Virden, MB, May 6, 2003 – Custom Software Solutions Inc. (CSSI) is pleased to announce the funding support and partnership of CANARIE, Canada’s advanced internet organization. This funding, totaling $1.175 million, will enable CSSI to develop, test, and commercialize a business-to-business electronic data exchange (B2B-EDE) package of process automation tools designed to vastly improve the economic performance of insurance companies and brokers across the country.
To date, a state of the art EDE system that is capable of addressing all insurance policy transactions does not exist due to the structural barriers presented by competitive rivalries and multiple incompatible software systems. CANARIE’s profile as a national catalyst and neutral partner for collaborative IT solutions makes it the ideal organization to assist in development of this B2B-EDE solution that can be adopted as an end-to-end insurance solution by all insurance companies and brokers.
“A large number of the stakeholders involved in the supply chain of the insurance industry are small to medium enterprises (SMEs). The driving force behind the development of The Broker’s Workstation (TBW) suite of tools, and particularly the B2B-EDE component, is the streamlining of business processes to improve service and cut costs so that savings can be passed on to the consumer. This will allow these SMEs to remain viable and competitive in the marketplace,” explains Andrew Bjerring, President and CEO of CANARIE. He adds: “The concept of this project is directly in line with the objective of CANARIE’s E-business Program, which is to help SMEs to become more competitive by assisting them to develop and adopt E-business strategies and applications.”
The project is unique and innovative in concept, design, and application in that it will develop a package of process automation tools that will satisfy the mission critical business process needs of insurance brokers and companies as they write or revise policies. CSSI’s solution has been created as a management tool for the end user broker with B2B-EDE ability designed and integrated in all processes. These B2B-EDE tools are Internet enabled which makes them attractive and affordable to all businesses.
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“Over the past 7 years CSSI has been focused on developing a robust data exchange and process to support its automation tools,” says Scott Andrew, President and CEO of CSSI. “We believe this is what the insurance industry requires to solve its automation challenges. We hope that the involvement of CANARIE will bring together the relevant industry participants.”
About CANARIE
CANARIE is Canada’s advanced Internet organization, a not-for-profit corporation that facilitates the development and use of next-generation research networks and the applications and services that run on them. By promoting collaboration among key sectors and by partnering with similar initiatives around the world, CANARIE stimulates innovation and growth and helps to deliver social, cultural, and economic benefits to all Canadians. CANARIE positions Canada as the global leader in advanced networking, and is supported by its members, project partners, and the Government of Canada.
About Custom Software Solutions
Custom Software Solutions and project participants, The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company and Andrew Agencies Ltd., are collaborating to develop and test this unique and innovative package of process automation tools. CSSI has been selling automation software to property and casualty brokers since 1991. The company boasts a team of highly experienced programmers, insurance industry professionals, and certified computer technologists.
