Issue 2006-15: April 11, 2006

eBusiness and Technology

Integrated Solutions for the Insurance Business From Web Financial Solutions.
XML Integration technologies for better business.
March 31, 2006, Toronto ON - Web Financial Solutions is pleased to announce a software integration service for Property and Casualty Companies. The solution is based on CSIO XML Standards and allows legacy backend systems to be integrated together using more productive and current XML technologies. These integrated systems use CSIO XML standards to connect to business partners including Broker Management Systems that support the CSIO XML standard.

XML FUNdamentals: A Tutorial by Web Financial Solutions.
You've probably heard the term XML sometime in the last year or so. And you may (or may not) be wondering what this is all about. Is it some kind of new "computer language"? What does it really do? How does it affect me and solve my problems?

eMarketer: By several measures, the US appears to be less "connected" than many other countries.
APRIL 4, 2006 - Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, American scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs have been at the forefront of technology. They have led the world in the creation of new products, services and industries. Is this all coming to an end?

Gartner Survey Shows Most IT Outsourcing Deals Continue to be Focused on Cost Keys to Successful Outsourcing Deals to be Discussed at Upcoming Gartner Outsourcing Summit, April 3-5 in Orlando.
STAMFORD, Conn., March 14, 2006 - Strategic IT outsourcing can be an integral part of an organization's long-term business success, but a new survey by Gartner, Inc., shows that the majority of organizations worldwide are still focused on tactical IT outsourcing to achieve short-term, cost-focused objectives.

eMarketer: Even the professionals hired to safeguard data online do not think companies are doing a great job protecting important data.
APRIL 3, 2006 - According to the FTC, there were a total of 130 data breaches reported in the US in 2005. Those breaches exposed the personal information - such as Social Security and credit card numbers - of some 55 million Americans.

Claims

BCBSNC Increases Productivity Using Automation Engine from IPD.
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (April 4, 2006) - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) uses a popular claims adjudication system to process its Institutional (UB92) and Professional (HCFA) claims. When the adjudication system makes a determination requiring action by a knowledge worker it suspends the claim and moves it into process automation software supplied by Image Process Design, Inc. (IPD).

MSB Announces Release of IntegriClaim Express 2.2.
NASHVILLE April 2, 2006 - Today at the 2006 PLRB/LIRB Claims Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, Marshall and Swift / Boeckh (MSB), the leading worldwide provider of building cost data and estimating technology to the property insurance industry announced the release of IntegriClaim Express(TM)2.2. The new release is a more comprehensive version of MSB's powerful, Web-based claims estimating tool that gives users access to real-time restoration cost estimates via the Internet.


Business of Insurance

Enterprise Risk Management as a Tool in Strategy Formulation : by Sorin Rogojinaru.
Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is a fairly new concept. Some view the ERM function as a response to the new regulatory compliance, others as a new approach in dealing with the multitude of interrelated risks facing an organization. This paper sees ERM as a tool in shaping the strategic direction in which modern organizations compete

Insurance in the Community

TU Group challenges all insurance firms to raise money for children with cancer.
Richmond, British Columbia, April 4, 2006 - Last week four members of the TU Group of Companies supported the Canadian Cancer Society Tour de Coast in raising funds for children living with cancer by participating in a signature head shave event to kickoff cancer awareness month in April. The donation, totaling $8,355, was presented to the Canadian Cancer Society Tour de Coast last Wednesday.

Consumer Information

C-L-U: Three Letters to Help Canadians Keep More of Their Money: Elite advisors launch keepyourmoney.ca consumer information website.
April 7, 2006, Toronto, ON - The CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) Institute today launched a consumer information website www.keepyourmoney.ca. The user-friendly site educates Canadians about the benefits of working with a CLU designated financial advisor - a specialist in advanced life insurance, tax, estate planning and business succession solutions.

RBC Insurance offers online quote-to-purchase option for property and auto insurance.
RBC Insurance is now offering Canadians nationwide the ability to get a quote and purchase personal property and auto insurance completely online.

Transport Canada Releases First, Systematic Analysis of Cost of Urban Traffic Congestion in Canada.
TORONTO - March 22, 2006 - Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, today announced the findings of a study entitled The Cost of Urban Congestion in Canada. The study examined the cost of urban traffic congestion for Canada's nine largest urban areas: Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa-Gatineau, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

Distribution

ING Canada Acquires Largest Member in Grey Power Network.
TORONTO, April 3, 2006 - ING Canada announced today the acquisition of Grey Power Insurance Brokers Inc. (GPIBI) of Stouffville, Ontario. With approximately $68 million in annual premiums, five satellite offices in Ontario and about 100 staff, GPIBI is the largest member in the Grey Power network, accounting for about 50 per cent of its business volume.

Cost of Independent Producer Survey: Technology, Services, and Other Drivers of Carrier Choice: Report Published by Celent.
Boston, MA, USA - March 28, 2006 - Life/health independent producers hammer home what drives them to place business with one carrier over another. Repeating the themes from two years ago, independent producers in a new Celent survey highlighted new business support, underwriting speed, and marketing and sales support as critical drivers of carrier choice.

Manulife Financial Tax and Estate Planning Group update book on tax and estate planning.
WATERLOO, ON, April 4, 2006 - Canada's key financial advisors can turn to an updated single reference tool for comprehensive information on how taxation of life insurance can affect personal and business financial planning.

Marketing and the Market Place

Manulife Investor Sentiment Index finds Canadians' confidence steady, at highest since 2001.
WATERLOO, ON, April 5, 2006 - Canadians' investment sentiment held steady for the third straight quarter in March, at its highest point in almost five years, according to a national poll for Manulife Financial, Canada's leading insurance and wealth management company.

CFIB: Small business confidence edges upward in first quarter, but half the provinces are below the national average.
Toronto - March 29, 2006 The latest Quarterly Business Barometer, by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), shows confidence within Canada's small and mid-size business sector has edged up for the second consecutive quarter. The CFIB Quarterly Business Barometer Index now stands at 107.2 (1988=100), or 1 point higher than December's level and four points above its September level.

Reference and Statistics

Canadian Economic Outlook, April 2006: SwissRe.
Canadian economic activity has remained strong in Q1. Consumer demand is robust, so is housing, experiencing a late cycle spurt. Industrial capacity is tight as are labor market conditions. Core inflation remains worrisome and the BoC is likely to announce another 25 basis point tightening in its policy rate later this month. ER&C expects real economic growth of 3.1% this year.

from Doug:

The early floral display in our neighbourhood is becoming brighter, and tinges of green in the lawns join the swelling buds on the bushes and trees. My favourite time of year.
We wish you and yours a Happy Easter, and may you experience an appropriate balance between the commercial and religious aspects.


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