Issue 2010-33 -- August 17, 2010

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




Claims

CDRG Welcomes Medius Restoration and DFB Associates.
With the Addition of Medius to our growing network of top quality restorers, CDRG can now offer coverage in Southern Saskatchewan. Alongside, Spectrum Restorations and Granite in Prince Albert, CDRG continues to solidify it's position in Saskatchewan.

RMS Develops First High Performance Computing Catastrophe Modeling Solution.
Newark, Calif. - August 5, 2010 - Marking a pivotal stage in the evolution of catastrophe modeling, Risk Management Solutions (RMS) today announced that it is to bring high-performance computing (HPC) to the industry through its new Enterprise Grid Computing software. Enterprise Grid Computing, fully integrates the RMS RiskLink® modeling platform with Microsoft's Windows HPC Server, allowing computing resources to be used much more efficiently.

Cadillac Escalade, Ford F-250 pickup, and Infiniti G37 top list of highest insurance claims for theft in the USA: IIHS.
Arlington, VA (August 3, 2010) - The rate at which people file insurance claims for theft is highest for versions of the 2007-09 Cadillac Escalade, a luxury SUV, followed by the Ford F-250 crew pickup, Infiniti G37 luxury car, and Dodge Charger with a HEMI engine. Theft rates for these vehicles are 3 to 5 times as high as the average for all vehicles.

Managing Relationships and Customer Service

Sun Life Financial enhances its online wellness centre by choosing Novus Health.
TORONTO (Aug. 10, 2010) - Sun Life Financial has teamed up with Novus Health to offer comprehensive online health navigation and information services to enhance Sun Life's online wellness centre. Designed with the plan member in mind, this online offering allows members to access tools and resources designed to help them manage their own health as well as navigate and understand health care in Canada.

Consumer Information

Ontario Government Improving Road Safety.
TORONTO, June 22 2010 - Starting November 2010, a new system will help improve road safety by keeping uninsured vehicles off Ontario's roads. A new electronic verification system, developed by the province and the Insurance Bureau of Canada will provide on-the-spot confirmation of valid insurance coverage during the licence plate renewal process. The ability to check for insurance in real-time means fewer uninsured vehicles on Ontario's roads and less risk to other drivers.

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada - Boat Safety: Prevent a Tragedy.
As many as nine million Canadians participate in recreational boating each year. About 200 of these people will die in accidents on the water, with another 6,000 suffering non-fatal injuries according to Canadian government statistics. During the warm months of summer many Canadians take the opportunity to spend time on the water,

Calgary's July Hailstorm Causes Record Amount of Insured Damage: IBC.
EDMONTON, Aug. 11 2010 - Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reports that a storm that pummeled Calgary and parts of southern Alberta with golf ball-sized hail earlier this summer has resulted in a record amount of insured damage for a hailstorm in Canada. The July 12 weather event produced a sudden downpour and fierce hail large enough to dent cars. Local insurers were immediately inundated with calls from home, car and business owners seeking assistance.

Distribution

Asset Managers Need To Improve Their Segmentation Efforts To Match Varied Advisor Preferences, According To The Latest Findings From Fa Vision: kasina.
New York, (July 26, 2010) - When interacting with asset management companies, financial intermediaries' preferences for support vary greatly, but most firms do not effectively segment their offerings, according to results released today from kasina and Horsesmouth's FA Vision service. The results are part of the latest FA Vision benchmarking survey: 3,162 responses gathered from April 29th to June 11th, 2010.

eBusiness and Technology

Zurich Connect chooses SAS® and IS Solutions to deliver insight into the online customer experience to improve online acquisition and conversion.
CARY, NC (Jul. 29, 2010) - Zurich Connect, (Zurich Financial Services Ltd.) the pan-European insurance brand from Zurich Financial Services has selected SAS, the leader in software and services, and IS Solutions to support its continued growth through better understanding of its online customers' experiences. Using SAS® software, Zurich's European Direct operation will analyse online customer behaviour to support customer acquisition by fine-tuning the online quote and purchase process.

Marketing and the Market Place

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: USA Customer Satisfaction with Auto Insurance Companies Declines Considerably from 2009.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 3 August 2010 - After peaking in 2009, overall customer satisfaction with insurance companies has declined significantly in 2010, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. National Auto Insurance StudySM released today. Overall customer satisfaction averages 777 on a 1,000-point scale, decreasing by 10 points from 20091.

Half of Mobile Users in the USA to Be Web-Enabled by 2013: eMarketer.
AUGUST 10, 2010 - According to Nielsen, smartphones were used by 25% of the US mobile phone audience in Q2 2010, up from 23% the previous quarter and 16% in Q2 2009. The research firm predicts they will overtake feature phones by the end of 2011. This increased ownership of smart devices is driving growth in mobile internet usage. The acceleration of this trend has led eMarketer to raise its forecast relative to the estimates released in November 2009.

Reference and Statistics

Commercial Insurance Premiums Still Under Pressure, According to the RIMS Benchmark Survey™.
New York (July 21, 2010) - Excess capacity in the commercial lines insurance marketplace continued to keep premiums under pressure during the second quarter of 2010, according to the RIMS Benchmark Survey™, administered by Advisen Ltd. Risk managers reported decreases in average renewal premium of between 2.5 and 3.8 percent for property, general liability, directors & officers liability (D&O) and workers? compensation insurance.

Our People

Troubled by Twitter? Flummoxed by Facebook? LIMRA and LOMA Offer Help to Financial Services Industry.
WINDSOR, Conn. (July 19, 2010) - LIMRA and LOMA are hosting a first-ever seminar for financial services leaders on the various business opportunities and challenges that social media presents on Aug. 26-27, 2010, in Windsor, Conn. Social media is possibly the most significant development in marketing and communication in our lifetime, but adoption does not come without risk and regulatory concern,

Gartner Says the World of Work Will Witness 10 Changes.
Egham, UK, , August 4, 2010 - The world of today is dramatically different from 20 years ago and with the lines between work and non-work already badly frayed, Gartner, Inc. predicts that the nature of work will witness 10 key changes through 2020. Organizations will need to plan for increasingly chaotic environments that are out of their direct control, and adaptation must involve adjusting to all 10 of the trends.

Business of Insurance

Majority of US Public Thinks Legislation to Allow Policyholders to Sue Their Own Insurance Companies is Not a Good Idea: IRC.
Malvern, PA (July 29, 2010) - New public opinion survey findings from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) indicate that a majority of Americans believe that adopting new laws allowing people to sue their own auto insurance company for punitive damages, in addition to receiving benefits for their insured claim losses, is not a good idea. Twenty-six percent of those surveyed said that allowing such lawsuits was a poor idea, and 31 percent said it was only a fair idea.

from Doug:

My niece organized a 60th birthday picnic for my brother on Sunday. It was the first time that we four brothers had been together in some time. It was a treat for the birthday boy, as well as for our parents. Our mother dotes on little children - always has - and having all her seven great-grand children there was special for her, and for Dad.
Meanwhile, at home, the unpacking and sorting continues. Boxes of things keep apearing from strange hiding places, but I think we are gradually rooting them all out. I am behind on my share of the work; there are a number of to-do's that need to get done soon. That, or the doghouse.


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