The Chronicle: Issue 2012-51, December 11, 2012
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What's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology?
Showcasing Canadian Innovation: 2013 ICTA Finalists
Social Media And Insurance Brokerages – Part 2 |
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Technology
Guidewire names top five technology predictions for 2013
It was just a matter of time before the “appification” trend made its way to the insurance industry. With the explosion of mobile devices in the field, a surge in new mobile apps will take center stage in 2013 bridging external and internal data from core systems to tame the data deluge: connecting the insurer to the information, curating that data to ensure they have the most relevant information, and “appifying” it for easy access.
illustrate inc OPUS solution simplifies upgrades
As the economy continues to improve, market experts are predicting a return to the merger & acquisition boom similar to what we experienced from 2004 to 2007. As usual, the main driving factor is growth. But it has to be growth that makes sense. That means that companies will often look for synergies in their acquisitions that allow them to merge corporate functions and/or specific operations in order to achieve economies of scale. These economies create greater profit potential and ultimately help companies achieve success.
Claims
2012 another billion-dollar year in severe weather damages for Canadian insurers, reports IBC
For the third time in the last four years, Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) reports that the estimated insured damage caused by severe weather across Canada has topped $1 billion.
Our People: Human Resources
IBAO Elects New President
The Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario announced today that Ms. Debbie Thompson, CAIB, CRM has been elected as IBAO's 70th President. Debbie was officially inducted at the recent IBAO Convention held at the Royal York in Toronto, and will formally assume her role as President on January 1, 2013.
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Register Today! Early bird rates end January 31st. “The Engaged Insurance Environment: Agile, Mobile, Analytic, Collaborative” 2013 Insurance-Canada.ca Technology Conference (ICTC) Monday, March 18 & Tuesday, March 19, 2013 — Sheraton Centre, Toronto The premier insurance technology conference in Canada. For more information, click here. “Engagement is a process, not a goal.” |
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Consumer Information
Most Canadians worried over economic impact of U.S. fiscal cliff – Sun Life survey
According to a Sun Life/Ipsos Reid study released today, almost two-thirds of Canadians (63 per cent) are concerned that Canada's economy will be hurt by the impact of the U.S. fiscal cliff, an unprecedented predicament created by a package of tax increases and spending cuts that could be implemented in the U.S. in the new year.
TD Insurance offers winter driving safety tips
Feeling unprepared for winter road conditions? You are not alone. With towering snow banks, the threat of black ice, and poor visibility, it isn't surprising that one quarter of drivers in Canada admit they feel scared, anxious or uneasy when driving in winter. Yet as the thermostat drops, a new poll by TD Insurance has found many drivers are not taking all the precautions they can to stay safe and keep calm on the winter roads.
Co-operators rewards fire sprinkler protection with homeowners' insurance discount
As part of its ongoing efforts to advocate for the installation of fire sprinklers in residences, The Co-operators introduced a homeowners' insurance discount for homes with the life-saving feature. Clients of Co-operators General Insurance Company whose homes are protected by automatic fire sprinkler systems may be eligible for a discount of ten per cent.
Canadians Prefer Pooled Pension Plans over Higher Contributions
In a survey of Canadians from across the country, Manulife Financial found that respondents were twice as likely to support a Pooled Registered Pension Plan (PRPP) (64 per cent), rather than increase their CPP or QPP contributions (34 per cent) as a means to save more for retirement.
Manulife updates Mobile Packing App with Travel Journal, Photo Sharing
Manulife Financial is pleased to announce a series of updates to its award-winning CoverMe™ Mobile Packing App, including the addition of a Travel Journal that allows users to check-in to locations, search for landmarks and bookmark where they want to go, and create personal journal entries and share them on Facebook.
CAA offers travel tips for a stress-free holiday
This is one of the busiest travel times of the year. Whether you are visiting family and friends over the holidays or heading to a beach or ski resort, expect bustling airports and long lineups.
eMarketer: Canadian Moms are Social
In Canada, moms are diving into the digital life by spending increasing amounts of time online and using the internet as their primary resource for all kinds of information. A September 2012 poll conducted by Mom Central Consulting found that moms' online activities in the country were heavily centered around social media use.
Canadians volunteer for Manulife's DRIVE to 125
Canadians collectively pledged just over 130,000 hours of volunteer work to causes near and dear to their hearts during Manulife Financial's “DRIVE to 125” initiative, launched during National Volunteer Week in April 2012.
Canadian Institute of Actuaries hails retirement savings on agenda for finance ministers
Today federal and provincial finance ministers will be meeting at Meech Lake to debate a potential reform of the Canada/Québec Pension Plan (C/QPP), coming to grips with the fact that Canadians are not saving enough for retirement and recognizing that the pooled registered pension plan (PRPP) initiative may need to be supplemented.
Joe's Corner:
Last Thursday I was reminded why I'm glad I live here when I drove to Kingston to attend a Leonard Cohen concert held at the Kingston arena – thought it would be a better venue than the large ACC concert the week before.
During the intermission, of course, everyone crowds the hallways, jostling to get a drink and a bio break. While I was walking through a doorway, a familiar face came in the opposite direction, and because we vaguely recognized each other from years ago, we said, “Hello, how goes, enjoying the music ... ?” The face belonged to the leader of one of our Federal political parties. As such, that does not mean much, other than similar musical tastes, but the message I took from this was that a well-known figure can attend a function in the midst of a crowd of 5,000 or more and not be flanked by bodyguards and agents talking into their wrist microphones.
I'm glad I live here!
With this issue of the newsletter I'll be riding off into the sunset, and Kathryn Bertsch will take the reins in 2013. All the best Kathy – break a pencil! Or whatever they say....