Company Recognized For Efforts To Enhance Agency Automation
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, OHIO – September 11, 2003 – The Progressive group of insurance companies, which make up the country�s largest writer of private passenger auto insurance through independent agents and brokers, has received the 2003 Interface Best Practices Award from Applied Systems. The award is the highest achievement bestowed by Applied � the leading provider of automation solutions for the property and casualty insurance industry � and its user group, ASCNet. Progressive will receive the award on September 11, 2003, during Applied�s TENCon (Technical, Education, Networking Conference) in New Orleans.
Recognized as a leader in industry efforts to enhance agency automation, Progressive qualified for the award by offering interface transactions in four major categories: policy transactions, policy inquiries, claims transactions, and policy download. To be eligible for the award, companies had to provide transactions for at least three of the categories. Progressive has been providing real-time policy access functionality directly to agents� and brokers� Applied management systems through IVANS Transformation Station since October 2002. Progressive is a major sponsor of ASCNet, supporting the group�s initiatives. ASCNet keeps members up-to-date about Applied�s educational services and product information. Progressive also continues to work with Applied, IVANS and other agency technology companies to enhance the variety and volume of real-time information available through management systems.
�Progressive has long been an industry innovator in seeking and developing efficiencies for insurance sales and service,� said Doug Johnston, executive vice president of WARP Interface Services at Applied Systems, Inc. �Progressive�s 2003 achievement in Interface Best Practices demonstrates their dedication to independent agencies by delivering efficiency and ease of doing business to the agent�s desktop. Applied Systems is excited to continue working with Progressive to create and deliver new forms of agency-company communication for insurance sales and service.�
�Progressive is pleased to be recognized as an automation leader by Applied and ASCNet,� said Chris Garson, the IT director for Progressive�s agent companies. �We�re working to help advance the state of automation and technology in our industry because it�s what independent agents and brokers want � and need � to grow profitably. And frankly, it just makes doing business with us even easier for them. Insurance consumers demand service that�s not only personalized to their needs, but fast and accurate. We are committed to providing the technology that helps agents and brokers meet that demand.�
The Progressive group of insurance companies, in business since 1937, comprises the nation�s third-largest auto insurance group. The more than 30,000 independent agencies that represent Progressive combine the power of personalized service and counsel with Progressive�s trusted brand, superior 24/7 service, innovative technology and competitive rates. Authorized agents and brokers can logon to Progressive�s agent- and broker-dedicated Web site, ForAgentsOnly.com (FAO) to access customer policies, process policy transactions, get state and countrywide news, and use other interactive features. The Progressive Corporation, the holding company, is publicly traded at NYSE:PGR