Issue 2008-08 -- February 26, 2008
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.
Policy and Product Management
CGI Further Enhances AutoPlus with Vehicle Registration Data from Roy Speed & Ross Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario, February 18, 2008 - CGI Group Inc. and Roy Speed & Ross Ltd. (RSR) today announce an agreement to add RSR vehicle registration data to CGI's AutoPlus suite of products and services.
CGI Signs Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company As INSideOUT Beta Site.
Andover, MA, January 22, 2008 - CGI Group, Inc., a leading provider of information technology and business process services, today announced that Midwest Family Mutual Insurance Company (Midwest Family) has signed a Statement of Work to become the beta site for the next generation of CGI's INSideOUT software suite. The new product incorporates all of the functionality of INSideOUT but is a complete redevelopment of the software.
MSB Launches Exposure Assessment Solution for Reinsurers
NEW BERLIN, WI - FEBRUARY 18, 2008 - MSB, the leading worldwide provider of building cost data and estimating technology to the property insurance industry, premiers a new product, ReAlign(TM), at the Reinsurance Association of America's 2008 CAT Modeling conference. ReAlign marks MSB's decisive expansion into the property reinsurance marketplace with a solution designed for residential property reinsurers to better understand certain relevant exposures of cedent books of property business. Reinsurers that can predict the true exposure will gain a competitive advantage in today's market.
Keal Technology and PowerSoft Follow Through on Integration Commitment.
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada - February 19, 2008 - Today, Keal Technology and PowerSoft jointly announce the completion of an integration project announced at the end of 2007. The integration partnership allows Keal's clients using sigXP, broker management system (BMS) for personal lines, to integrate with PowerSoft's rating tool, PowerQuote, for personal lines insurance rating, quoting, and prospecting.
Distribution
Aon Integrates Worldwide Risk and Insurance Brokerage Operations Into One Global, Client-Focused Business.
CHICAGO, 07 February 2008 - Reinforcing its commitment to client service excellence, Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC) is integrating its worldwide risk and insurance brokerage operations into a single global business, Aon Risk Services, with more than 26,000 colleagues in 120 countries and more than $5 billion in revenues.
New Eastbridge study addresses whether voluntary carriers offer the online capabilities brokers and customers expect and want.
AVON, CONNECTICUT, USA (February 12, 2008) - The web is an important tool for many companies today. Use of websites for customer service, marketing, and sales is rising as more and more consumers become accustomed to online resources. But are
voluntary insurance carriers staying up to date?
eBusiness and Technology
IBM Technology Used by MIB, Inc. to Protect Insurers and Consumers Against Fraud.
ARMONK, NY - 13 Feb 2008: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that MIB, Inc., the premier provider of fraud detection services to the North American life and health insurance industries, is building a service oriented architecture (SOA) using IBM technology to better serve its clients.
DMTI Spatial Releases Reverse Geocoding Service for Location Intelligence Developer's Zone.
Markham, ON - February 08, 2008. DMTI Spatial (DMTI), a leading provider of Location Intelligence, has announced the availability of a reverse geocoding service for it's DevZone, a feature rich, software development platform for developers interested in creating innovative Location Intelligence applications.
Guy Carpenter Integrates First American Proxix Solutions and RiskMeter.com into i-aXs Data Management Platform.
New York, February 11, 2008 - Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist, today announced that it has integrated First American Proxix Solutions' PxPoint spatial analytics engine and catastrophe hazard databases and CDS Business Mapping's RiskMeter.com property look-up service into its award-winning i-aXs® risk management platform.
Claims
NICB, ISO, and NER Form Industry Alliance to Combat Equipment Theft.
DES PLAINES, Ill., and JERSEY CITY, N.J., February 19, 2008 - The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and ISO today announced a strategic alliance to significantly increase the insurance industry's impact on equipment theft.
Marketing and the Market Place
IBAC donates 4,000 safety blankets to Canadian Ski Patrol System.
(OTTAWA) January 31, 2008, In the wake of recent skiing and boarding tragedies, the Canadian Ski Patrol System (CSPS) and the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) would like to advise Canadians to take precautions when skiing and riding this winter.
Sun Life Financial survey reveals health care costs in retirement a concern, but few are taking steps to address it.
TORONTO, Feb. 15, 2008 - A recent Sun Life Financial survey reveals that few working Canadians have factored the need to pay for certain aspects of their health care into their retirement savings. Survey results reveal that only nine per cent of working Canadians have accounted for health care expenses in their retirement savings, and 80 per cent of Canadians expect that their provincial health care program will provide them with health benefits in retirement.
Gartner Says Generation Virtual Is Forcing CRM-Focused Companies to Transform the Way They Do Business.
STAMFORD, Conn., February 19, 2008 - Traditional ways of selling to customers, based on demographic information, will become irrelevant in the online world, especially with the emergence of "Generation Virtual," according to Gartner, Inc. Companies will need new skills and techniques to engage and remain relevant in this new world.
Managing Relationships and Customer Service
Managed Portfolio statements still distinctive in the Canadian marketplace: Dalbar.
Wednesday, 06 February 2008 - Managed Portfolios continue to develop momentum in both the U.S. and Canadian Financial Services Industry. With statements being one of the most important communication channels between a firm and their investors, companies must ensure the statement is clear, user-friendly and comprehensive.
Consumer Information
Hospital stays for injuries among children and youth decrease over five years: CIHI.
The number of people under age 20 admitted to Canadian hospitals for injuries declined by 11.3% over five years-from over 32,900 in 2001-2002 to over 29,200 in 2005-2006, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
SGI introduces online vehicle history search service.
SGI has introduced a free online Saskatchewan Damage Claims History Search, which gives customers the ability to check a vehicle's history of damage claims in the province since Jan.1, 1998, as well as its most recent Saskatchewan registration expiry date and if it has been given a status such as rebuilt, stolen, non-repairable or a total loss.
from Doug:
One more day and then our 2008 P&C Insurance and Technology Conference. What an overwhelming response. Last week registrations hit capacity and we had to hang a "Sold Out" sign on the door. A customer service challenge I will never be comfortable handling - telling people there is no room, come back next year. Here's hoping that Tuesday's snow doesn't wreak havoc with travel plans. If you are registered, we look forward to seeing you there.