Insurance Networking News: Executive Strategies for Technology Management articles from January 2006

Insurance Networking News: Executive Strategies for Technology Management archives from January 2006

Single-Digit Growth Expected.
January 1, 2006... This year may be the year of consolidation and legacy renewal when it comes to insurance carriers' IT spending, according to industry analysts. And IT budgets will increase slightly over 2005, although there may be trimming back in some areas....

Putting The Old Work Horse Out to Pasture.
January 1, 2006... Listening to an insurance executive talk about replacing an old mainframe-based administration system is a lot like listening to a farmer talk about getting rid of an old tractor. It still pulls a heavy load, but competing farms-especially...

Riding the Wave.
January 1, 2006... Over the past two years, many carriers, either to their dismay or bewilderment, saw key software vendors fall under new ownership. And it hasn't been simply a case of small fish being eaten by larger fish. Some of the largest names in the...

A Fresh Take on Making Connections.
January 1, 2006... In our conservative, risk-based marketplace, change is often described as an oxymoron. But thanks to free enterprise, keeping up with change is not only necessary, it's critical to your success. Perhaps the greatest change has taken place in...

In the Drivers' Seat: Web-enabled, customizable dashboards make managing content easy for agents and employees of Farmers Insurance Group.(Company Profile)
January 1, 2006... Five years ago, when Los Angeles-based Farmers Insurance Group introduced its first agent portal, the carrier believed it was on to something. As a communication vehicle, the portal pushed one-way information in "wallpaper" fashion to its...

LOMA Launches Redesigned Online Learning.
January 1, 2006... LOMA, the Atlanta-based trade association to the insurance and financial services industry, has launched LOMALearn Online, an e-learning portal for individual and corporate training. Powered by Dublin, Ireland-based WBT System's TopClass...

Medical Liability Insurers Offers Physicians Online Course.
January 1, 2006... ISMIE Mutual Insurance Co., a Chicago-based medical liability insurer, has partnered with The Sullivan Group (TSG), Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., to provide its more than 12,000 insured physicians with access to Web-based risk and patient safety...

NAIC to Launch National Public Education Campaign.(National Association of Insurance Commissioners)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... After an agency selection process that spanned several months, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Kansas City, Mo., has selected New York-based CooperKatz & Co. to promote a national public education program focused on...

MetLife Introduces Online Retirement Income Center.
January 1, 2006... New York-based MetLife has launched a retirement income education center on MyBenefits, its employee portal available to group customers. The new center provides information designed to help employees identify their life stage with a checklist...

Brainshark and G2X Integrate Systems.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Brainshark, A Waltham, Mass.-based provider of on-demand content solutions, has integrated its software with Agility, a relationship management application from G2X Inc., New York. The integration is designed to help insurance carriers...

AIM, Avaya Partner On Call Center Technology.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... AIM Technology, a San Francisco-based provider of operational performance management software, has become a member of the Avaya DeveloperConnection program, offered by Avaya Inc., Basking Ridge, N.J. AIM Technology develops AIMCall, an...

Fiserv Acquires Xcipio Inc.
January 1, 2006... Brookfield, Wis.-based Fiserv Inc. has acquired Xcipio Inc., an East Windsor, Conn.-based Web-based insurance rating and automation solution provider. The acquisition is part of Fiserv's plan to expand its technological footprint in the...

It's a Control issue.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... For the typical IT executive concerned about regulatory compliance, hearing that a total content management system (TCM) will enable you to leverage your content, share it across all applications and provide access to a host of internal and...

Solutions.(Web-based customer relationship management )
January 1, 2006... NEW CRM FUNCTIONALITY E-Z Data Inc., a Pasadena, Calif.-based provider of front-office systems for insurance companies, banks, broker-dealers, general agents, agents and investment advisors, has released SmartOffice 5, the newest version...

News Briefs.
January 1, 2006... LAW FIRM LAUNCHES HURRICANE WEBLOG McGlinchey Stafford PLLC, a law firm based New Orleans, has launched an online resource for companies with business interests in hurricane-affected areas. The blog, found at www.hurricanelawblog.com,...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2006... In the November issue of Insurance Networking News magazine, we incorrectly identified the headquarters of SunGard Sherwood Systems Inc. in Bedford, Maine. SunGard Sherwood Systems is based in the United Kingdom, with North American offices in...

