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Each year more steps are taken in the integration of function into a broker or CSR workstation and workflow in the P&C Insurance Broker Distribution Channel. These functions are not just internal to the broker oporeating environment but increasingly reach out to special purpose providers and especially to insurance companies. Our expert speakers will provide insight into recent successes, future targets and the issues as these participants develop their systems for better integration into a seamless distribution environment.

Seminar Topics

8:00 – 8:30: Registration and Coffee

8:30	Welcome: Doug Grant Insurance-Canada.ca
	Driving the Broker Technology Decision Steven Frye , Partner, Cookson Walker Consulting Group, and Chris Venn President, Inventive Networks
Brokers need technology. And they've been purchasing new systems, additional tools, and new computer hardware year after year. But something is changing. Brokers aren't just purchasing systems because they need a basic tool to track data. They aren't purchasing systems because other brokers are buying them. As a matter of fact, brokers seem to have a whole new set of reasons for choosing their technology. Learn what new drivers are affecting the technology decision-making of Canadian Brokers. Discover what have become some of the key influencers when it comes time for Brokers to buy technology.
	Integrating External Processes into Broker Workflow Catherine Trimble , Business Development Consultant, Applied Systems Canada
"Networked connectivity" continues to improve. Access to a Broker's system by staff from other locations and even wirelessly is getting better as technologies and communications infrastructures evolve. Within the broker's system, more internal functions are being integrated. The level of integration among functions, and with work flow processes and management, is increasing. A major development thrust however is integration with external firms and their own processes. Examples of these different external services will be reviewed, and these examples will include brokers, industry suppliers and insurers. Through these leading edge developments, Applied Systems Canada Inc. helps brokers offer a broader range of services and products, and for all products and services to improve productivity and contain costs, and ultimately to increase customer satisfaction.
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	Web Services: The Next Generation of Commercial Lines Distribution Kevin Campbell , President, Tec4 Systems Inc.
Several companies are now creating (or have already completed) web sites where brokers can get commercial quotes. While these systems are a boon for brokers who are not automated in commercial lines, they neutralize the competitive advantage progressive brokers get from their commercial automation systems by forcing them to do double entry. Consequently, companies run the risk alienating their best brokers. Web-services provide a way for companies to satisfy all of their brokers.
	Automating Distribution in the Broker Channel Glen Piller , President and CEO, iter8 Incorporated
The cost to both Broker and Insurance Company in disconnected workflow continues to be unacceptably high. The distributed application of underwriting, product and rating rules, between systems, manuals, guidelines, bulletins, knowledge workers and channels leads to inconsistency and too many touch points. Costly cycling between brokers and carrier back offices occur too often to get customer transactions right. Most insurance carriers have provided a first generation web transaction capability that provides inquiry functionality and exposure to policy management systems for limited transactions, but reaching the goal of point of sale “right the first time” straight through processing has still been out of reach. Information to get there exists with the customer, the broker, the carrier and external abstract report data. The challenge to integrate them at point of sale is still out there. Glen will explore the solution to bring the information all together for carriers to provide brokers fully underwritten and rated new business and policy change capability at the point of sale through integrated business rules, workflow and communications technology.
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	Are Portals a Step to Tighter Integration? - Terry Neilson, Insurance Systems Inc.
Most every insurance broker company has implemented a portal for broker access. Some broker services have been implemented quickly, but for many others, a great deal of work has been and is being done still to improve the degree of automation of back-end supporting systems. The objective is to provide as much sales and service support as possible right to broker staff on a self-service basis. These processes will continue to be further enriched, while at the same time ever more lines of business and niche products will be added to the company portal. With Broker Management Systems also growing in technical sophistication, the direction leads us to some levels of integration between the BMS's and the company portal's, thus enabling some degree of seamless broker access right from their own system. Brokers also look out to their customers and are increasingly offering some on-line functions beyond basic informational pages. Using group business as an example, brokers are challenged to compete with companies who offer quotes and other on-line functions to group members, where the functions, including pricing, are tailored to a specific group. Technology infrastructure is now capable of allowing a broker's portal for group(s) to be integrated with both the broker's BMS and the insurer's supporting systems in a relatively seamless manner. Such capabilities will enable an even wider variety of broker-company marketing and service arrangements in the future. Terry will review some of these concepts based on Insurance Systems Inc.'s experience in providing technology support in these areas, and his perspective on how integration will continue to unfold.
	The CSIO Portal, Status and Direction Doug Grant , Principal, Insurance-Canada.ca
The CSIO Insurance Portal has had a long gestation period. January 2004 is the target "go-live" date. What is the experience to the time of the seminar? What are some of the issues and challenges and how are they being met? More on the roll-out plan. Let's look to the future too.
12:25	Close: by Doug Grant Insurance-Canada.ca

Seminar Sponsors:

ci   Canadian Insurance Magazine

Speaker Information

Kevin Campbell, President, Tec4 Systems Inc.

