The Chronicle: Issue 2015-27, July 7, 2015
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What's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology?
MGAs Walking the Specialty Line
Why should insurers be interested in bitcoin? (Hint: It's not about the money) |
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Technology
e-SignLive expands into new markets with IBM Cloud
e-SignLive™ by Silanis has capitalized on its strategic relationship with IBM Cloud to bring its e-signature software to six new key international markets by the end of 2015. This global expansion, enabled by IBM Cloud's growing network of data centers, will support e-SignLive's 300 percent increase in worldwide usage over the past year and position the company as the e-signature vendor with the most cloud locations globally.
TEI/IET Mobility Newsletter: The Future of Vehicles and Insurance
The technological advances of the last few years, combined with the rise of new business models in the mobility space, have already resulted in some disruption. One need only think of Uber, for example. As we move into the shared, driverless mobility ecosystem, new risks will emerge and these risks will present opportunities for insurance companies that are informed, involved and willing to adapt.
Gartner: Digital business is transforming application development
Ahead of the Gartner Application Architecture, Integration and Development Summit in Sydney next month, we asked research vice president and conference chair Brian Prentice about how Australian businesses are responding to rapid changes in IT driven by digital business and the profoundly different environment it's creating for application development teams.
Consumer Information
ingenie report: Road Rage and Young Drivers
Young drivers in Ontario have plenty of gripes about other drivers on the road, and tempers could flare this summer as construction related delays add to driver frustration. According to the ingenie Road Rage Report, summer is the most infuriating driving season; 58% of young drivers are frustrated by construction related delays in the summer while only 18% are bothered by bad weather in the winter.
Desjardins makes Ajusto app available on Apple Watch
Along with Hop'n S@ve and InstaBalance, Ajusto is now also available on Apple Watch. This latest addition comes just a few weeks after the launch of the Ajusto app - This link will open in a new window. for smartphones, which made Desjardins the first Canadian insurer to offer a fully mobile telematics insurance program that doesn't require a plug-in device.
Marketing
eMarketer: To create engaging content, marketers need tech
Engagement is at the heart of content marketing. April 2015 research by Pulsepoint and Digiday found that brand engagement was the No. 1 marketing objective supported by content marketing, cited by 66.8% of UK and US agency and brand professionals. Similarly, in a March 2015 study by Ascend2, 52% of marketing professionals worldwide said improving customer engagement was an important content marketing goal.
Business of Insurance
Economical announces enactment of federal P&C demutualization regulations
Economical Insurance has announced that the Department of Finance has published final regulations for the demutualization of federally-regulated mutual property and casualty insurance companies. With final regulations in place, P&C mutual companies that wish to demutualize can use this framework to convert into companies with share capital. Entitled "Mutual Property and Casualty Insurance Company with Non-mutual Policyholders Conversion Regulations," the final regulations are available on the Canada Gazette website.
SGI CANADA becoming Western Canada's insurer of choice
SGI CANADA is strengthening its presence in the Western Canadian insurance market as the company begins to sell commercial insurance products to customers in British Columbia. SGI CANADA has enjoyed 70 years of industry success. Last year the company maintained among the largest market shares of all competitive insurers headquartered in Western Canada.
ACE to acquire Chubb
ACE Limited and The Chubb Corporation have announced that the Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive agreement under which ACE will acquire Chubb. Together, ACE and Chubb will create a global leader in commercial and personal property and casualty (P&C) insurance, with enhanced growth and earning power and an exceptional balance of products as a result of greater diversification and a product mix with reduced exposure to the P&C industry pricing cycle. The combined company will remain a growth company with complementary products, distribution, and customer segments, a shared commitment to underwriting discipline and outstanding claims service, and substantially increased data to drive new, profitable growth opportunities in both developed and developing markets around the world.
Towers Watson announces merger with Willis Group
Willis Group Holdings and Towers Watson have announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement under which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger of equals transaction. The transaction has been unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of each company. The combined company will be named Willis Towers Watson. The combination of Willis and Towers Watson brings together two highly complementary businesses to create an integrated global advisory, broking, and solutions provider to serve a broad range of clients in existing and new business lines. The combined company will have approximately 39,000 employees in over 120 countries.