The Chronicle: Issue 2015-44, November 3, 2015
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What's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology?
Peer-to-Peer Insurance: Something Old, Something New
360° Customer View: You Can Look, but Can You Touch? |
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Technology
Accenture: Improving customer experience is top business priority for companies pursuing digital transformation
Improving the overall customer experience is a top business priority for companies and a main driver behind their digital transformation ambitions, according to a new study from Accenture. But the majority of businesses don't set themselves apart yet from competitors through the digital customer experience they offer. The study, titled “Digital Transformation in the Age of the Customer,” is based on a survey of nearly 400 decision-makers in companies globally. It was commissioned by Accenture Interactive, part of Accenture Digital, and conducted by Forrester Consulting.
IBM to acquire The Weather Company's product and technology businesses
IBM has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire The Weather Company's B2B, mobile and cloud-based web properties, including WSI, weather.com, Weather Underground and The Weather Company brand. The TV segment – The Weather Channel – will not be acquired by IBM, but will license weather forecast data and analytics from IBM under a long-term contract. The combination of technology and expertise from the two companies will serve as the foundation for the new Watson IoT Unit and Watson IoT Cloud platform, building on a $3B commitment made by IBM in March 2015 to invest in related offerings and services.
Policy Management
InEdge: 5 metrics for identifying high-performance underwriting employees
Maintaining good relations with the employees on underwriting teams can really boost the success of underwriting operations. Underwriting managers and executives encourage, and come to expect, great things of each and every employee. But how can analytical systems help to provide visibility on these success factors? If your analytics system can't deliver the answers to the five following questions, you aren't getting the full measure of the operational efficiency of individual underwriters.
Claims
Benchmark IME: Energy drinks, car accidents, and increased potential for injury?
The National Safety Commission has issued a report on the dangers of the use of energy drinks and driving a car. Various energy drink brands have become very popular over the last number of years, particularly with those under the age of 30, and are commonly used to assist with increased energy, athletic performance, and even just to stay awake.
Due to the highly powerful combination of stimulants contained in these beverages, different jurisdictions have reacted with restrictions on the total amount of stimulants, such as caffeine, that can be contained in an individual serving. But this limitation doesn't preclude individuals from having multiple servings. This is where problems arise – the stimulants are so powerful that very few servings are required to dramatically impact an average individual.
Distribution
Bullfrog Insurance first licensed Canadian brokerage to offer small business insurance fully online
For the first time in Canada, small business owners in BC, Alberta and Ontario can purchase their business and liability insurance from their computers or smartphones, in as little as 90 seconds. Bullfrog Insurance is the first licensed Canadian brokerage to offer small business insurance fully online. Specifically created to eliminate the guesswork, find the right policy and save valuable time for small business owners, Bullfrog Insurance can be purchased online any time of day or night.
ORBiT to host annual Members' meeting
ORBiT Canada is hosting their annual Members' meeting on Tuesday November 10th at The Insurance Institute in Toronto. This is ORBiT's annual learning, sharing, and strategic planning event focused on shaping the Real Time agenda for the industry in the coming year. The event addresses top priority topics for brokers, vendors, and carriers.
Gore Mutual: Introducing uBiz, flexible insurance for Canadian businesses that work from home
Gore Mutual Insurance Company has partnered with eight insurance brokers to launch uBiz, the first fully ecommerce commercial insurance platform in Canada. uBiz “Business insurance just how u want it” leverages agile technology to enable small business customers to design their own insurance coverage and buy it instantly and securely online.
Consumer Information
IBC applauds Alberta government's commitment to reduce flood risk
Insurance Bureau of Canada welcomes the Government of Alberta's announcement that it will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to deal with the risk of flooding in southern Alberta.
The government announced new flood protection along the Bow and Elbow Rivers with the aim to defend Calgary and upstream communities against the type of severe flooding that occurred in June 2013. This funding commitment will support a number of flood mitigation projects, including building the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir.
IBC: Top 10 things to do around the house as daylight saving time ends
This weekend, as daylight saving time comes to an end, Insurance Bureau of Canada is reminding Atlantic Canadians of things to do around the house before winter sets in. "As we get ready to move our clocks back this weekend, take a few extra minutes to check some important items off of your home maintenance to-do list," said Amanda Dean, Vice-President, Atlantic, IBC. "Using IBC's top 10 list will help ensure the safety of you and your family over the coming months."