Kevin Campbell has been developing commercial software for over 20 years. Prior to co-founding Tec4 Systems Inc. in 1991, he contributed to the development of software for Calgary's Light Rail Transit system. In 1987, he joined Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. as a project leader, developing object-oriented software for real time systems.

Kevin has spent the last 12 years pioneering the development of commercial management systems. His dream, to bridge the communication gap between brokers and insurance companies with technology became reality with the creation of Policy Works, Tec 4's flagship product. With Policy Works, a broker can electronically deliver a submission to one or more insurers, complete a proposal, and bind the risk all within a matter of minutes. His visionary approach to amalgamating insurance with technology has set new standards for the way commercial insurance is sold.

Kevin is a graduate of the University of Calgary, holding a Masters degree in electrical engineering. In addition, he also holds a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation.

Steven Frye, Partner, Cookson Walker Consulting Group

Fluent in both official languages, Steven has twenty years of experience in the insurance industry supplemented by hands-on experience in other sectors as Chief Financial Officer and as a consultant. He is experienced in a range of specialty services including strategic business planning and implementation, operations management, mergers and acquisitions, financing and regulatory matters. Recently, Steven was appointed Chief Agent for Canada for a foreign-based insurer to be launched in Canada to write specialty commercial lines. With his partners, Steven has developed and led seminars on the various aspects of brokerage management and operations.

Terry Neilson, President, Insurance Systems Inc.

Insurance Systems Inc. (ISI) is a Canadian Software development company that specializes in developing transactional Web sites for Insurance Companies. Terry was an Insurance Broker for 25 years and in 1997 started ISI to develop web based solutions to increase productivity between Insurers and Brokers.

Glen Piller President and CEO, iter8 Incorporated.

In 2000 Glen joined the team as a founding shareholder to lead iter8 to be the provider of choice for insurance companies seeking solutions to reduce operating costs and increase profits.

Prior to joining iter8 Glen served in the insurance industry as a senior executive of Distribution and Claims. He is skilled in the development of business strategy and state of the art operations for direct response, worksite direct insurance, and broker distributed business models, with over 18 years directly involved in the Life and Property Casualty Insurance industries.

Glen has guided the company to deliver solutions to the insurance industry that enables them to provide their distribution channels the capability to quote, bind, sell and make policy changes online in real time, while consistently applying their underwriting and rating rules. Through iter8's innovative Definition Driven Development (D3) methods, Insurance Companies can solve the maintenance and integration issues that multiple technologies and programming languages create, ensuring rapid implementation, quick return on investment without the risk of destabilizing existing systems.

He serves as company spokesperson and provides vision, and direction for all areas of the company.

Catherine Trimble, Business Development Consultant, Applied Systems Canada.

Catherine joined the staff of Applied Systems in 2002. Through the provision of personalized services, Catherine assists Applied Systems clients in the optimization of the productivity of their offices. These services include, but are not limited to, custom programming for add-ons to Applied Systems' products, third party application integration, strategic planning, organizational and procedural analysis, website analysis and development, and network and software utilization consultations.

Prior to commencing her duties at Applied Systems Canada Catherine was the Internet/Intranet Communications Manager at the IBC. Her experience include positions with the broker management vendors and in the distribution channel as a licensed insurance broker and as an underwriter with a direct writer. Catherine is an enthusiastic supporter of the use of technogly in the insurance industry. Catherine has served on a number of industry committees and has had a number of articles published. Catherine and her husband live in West Hill now as empty nesters.

Chris Venn, President, Inventive Networks

After almost a decade with Keal Technology, Chris now leads a team that works to solve the IT challenges of Brokers across Canada. He is experienced in technology planning, system procurement, network security, system availability, optimizing network performance, and remote office connectivity among other relevant topics. Chris has also been a featured speaker and trainer on technology issues at numerous industry events. Inventive Networks is a provider of technology consulting and computer hardware for Insurance Brokers.

Host and Moderator

Doug Grant MBA CIP, Consultant, Insurance-Canada.ca

As a keen analyst of computer and networking evolution for more than thirty years, and the opportunity and impact on the insurance industry, frequent industry speaker, columnist, and consultant. Doug is cognizant of the changes that are occurring in the Internet insurance world. As a principal in the Insurance- Canada.ca Web site, he brings a unique perspective to the session. For a more extensive biography.

Doug will be host of the seminar and will welcome and set the stage, build the linkages between topics, and then provide conclusions and points to ponder at the end of the session.

(Examples will be used throughout)

Questions? call Doug Grant 416-921-7756 or email at doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca

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