Solutions.(Hurricane Katrina Disaster recovery)(CARGO tracking device to reduce cargo theft)(RegEd Inc., introduces new product)
January 1, 2006... DOC MANAGEMENT AIDS DISASTER RECOVERY Joseph Maiorana Insurance Agency Inc., a New Orleans, Louisiana-based firm, credits Cabinet NG Inc., Huntsville, Ala., with enabling the agency to remain in business in the aftermath of Hurricane...

What to Do When Your Vendor Is Under New Management.
January 1, 2006... Become familiar with the provisions of your current contract. "Make sure you understand what's being delivered," says Greg Chestnut, partner with Bermuda-based Accenture. Look at service levels, and what the vendor should be delivering to you,...

Thriving On Its Own: After changing hands five times, Merastar finds that independence creates an opportunity to upgrade its legacy systems and implement future-focused claims technology at the same time.
January 1, 2006... The challenges inherent in big corporate changes can be a losing proposition, but they can open doors to great opportunities. When Merastar Insurance Co. of Chattanooga, Tenn. became an independent property and casualty firm in 2004, CIO...

Are You Moving Too Slowly?: When insurers are slow to adopt new technology, they risk becoming road kill.
January 1, 2006... Considering the insurance industry's adoption of current or emerging technologies, a scene from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey comes to mind. I remember a scene with a group of our earliest ancestors sitting around grunting and grooming when...

An Unusual View.
January 1, 2006... COUNTERPOINT is yet another forum offered by Insurance Networking News to connect the insurance business and technology communities. We invite you to submit your unusual, alternative, or controversial opinion piece for consideration for this...

Who's Buying What.
January 1, 2006... POLICY ADMINISTRATION Two insurance companies have chosen the same vendor for their commercial lines policy administration systems. Secura Insurance, Appleton, Wis., is implementing policy administration, integration and self-maintenance...

Setting Ground Rules: Taking a "lessons learned" approach to aligning business and IT can produce positive strategic and tactical outcomes.
January 1, 2006... Should business and it alignment be a strategic initiative across the enterprise or can it be treated on a case-by-case basis within an organization? That question is the subject of some discussion as insurance companies begin implementing...

The Case for Personalization: Messaging with inherent value can deliver timely and consistent communications to customers.
January 1, 2006... As companies expand their product and service offerings to become more competitive, it's common for customers to have multiple relationships within a company. From your customers' perspective, they may carry health and disability...

Atlantic Charter Pulls IT All Together: Some carriers piece a variety of systems together, but this workers' compensation insurer found one that is integrated from policy processing to claims handling.
January 1, 2006... Executives at Atlantic Charter Insurance Company wanted to take one step forward. But they didn't want to take two steps back in the process. Although the company had been successfully growing for many years, Atlantic Charter leaders...

Solutions.(Satyam Computer Services Ltd)(Lawson Software released Lawson Business Intelligence 9.0)(NaviSys Inc released NaviSys Enterprise Platform 9.5)
January 1, 2006... SATYAM AND MICROSOFT TEAM UP IN CHINA India-based Satyam Computer Services Ltd. and Microsoft China have entered into an agreement to jointly develop a multi-billion enterprise solutions market on the Microsoft platform in the Greater China...

News Briefs.(survey of data security)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... MOST COMPANIES INADEQUATELY PROTECT DATA A full 54% of the more than 300 companies responding to a recent survey have no documented procedures for protecting stored data, and 70% executives rated their company's data storage security as...

Advice from the front.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2006... Planning a legacy replacement? Don't forget this advice from two CIOs who are now in the process. * Gain true executive commitment. "And I mean the words 'true' and 'commitment,'" says Chris Steward, CIO of Arbella Insurance Group, Quincy,...

Alliances.(Pitney Bowes Inc acquired Firstlogic Inc)(Patni Computer Systems Ltd)(Relicore Inc forms alliance with Peregrine Systems)
January 1, 2006... FIRSTLOGIC, PITNEY MERGER CALLED OFF Firstlogic Inc., a La Crosse, Wis.-based provider of enterprise information quality solutions, and Pitney Bowes Inc., Lanham, Md., have agreed not to extend their merger agreement. This concludes...

Solutions.
January 1, 2006... SEEC UNVEILS COMPONENT LIBRARY FOR LEGACY MIGRATION SEEC, Inc., a Pittsburgh-based application management firm for the insurance and financial services industry, has developed the SEEC Advantage Library, a compilation of non-proprietary,...

Ad Index For January 2006.(Directory)
January 1, 2006... Advertiser Website Address Page # AT&T and Sun Microsystems www.att.com/strategicpartners/att_sun_microsystems_html 7 CGI www.cgi.com ...