| Top News | December 17 |
|
IBM to Acquire BPM Provider Lombardi "Any discussion on business improvement inevitably leads to improving the processes that are at the heart of every company," says IBM. Recognizing this, IBM has signed an agreement to acquire Lombardi, strengthening Big Blue's presence and investments in business process and integration software. Read more Connecture Package Automates Sales, Service Functions Called ConsumerEdge, the Connecture package is made up of multiple products and consultative services that address online marketing requirements as health insurance carriers meet the need of the growing individual market segment. "The products and services offered in ConsumerEdge not only help carriers succeed in today's individual market, but they also position carriers to succeed in a post-reform environment," says the solution provider. Read more
Guidewire, Ward Group Cooperate on P&C Assessment Services "Operational excellence in insurance, as in any other industry, requires both process consistency and a willingness to compare oneself objectively to one's peers," says Guidewire. By combining Guidewire's process and technology transformation experience with Ward Group's performance benchmarking services, carriers can learn how their organizational structures, staffing levels, expense amounts, operational controls, and business processes stack up against industry peers. Read more Aggressive IT Spending Predicted for P&C Carriers In a Web seminar: "Riding the Wave: Insurer Technology Spending, Drivers, and Approaches for 2010 and Beyond," hosted by Tech Decisions, consultancy Strategy Meets Action (SMA) shared survey results that indicate 2010 should be a year of growth for the industry. Read more FirstBest Partners With Overland to Streamline Premium Audit, Loss Control Overland, a provider of premium audit, loss control, and inspection services, and FirstBest have partnered to integrate Overland's services platform with FirstBest's Underwriting Management System, an underwriting workstation combined with a business analyst workstation and a Web 2.0 agent portal. "Together, we are enabling carriers to integrate their outsourced business services with their underwriting management system, speeding transactions and improving customer service," says FirstBest. Read more |
| Quick Stat |
| Into the Breach As part of its latest research into regulatory compliance, Celent asked insurers whether their company has a formal, documented compliance program that deals with breach of data security events. While 78 percent of those surveyed said they do have a compliance program in place, the fact that 22 percent don't have one begs the follow-up question: What are you waiting for? |
| Features |
|
Open Book Test By Robert Regis Hyle One of the challenges insurance technology leaders dealt with over the past year was to create better transparency as IT helped its business partners deal with the economic realities of 2009. At the same time, IT's leadership made possible the hope that better days lie ahead. Read more Opposites Attract By Michael P. Voelker CIOs understand the need to align business and IT, but integrating the two counterparties still is easier said than done. Read more Who's There? By Robert Regis Hyle When customers come knocking for service, do insurers realize whom they are speaking with and what opportunities await both parties? Companies looking to drive more business increasingly are ready for any and all visitors. Read more |