The Chronicle: Issue 2012-06, February 7, 2012

The Intersection: Insurance-Canada.ca BlogWhat's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology, an Insurance-Canada.ca Blog.

Policy and Product Management

SCM-RMS launches iClarify Commercial to great anticipation.
TORONTO, 01-30-2012 : RMS is proud to officially launch iClarify Commercial, a revolutionary desktop commercial insurance tool. With this tool, insurance professionals will have access to an unprecedented amount of real-time, insurance-relevant data on commercial properties across Canada.

Distribution

ORBiT Appoints John Foreman as Interim Executive Director.
ORBiT Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of John Foreman as Interim Executive Director. In this role, he will be responsible for the successful leadership and management of ORBiT to facilitate the achievement of ORBiT's philosophy, mission, strategy and annual goals and objectives.

Western Financial Group Announces Acquisition of Historic Lacombe Brokerage.
HIGH RIVER, AB, Feb. 1, 2012 - Western Financial Group ("Western") is proud to announce the acquisition today of Brown & Ward Insurance Ltd., a long-time leader in insurance services in the City of Lacombe, Alberta. Owned and operated by Lorne and Heather Rye, Brown & Ward has been in business since 1938. The company will continue to operate with the same friendly staff under the Western Financial Group banner.

Applied Systems : Houston agency processes 1 million transactions in Artizan CSR24.
University Park, Ill. - February 1, 2012 - Bowen, Miclette & Britt is the first insurance agency to have its customers and staff process 1 million transactions through client self-serve portal Artizan CSR24®, underscoring the prevailing value the insurance industry sees in on-demand, online policy access and client self-service.

Kaufman Financial Group Announces Purchase of Chesterfield Group, Ltd..
(FARMINGTON HILLS, MICHIGAN) - January 27, 2012 - The H.W. Kaufman Financial Group, parent company of wholesale broker and underwriting manager Burns & Wilcox, announced its purchase of Chesterfield Group, Ltd., a London-based insurance broker and underwriting organization with companies in the UK, USA, and Canada. The acquisition expands Kaufman Financial Group's international insurance presence in the specialty insurance marketplace.

"The New Landscape": Social Business, Mobile, Analytics, Modern Technology

10th Annual Insurance-Canada.ca Technology Conference
Sheraton Centre Hotel (Toronto) - Monday, March 5th, 2012

10th Annual Insurance-Canada.ca Technology ConferenceIn addition to numerous presentations on analytics and broker distribution, there are very specific topics, such as:

Scan the different topics and speakers.

Marketing and the Market Place

Aite Group Report - U.S. auto insurers must adjust to the constantly connected, highly informed, "new consumer".
Boston, January 11, 2012 - A new report from Aite Group defines the psychographic attributes of today's U.S. auto insurance consumers. Based on a November 2011 Aite Group survey of 1,024 U.S. consumers, the report provides insight into the ways in which consumer characteristics affect consumer attitudes and behavior related to shopping for, purchasing, and using auto insurance products.

Managing Relationships and Customer Service

ISB Seminar: The Lost Art of Customer Service.
Customer satisfaction scores are lower than ever even though keeping customers happy is key to business success. This seminar will:: Improve Communication Skills, Teach Unique Phone Tips Highlight Do's and Don'ts of Email Communication, Review Dealing with Irate Customers and Offer Tips to Stay Motivated

Customer Service

Policy Billing Services & Totten Insurance Group partner to Provide a Monthly Plan for Clients.
Toronto, ON, Canada -- February 1, 2012 - Effective February 1st, 2012 Policy Bill is pleased to announce the Totten Insurance Group has chosen Policy Bill to provide an outsourced, "Point of Sale" solution for monthly payment plans. Named the Totten Pay Plan, this new offering is a premium finance solution that allows clients to pay for their Totten policy using a monthly payment option.

Technology

Accenture Unveils 'Connected Vehicle Integrated Solution' to Help Manufacturers Meet Customer Demand for In-Vehicle Services - From Wi-Fi Access to Mobile Payments and Safety Devices.
NEW YORK; Jan. 17, 2012 - Accenture today unveiled an integrated solution for auto and truck manufacturers that will help them meet growing demand from consumers for in-vehicle technologies with capabilities ranging from wi-fi access to the ability to process mobile payments for parking, insurance and tolls. According to Accenture, the market for these technologies is expected to exceed $70 billion this year[1], with new research showing a growing demand for automated driver-assistance and traffic-avoidance technologies.

