The Chronicle: Issue 2012-41, October 9, 2012


What's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology?

Innovation and IT: Are We Planning for Failure?
There is tremendous demand for growth and innovation in the industry these days. And there is a lot of emphasis the the critical role that modern technology plays in meeting this demand. Is the reality bearing out the demands put on technology? And, if not, what can we do to improve our results?

Looking Ahead Through Wide-Angle Binoculars: Insurance 2023
What do you get when you mix 10 curious insurance professionals from 3 countries, 18 trend factors, and 2 hours on a web call? Simple: More questions than answers and a desire to press ahead on an exercise we're calling Insurance 2023. And we'd like you to join us.

The Intersection: Insurance-Canada.ca Blog
The Intersection

an Insurance-Canada.ca Blog


Business of Insurance

RSA Finalizes Acquisition of L'Union Canadienne
RSA Canada, one of Canada's leading home, car and business insurance groups, has received regulatory approval to close its acquisition of Quebec-based intermediated P&C insurer L'Union Canadienne.

Remarks to the National Insurance Conference of Canada
“(T)here is no single factor ... to ensure the continuing stability of the property and casualty insurance sector.”
Remarks by Superintendent Julie Dickson Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada (OSFI) to the 2012 National Insurance Conference of Canada, in Quebec City, Quebec, Oct. 1, 2012.

Manulife: Canadian small businesses value employee health and retirement plans
Satisfied employees are more productive and focused according to Canadian small business owners surveyed for the second annual Manulife Financial Small Business Research Report, and providing health and retirement benefits are a key component to boost employee productivity.

OSFI releases Annual Report for 2011-2012
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) Canada today released its Annual Report for 2011-2012. The Report is a key component of OSFI's accountability framework and provides a summary of both performance against annual priorities and achievements related to ongoing responsibilities.

Technology

iter8 makes huge leap for carriers to address real-time policy change
iter8, an insurance solutions software developer is pleased to announce that real-time policy change, an activity in which an independent broker starts and ends a policy change transaction within their broker management system (BMS) in a fully integrated real-time manner, is operational using communic8 real-time™ as a cornerstone.

Starr Companies Goes Live With Outline Systems' ProducerOne
Outline Systems Inc. is pleased to announce Starr Companies has just gone into production with the compliance management component of OSI's ProducerOne, the industry's leading producer lifecycle management software suite.

Maintenance Upgrade Planned for CSIOnet
The Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO) – Canada's national standards association of P&C insurers, brokers and software providers – announced the maintenance upgrade to version 7.1 of CSIOnet's virtual private network (VPN) gateway, scheduled to go live on Thursday, October 11th, 2012. CSIOnet is a fast, secure network that facilitates EDI communications between insurers and brokers.

Policy Works announces winner of third annual Ninja Award
Policy Works is pleased to announce that Rena Robertson of Drayden Insurance Ltd. in St. Albert, AB is the winner of the Third Annual Policy Works Ninja Award. As part of the Ninja campaign, Policy Works Inc. pledged $5 per vote to the Women in Insurance Cancer Crusade.

Consumer Information

IBC Marks Car Safety Monthy with Top Ten Winter Auto Tips
October is Car Safety Month and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reminds Canadians there are things you can do now to ensure you and your vehicle are ready for winter weather.

Occupational vs. Non-Occupational Disability and Disability Management and Accommodation
Employers of varying size are managing both occupational and non-occupational absences. Some employers are required to maintain coverage with their provincial Workers Compensation Board, while others maintain coverage voluntarily or do not cover employees for occupational injuries/accidents at all. Management of claims whether occupational or non-occupational should not differ, depending on what caused the illness or injury. There are however, varying requirements under legislation, different policies that are related to absence and disability management depending on whether an illness or injury is or is not related to the workplace.

Allstate Canada launches new quick quote online tool in Ontario
As Allstate Insurance Company of Canada prepared to launch its online auto insurance quote generator in Ontario this week, experts at the insurer reviewed Canadians' habits when it came to buying auto insurance online. What they found was that while Canadians may be leaders in online shopping, and while more than half (51%) have bought goods or services online, Pollara's 2012 InsurPoll shows that only two per cent bought their current auto insurance policy online. In contrast, according to a comScore Auto Insurance Report, 17 per cent of American consumers have purchased car insurance online. So what makes buying insurance different?

Claims

Kitchen Dominates Fire Claims from Quebec, reports Allstate Canada
According to data from Allstate Insurance Company of Canada, 33 per cent of fire claims in Quebec started in the kitchen in 2011. In fact, kitchen fires have been the number one fire-related claim each year in Quebec since 2007.

Distribution

Is technology independence a reality? A point of view by illustrate inc.
Technology: you can't live without it, but how do you keep up with it without breaking the bank? It's the age-old issue that companies continue to face; only today, technology is evolving at an ever-faster pace. Today, tablets are here to stay, and most companies need to find a strategy to support them going forward.

Marketing and the Market Place

B2B Content Marketers Prioritize Lead Gen
B2B marketers often turn to content marketing for lead generation and prospect nurture throughout the lengthy sales process. An August 2012 study from Holger Shulze, author of the blog Everything Marketing Technology, pointed to a growing number of worldwide B2B technology marketers turning to content marketing for more brand-based goals, namely boosting thought leadership and brand awareness.

Frank Cowan Company launches new Community Services & Disability Support specialty insurance programs
Frank Cowan Company, a leader in Canadian municipal, healthcare, education and community service insurance solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of two new specialty insurance programs called Community Services and Disability Support.

Human Resources – Our People

Don Brown joins Paul Davis Systems Canada as Director of National Sales and Marketing
Paul Davis Systems Canada, Ltd. is proud to announce the addition of Donald (Don) Brown to the team. In the Director – National Sales & Marketing role, Don will be responsible for new business initiatives in the insurance and corporate/commercial market sectors, as well as management of the Paul Davis Systems network marketing plan and national account administration.




Joe's Corner:

It's a landmark year in Toronto: the Leafs have gone undefeated in pre-season and it looks like the trend will continue at least until the end of October! This could be their best season in years – should we start the parade?

I drove to Montreal last week, and the colours along the highway were worth the price of the drive – fantastic!

After moaning and groaning about the traffic and construction in Toronto for the past few months ... let's just say, after this experience, I'm now a much more understanding and benevolent Toronto driver – for a few days, until I forget!


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