Issue 2009-30 -- July 28, 2009

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.




Featured Article

Customer Lifetime Value: Can Insurance Carriers Bring Home the Love? - by Karen Pauli, TowerGroup.
Customer value means different things across the insurance industry, and this lack of a shared view leads many carriers to conduct random customer initiatives that generate minimal value. Conversely, they could pay the same amount of attention to all customers, but doing so is expensive.

Distribution

Aviva Canada Improves Connectivity via Brovada Nexisys.
July 23, 2009 (Toronto, ON and Saint John, NB) - Aviva Canada Inc., one of Canada's leading providers of home, auto and business insurance, announced today that broker connectivity with the Aviva Portal will be enhanced via Brovada Technologies Inc.'s Nexisys solution. Single Sign On and Inquiry functionalities are now available for personal lines for Aviva Pilot, Aviva Traders and Aviva Elite in Ontario and the West and Atlantic regions.

Vancity to sell general insurance operation to The Co-operators.
VANCOUVER, BC, and GUELPH, ON, July 21 2009 - Vancity and The Co-operators today announced an agreement for the sale, pending final approvals, of Vancity Insurance Services Limited (VISL), Vancity's subsidiary for home, auto, travel and business insurance.

RSA continues as a Full Partner of the Broker Identity Program in 2009: IBAC.
June 16, 2009/Toronto - The Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) is pleased to announce that RSA is continuing its investment as a Full Partner of the Broker Identity Program for 2009.

Policy and Product Management

LOGiQ3 launches Life Reinsurance Business Process Outsourcing company.
14th July 2009: Life reinsurance services company LOGiQ3 Inc announces the creation of a bespoke Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company for the industry, LOGiQ3 Solutions Corporation.

Claims

Novarica Report: Emerging Technologies Transforming Property/Casualty Claims Processing.
July 20, 2009 - Despite the challenging economy, US P/C insurers continue to invest in core and ancillary systems and technology solutions to improve both loss ratios and loss adjustment expenses, according to a new report from Novarica.

Business of Insurance

Sun Life Financial Announces Expansion of MFS Investment Management.
TORONTO, July 22 2009 - Sun Life Financial Inc. has announced a broad expansion of its MFS Investment Management unit's global investment and distribution platforms in response to significant growth of client interest in MFS' products and services. MFS has experienced strong net sales growth in 2009, reflecting the solid relative performance of its investment line-up along with its extensive global distribution capabilities.

Consumer Information

Insurers Responding Quickly to BC Fire Crisis - Consumers reminded wildfires covered by insurance: IBC.
VANCOUVER, BC - July 20, 2009 - BC insurers are acting quickly to assist those whose homes and businesses have been affected by the forest fires currently raging in the province.

BCAA advice: Remove fire-related ash and soot from your vehicles.
BURNABY, BC, July 20 2009 - Smoke-filled air fuelled by forest fires could be as damaging to your car as to your lungs warns the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA). Smoke, soot and ash from the wildfires will rule the skies for days, and the debris is falling like a constant mist and blanketing vehicles, possibly damaging paint and contributing to operational issues.

ICBC's top five tips for teens behind the wheel.
Once your teen has passed a knowledge exam and vision test, they are permitted to get behind the wheel – with some restrictions. However, stats show that teens are at a higher risk of being in a crash, with one in five new drivers involved in a crash within the first two years of driving.

Reference and Statistics

Ontario Auto Insurance Rates for the Second Quarter of 2009 [Bill 5]: FSCO.
Rate applications approved during the second quarter of 2009 (April 1, 2009 to June 30, 2009) averaged +3.20%, based on the entire market. In the second quarter of 2009, for the 54.67% of the market that had rate changes approved, the average rate change was +5.86%, when weighted by market share.

Our People

New Technology Increases Productivity: eMarketer.
JULY 23, 2009 - Workplace technology may be a boon for work and family life. According to staffing firm Kelly Services' "Global Workforce Index," 78% of workers in the US and Canada believed that gadgets such as laptop computers and mobile phones increased their productivity.

eBusiness and Technology

Gartner's Cloud Computing Special Report Examines the Realities and Risks of Cloud.
STAMFORD, Conn., June 23, 2009 - As cloud computing begins to move beyond the pure hype stage and into the beginning of mainstream adoption, Gartner, Inc. has identified the five attributes of cloud computing. By using these attributes, it is possible to see how strongly a cloud solution (or service) adheres to the cloud computing model.

Forrester Updates Outlook For Global And US IT Purchases In 2009.
Cambridge, Mass., June 30, 2009 . . . Global purchases of IT goods and services by businesses and governments in 2009 are projected to decline by 10.6 percent when measured in US dollars, compared with the 3 percent decrease previously projected at the beginning of the year by Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR). The latest quarterly update of Forrester's IT spending outlook also projects a 5.1 percent decline in the US annual IT market, compared with the 3.1 percent decrease previously forecast.

Gomez Unveils Major Platform Upgrade to Optimize Performance and Quality of Web and Mobile Applications.
Lexington, Massachusetts, July 20, 2009 - Gomez, Inc. , the leader in Web application experience management, today announced a major platform-wide upgrade, simultaneously releasing integrated enhancements to its Web load testing, Web performance management, and Web cross-browser testing solutions for optimizing Web and mobile applications. For businesses delivering rich Web and mobile applications, the upgraded Gomez software-as-a-service platform provides the most integrated and cost-efficient solution for optimizing the performance and quality of Web 2.0, RIA, streaming and mobile applications.

from Doug:

On Saturday morning during summer I visit the farmers' market. The fresh vegetables and fruit are great. I am more than a little partial to corn on the cob, the corn this past weekend, our third feed, was by far the best. The first field tomatoes were just about as good. I will have to maintain my exercise program, or the extra good food will be my undoing.


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