Businesses and consumers experience the instant processing promised by the Internet everyday - from debit cards and online banking to Internet retailing and software and softcopy downloads. Much technology has been deployed by insurers, brokers and consumers (commercial and personal) to make communications between and among these three stakeholders more efficient and timely. Third party services are being integrated to improve processes and decision-making. From portals like CSIO, to real-time CSR-insurer transactions and integrated automated risk assessment and underwriting, join us and explore technology supporting people in the evolving "Distribution of Insurance".

Seminar Topics

8:00 – 8:30: Registration and Coffee

8:30	Welcome and introduction: Doug Grant, Principal, Insurance-Canada.ca
	Enabling New Channels with Web-based Solutions - Terry Neilson, President and CEO, Insurance Systems Inc.
An on-demand business environment has prompted many insurers to invest in web-based applications to meet the demands of the internet-savvy generation. The challenge for insurers is providing for the self–service demands of consumers while not alienating its other important customer base – brokers. The presentation will outline some web initiatives being implemented by insurers which are geared at making life easier for consumers, brokers and in some cases – both. These include direct-writing, group affinity marketing and small commercial package processing applications. There are a number of challenges from the perspective of the insurance company which will also be examined.
	The Portal: An Industry Solution - David Patrick, CEO, CSIO
David will provide a current status of the CSIO Portal, and where it will go from here.
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	Taking Advantage of Real-Time Processing Between Brokers and Insurers - Catherine Trimble, Business Development Consultant, Applied Systems Canada - Rick Alcock, Leader, Strategic Business Solutions, Royal and Sun Alliance - Sharron Yeomans, Manager, Broker Solutions Sales and Marketing, The Economical Insurance Group - Glen Piller, President and CEO, iter8 Incorporated
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	Streamlining Commercial Package Business - What Insurers and Brokers are Doing Today - Kevin Campbell, President, Policy Works
As brokers are turning their attention to automating their commercial lines business with Commercial Management Systems (CMS), insurers are in a mad rush to create real-time quoting websites for small commercial package business. Are these two approaches to streamlining small commercial business at odds with one another? Will companies alienate their best brokers by creating a situation of double entry? Or can the two approaches co-exist and support each other? Will the companies’ commercial quoting sites turn small commercial package business into a commodity that can be sold by direct writers over the web? How will brokers respond? This presentation examines these issues from both the broker’s and insurer’s perspectives and suggests ways that both sides can get what they want.
	Straight-Talk about the Broker Technology Landscape - Chris Venn, President, Inventive Networks
It would be really useful if technology would simplify how we process insurance. But it seems that, as more and more new projects, new initiatives and new technologies emerge, brokers' lives are complicated - not simplified. Spend 30 minutes to get some fresh perspectives on how to use process to determine which technologies to embrace, and find out what cool new tools might be in your near future.
	Conclusions & Close: Online Service in the Canadian Insurance Industry - Patrick Vice, I/T Manager, Frank Cowan Company Ltd.
With ten years experience on the Internet, Insurance-Canada.ca has grown steadily. From changing site designs through different marketing programs and to new sales challenges, Insurance-Canada.ca has experienced most of the ups and downs of Internet-based small businesses. With a somewhat unique focus on Canada and Insurance, Insurance-Canada.ca still faces a challenge with two-faces. Hear some of the decisions made, and some of the results attained.

Seminar Sponsors:

Speaker Information

Rick Alcock, Leader, Strategic Business Solutions, Royal and Sun Alliance

Mr. Alcock joined the Information Systems Division of Royal and SunAlliance in March of 2002 as the Director of Strategic Business Solutions. In addition to examining longer term strategic initiatives in the information systems field, Rick has had responsibilities for R&SA's web properties including the public Internet, employee Intranet and Broker Extranet sites. Mr. Alcock has recently been assigned the responsibility of managing the Information Systems portfolio for the Personal Insurance Division of R&SA. Rick has also participated as R&SA's representative on the CSIO Portal Management Committee since joining the insurance industry.

Mr. Alcock holds an MBA from Queen's University and resides in Oakville with his wife and 4 year old daughter.

Kevin Campbell, President, Policy Works

Kevin is co-founder and President of Tec4 Systems Inc. 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, became reality with the creation of Policy Works. 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. Kevin’s current focus is on using Web Services and XML to exchange commercial insurance information between brokers and companies.

Tec4 Systems Inc. - pioneers and industry leaders in commercial management systems have been developing commercial insurance software for over 10 years. Their flagship product, Policy Works is a single system application specializing in commercial lines entry and policy management. Policy Works is fast becoming the industry standard and is being integrated with Broker Management Systems throughout Canada.

Terry Neilson, President and CEO, Insurance Systems Inc.

After having reached the pinnacle of world-class competitive sailing, competing on the Canadian Olympic team and bringing home a Bronze medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, Terry applied his leadership skills to the business world managing an insurance brokerage in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. After beginning his insurance career in sales, Terry moved through the ranks to General Manager and finally bought the brokerage in 1993. Through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth, Terry was able to grow the sales of the firm from $4 million in 1993 to $14 million in 1997 when he sold the firm to a public Corporation.

Terry then leveraged his entrepreneurial talent, knowledge of the insurance industry and understanding of IT by founding Insurance Systems Inc (ISI) immediately after leaving the brokerage. ISI was established to develop and implement web enabled solutions for the insurance industry. Since inception, ISI has quickly become one of Canada's technology success stories and was recently ranked 17th amongst Profit Magazine's list of the country's fastest-growing companies.

David Patrick, CEO, CSIO

Since joining CSIO almost two years ago, David has managed the CSIO team and worked with the various stakeholders in the implementation of the CSIO Insurance Portal, and the planning of future functions.

Prior to CSIO, David held senior positions in in Information Technology, Oil and Gas, and Health Care industries

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

For 10 years Chris has worked with Insurance Brokers across Canada to ensure they get the most out of their technology. He has delivered solutions that address 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.

Sharron Yeomans, Manager, Broker Solutions Sales and Marketing, The Economical Insurance Group

As Manager, Broker Solutions for The Economical Insurance Group, Sharron Yeomans leads a team of Broker Interface Coordinators, who are located in Economical branches across the country. These unique roles work to ensure effective eBusiness solutions for Economical brokers through training and supporting Internet, extranet and electronic data interface functionality.

Sharron began her insurance career over twenty years ago with Economical, and has held positions of increasing responsibility as personal lines underwriter and broker interface coordinator, as well as project team member for EXPRESS, the company's leading small commercial insurance product. Sharron was instrumental in implementing brokerEXPRESS and courtierEXPRESS, the on-line quoting tool for EXPRESS, through developing a training program and marketing material.

Hosts and Moderators

Patrick Vice, I/T Manager, Frank Cowan Company Ltd.

Patrick has over 20 years experience enabling technology and electronic commerce in the risk management and insurance communities. For a more extensive biography.

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.

Patrick and Doug will be hosts 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

See a list of our Previous Seminars.

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