then the Internet for far-reaching and fast communications, has drievn significant focus on the topic. For CEO's of leading organizations, Knowledge Management is seen as a future competitive edge.

Much like the evolution of data management, the considerations for Knowledge Management include the capture, storage, and retrieval of information, the basis of knowledge. Doing all that and then turning the information into an advantage for the organization is the challenge.
Given that the Insurance Industry is an information rich services industry, this topic will address:

• Knowledge Management in the Insurance Industry and the impact it can have on your business.

• Approaches to and challenges of Knowledge Management.

• Examples of Knowledge Management in use, and defining opportunities where benefit can be gained today.

80% of corporate information is unstructured data, the type of information that insurance companies handle in enormous volumes. In this session we will discuss actual examples of companies that have used content management technologies to give employees, customers and brokers instant and simultaneous access to electronic documents and files via LAN or web. You will see how claims processes have been improved with fast electronic workflows that ensures claims are worked first in/first out, and how workload distribution has been enhanced and integrated with line of business (LOB) and diary systems. We will also show how data has been captured from incoming forms and fed directly to LOB systems, and how offsite back up has enabled fast disaster recovery.

You will hear how you can cut out paper, saving floor/filing space, copying costs and time; distribute reports quickly and efficiently to brokers; manage e-mail databases, and more, to save time and money.

The old picture of a computer terminal or personal computer being connected to communications and peripheral devices by a mass of tangled wires is slowly being challenged. The tethered worker is gradually being freed from the workstation. Not only those within the workplace boundaries, but also those who work afield will gain from the benefit of wireless connections.

This presentation will provide:

• the state of the wireless nation: Rogers' perspective.

• a case study in improving productivity and reducing costs for mobile employees - Purolator: North America's largest wireless data deployment.

• areas of wireless benefits for the Insurance industry.

Personal communications tools are moving from the mahogany office and early techie adopter into the mainstream of the workplace. The drive behind this trend is the ever-increasing functionality of new generations of these devices and the recognition by businesses of applications which show a compelling ROI.

Mobilizing access to enterprise information means faster throughput of transactions, better work sharing environments and knowledge transfer, and reduced employee downtime.

This topic will provide a concise examination of where the wireless enterprise data world is today, and is trending, and why. The evolution is led by Canada's leader in this field, Research in Motion.

The insurance industry by its nature is very document intensive – from market and product development projects to claims and customer service transactions. Current generation of Document Management tools, by managing the entire document lifecycle, bring new value to communications by documents through:

• Group authoring: creative, preparation and review.

• Approval: workflow management of the document creation process.

• Distribution: sharing and delivery of documents.

• Retrieval & Archiving: backup and access to archived documents.

By implementing a strong document management strategy, the quality and speed of decision making can be improved. As well, improved document efficiency brings cost savings and improved organizational effectiveness.

Insurance Companies as services organizations generate a great deal of communication among their customers, business partners and employees. The current generation of tools are changing the communications process through improved:

• Awareness: Find others online and create personalized lists of team members & colleagues.

• Conversation: Send an instant message, start a chat or launch an instant e-Meeting.

• Shared Objects: communicate ideas more clearly by application-sharing or whiteboard.

• Team Collaboration: share ideas and discussion, resolve issues, coauthor documents, exchange files, manage due diligence.

These new communication and collaboration services help improve communication between the various stakeholders and can positively impact a company's competitive positioning.

Companies today have huge amounts of (largely unmanaged) information that needs to be organized, categorized, personalized, and presented to users in the formats they need. Relevant customer information should be available instantly without searching through multiple accounting or contact management systems. The documents and files needed should be instantly accessible, without sifting through filing cabinets or file servers. In this session Stephen will reference a number of insurance specific implementations of enterprise information portal technology. He will discuss how a single interface to all data and content can improve cycles and make decision making more efficient.

The topics will have addressed a number of elements of an information management approach through technologies and applications. Adam will summarize the program and close with advice about your next steps from your current position and some of the considerations and approaches. Doug will close with the requisite administrivia.

IKON-Image Systems Solutions (www.iss-edm.com) is an e-business enabling, technology consulting and systems integration company specializing in image, workflow and content management solutions that allow instant access to documents and files. A division of IKON Office Solutions (www.IKON.com), IKON-ISS specializes in the insurance, finance, banking and transportation industries, developing solutions based on an in-depth understanding of how people work and combines the best hardware, software and services to integrate with your existing systems.

Sysinct is a division of IKON Office Solutions Technology Services, LLC, a leading office technology company and wholly-owned subsidiary of IKON Office Solutions, Inc. Sysinct provides expert technical services to facilitate timely, cost-effective implementation of process improvement, business transformation and knowledge management strategies and solutions to the Financial Services and Insurance industries.

IBM is a world leader in information technology. Among its many offerings, IBM provides tools, products and solutions which can be used to build and support an information infrastructure. The middleware products form a foundation for business applications which enable an effective flow of information throughout your organization.