Claims

Mondial Assistance Canada becomes Allianz Global Assistance.
KITCHENER, ON, Feb. 1, 2012 - Leading assistance and specialty insurance provider, Mondial Assistance Canada, will formally become Allianz Global Assistance on February 1st, 2012, as part of a global brand transition expected to be completed in late 2012. Mondial Assistance Canada is a subsidiary of Allianz Global Assistance, an international leader in assistance and insurance services with operation centres in 28 countries.

IBC and CPKN sponsor initiative aimed at disrupting the criminal network and defending against organized insurance scams.
TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2012 - Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) understands the frustration of consumers in Ontario who face the highest auto insurance premiums in the country. For the remainder of 2012, IBC and the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) are sponsoring free access for Canadian frontline police officers to the Identifying Staged Collisions online training course. This will help police across Canada learn more about the tactics of highly sophisticated and widespread auto fraud rings and associated service supplier fraud.

Business of Insurance

Union of Canada Life Winding Up.
TORONTO, Feb. 2, 2012 - Today, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered the winding-up of Union of Canada Life and appointed Grant Thornton Limited as liquidator. Union of Canada Life, incorporated in Ontario, services approximately 22,000 policies across Canada with most policies being in Quebec. The company faced unique challenges, business risks and insufficient capital to ensure long-term viability, which caused it ultimately to seek court protection.

AON Hewitt: Managing Risk Factors Helps Improve Funded Status.
TORONTO, January 6, 2012 - Many employers that provide a defined benefit (DB) pension plan for their employees may find themselves having to double their contributions or more, this year in order to meet solvency requirements, according to Aon Hewitt, the global human resource consulting and outsourcing business of Aon Corporation. The median pension solvency funded ratio - the ratio of the market value of plan assets to liabilities - is approximately 15 per cent lower this year than at the start of 2011 due to lower interest rates and the stock market decline.

Consumer Information

IBC: Is your home insurance up to date?
TORONTO, Feb. 1, 2012 - After a disaster or burglary would you be able to replace everything, all at once? Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reminds homeowners and tenants to make sure their insurance policies are up to date. Often, home insurance policies automatically renew each year and consumers may not even think about what their policies cover.

IBAO Launches New Home Inventory Tool for Ontarians.
January 30, 2012 (Toronto, Ontario) Today, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario has launched a new website tool MyInsuraceShopper Know Your Stuff® - Home Inventory tool - a free online home inventory software for consumers. The application was designed for consumers, and make creating and updating their home inventory easy and efficient all within the digital space. And with free, secure online storage, they will have access to their inventory anywhere, any time.

CAA finds Majority of Canadians unprepared for winter driving.
January 19, 2012 - OTTAWA - More than six out of 10 Canadians could find themselves in trouble if they got stranded while driving in winter, according to polling data released today by the Canadian Automobile Association. Only 36 per cent of those surveyed carry a winter driving kit in their vehicle. That means no flares, warm blankets, or other essentials to help them out in the case of a winter driving mishap.

ICBC's top tips for smart winter driving.
January 17, 2012 - According to an ICBC survey conducted in December, seven out of 10 drivers admit to feeling less safe or more frustrated on the roads when winter conditions hit and this is reflected in a spike in crashes at this time of the year. Over the past five years, there have been on average more than 24,000 crashes during the month of January making it one of the highest months for crashes on B.C. roads.

from Doug:

On Sunday we attended a luncheon and evensong service commemorating Queen Elizabeth II's accession to the throne sixty years ago. The luncheon speaker the managing editor of Hello Canada who described some aspects of their relationship with royalty. One interesting aspect was how the royal family has kept in tune with the evolution of technology and the media. On Monday Gov.-Gen. David Johnston presented the first sixty Canadian awards of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medals at a ceremony at Rideau Hall. This is shaping up to be quite a celebration!

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