Insurance-Canada.ca Newsletter Archive

Issue 2002-33:   August 20, 2002

This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry, and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information mostly about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.




Managing Relationships

General Insurance Ombudservice appoints Lea Algar Chair at inaugural meeting.

Lea Algar has been named as Chair of the Board of Directors of the General Insurance Ombudservice (GIO) at its first meeting held today. GIO is an independent organization established to assist in the resolution of conflicts between home, car and business insurance customers and their insurance providers. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/GIO200208.php

Canada Life and health insurance industry establishes independent Ombudsman service.

The life and health insurance industry has established a new, independent OmbudService to provide assistance to consumers with concerns or complaints. The Canadian Life and Health Insurance OmbudService (CLHIO) has been incorporated as an independent entity, separate from the industry association, and is headed by a distinguished Board of Directors with a majority of independent Directors. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/CLHOmbud200208.php

Standard Life supports Restructuring of Regulation.

Claude Garcia, president of the Canadian operations of Standard Life, spoke to the Commission des finances publiques about Bill 107 at the National Assembly today. The purpose of the bill is to change the regulatory structure of Quebec's financial sector from a number of separate regulating bodies into one single regulatory agency - l'Agence nationale d'encadrement du secteur financier. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/StandardRegln200208.php

GartnerG2 says Retail Financial Services Companies Must Make Customer Retention No. 1 CRM Priority.

Customer retention must be the No. 1 priority for financial services' CRM strategies, but a new survey by GartnerG2 showed that acquiring new customers is often the main goal. According to the survey, the primary marketing focus for retail financial services marketing departments was on new customer acquisition at 43 percent, or cross-selling at 30 percent. Customer retention was the No. 1 priority among just 9 percent of those surveyed. GartnerG2 analysts said this is a major mistake among financial services organizations. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/other/GartnerG2CRM200208.php

KANA Study Reveals High Tech Industry Among First To Widely Adopt eCRM Solutions.

KANA's recent survey of high technology customers found that these consumers demand better and more efficient online service than any other industry. In response, the high tech industry is providing its customers with faster Web-based interactions such as e-mail and Web self-service, resulting in fewer calls into the contact center and lower costs of customer service. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/other/KanaeCRM200208.php

CSIO Insurance Portal

Week ending August 16: Testing continues on all fronts. CIM-Data for Facility rates has end-to-end connectivity working and continues testing. Keal Technology is doing end-to-end testing. ISI on the portal is doing full cycle from broker to rating and back.

CSIO as part of the performance evaluation has looked at response times for a couple of the companies which are offering rates from their internal systems, and those response times are looking good - better than initially expected.

ISI has loaded all the Ontario auto rates which they have received and are wrapping up ISI system testing. The focus is now on loading Ontario property rtes on one hand, and moving auto rates into company testing once they are loaded on to the ISI portal engine.

CSIO announces the relocation of their Toronto Office.

The CSIO Board of Directors and President Klaas Westera announce the relocation of their Toronto office. CSIO is expected to move into its� new location at 110 Yonge Street, Suite 500 by early September 2002. CSIO�s telephone numbers will remain unchanged. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/CSIOOffice200208.php

Statistics and Reference

MIB: North American Life Insurance Activity Increases 3.6% in July.

Consumer applications for life insurance in North America increased 3.6 percent in July as compared with the same period last year, rebounding from last month's slight downturn. U.S. application activity showed a 2 percent increase while Canadian activity continued double-digit growth, increasing 18.6 percent as compared to July 2001. Overall, North American application activity has increased in eight of the last ten months year over year. more at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/refstat/canada/MIB200208.php

Claims

Canadian Tire on the Danforth has become a participating Vendor of ReplacementFinder.

Canadian Tire carries a full selection of automotive parts, hardware tools, plumbing, electrical, housewares, personal care, sporting goods, lawn and garden furniture, and Christmas decorations. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/announce/RepFind200208.php

Technology & e-business

DWL Shares Seat on IBM's 'Web Services on Websphere' Advisory Council.

DWL, the leading provider of Unified Business Services [UBS] software, today announced their participation on IBM's 'Web Services on WebSphere' Advisory Council, a partner-focused initiative to drive customer adoption of Web services technology.

The Advisory Council was established as a forum for thought leadership and best practices for deploying Web services on IBM's Websphere. The council will guide the WebSphere development team on specific needs and product requirements as well as participate in IBM market development activities. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/announce/DWLIBM200208.php

Marketing Insurance

Transamerica's Drive For Life Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Ontario March of Dimes.

Every year Transamerica Life Canada donates the proceeds of the golf tournament to charitable causes dedicated to health and wellness through "in the spirit of hope," the company's charitable giving program. This year, Transamerica Life Canada has selected Ontario March of Dimes as the beneficiary of the Tournament over the next three years, committing over $700,000 to the organization. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/market/canada/TransAmLife200208.php

from Doug:

We often receive questions from consumers - personal and commercial

  • about where to find coverages, and often for special or unique situations. With Stone & Cox and their special markets directory, we have now gone live in our ConsumerInfo section with a "special coverages" service. Those who wish to be listed there can contact me
  • you may wish a broad brush listing if you have many special coverages, or you may wish to sponsor a particular type of coverage (antique/classic cars, yachts/pleasure craft, camps, trucking....) if you are really focused on it.

The CNE is in full swing, harbinger of end-of-summer. My younger is scooping ice cream there every day; my elder is helping out weekends. (I wonder if they eat or serve more.) Enjoy the warm summer days!