Issue 2002-02: January 15, 2002
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.
Claims
CCC Internet Solutions Inc, parent company of CarCostCanada.com announces the availability of 43r.ca. Named for the Waiver of depreciation / 43r endorsement, 43r.ca will generate savings for auto insurance companies in their claims costs for new auto replacements. The information and processes developed at CarCostCanada.com - with 15,000+ paid members - over several years to save new car buyers significant dollars on their purchases is now being delivered to the insurance industry to help manage loss costs. We are able to ensure consistently low acquisition prices for our Insurance company members. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/announce/43r200201.php
Physical Medicine Research Foundation announces a symposia in Markham Sept 26-29, 2002 "Symptom, Diagnostic and Disability Validity: Improving Patient Outcomes". This first International Conference, at which a new international society will be announced, has been assembled by many health care organizations. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/canada/PMRF200201.php As part of the symposia preparation, PMRF is announcing Cash Prizes for Best Posters and Papers. Up to $1,000 (Canadian Funds) will be paid to the principal author of selected papers/poster(s) demonstrating innovation and excellence in research activities. Two classes - for professionals and for students/new entrants - are being offered.
Marketing
Manulife Quarterly Investor Sentiment Index: WATERLOO, ON, Jan. 10 - Canadians were showing signs of renewed confidence in mutual funds and equities toward the end of 2001, after turning to traditionally safe havens in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States, suggests a national poll conducted for Manulife Financial, one of Canada's leading insurance companies. The latest regular quarterly poll for Manulife conducted in December suggests many Canadians felt more confident in equity markets than just three months earlier. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/market/canada/ManulifeISI200201.php
Distribution
THE CHANGING FACE OF FINANCIAL SERVICE DISTRIBUTION: "Will integration work or fail, the jury is still out", By Eric Walker, in Dec 2001 ci Canadian Insurance Magazine. More than ever property and casualty insurance brokers are embracing the concept of providing integrated financial services to their clients. There are signs in the marketplace that suggest there are a growing number of integrated financial service brokers. The question is, are these brokers providing multi-line services successfully. This article discusses some of the benefits, critical success factors and approaches to establishing a fully integrated financial service brokerage. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/Walker200201.php
CSIO Insurance Portal update: The design, development, and testing of the CSIO Insurance Portal continues. Since mid-December a number of the "function bundles" have moved into the next phase. We show the portal functions grouped into seven bundles, and the current development phase for each, with some dates. As well, a small number of companies and vendors are listing their "status" with the project. This information is at www.insurance-canada.ca/csioip/csioip.php
Managing Relationships
Information Integration: Why cross selling in the insurance sector is highly independent on back-end technology. By Kevin Rosen, Silverline Technologies. The application of new technology combined with the brokers' willingness to expand their role and the insurance companies' willingness to move to a customer-centric organizational structure will make the cross-selling of products easier and more lucrative for all parties. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/InfoInteg200201.php
from Doug:
A reminder about the date change - to February 14 - for the Insurance-Canada.ca Claims seminar. Details at www.insurance-canada.ca/seminars/seminar20020214.php
We have revamped our Jobs, Careers, Skills Training and HR section. If you have a corporate careers/jobs page on your own Web site and would like to promote it to our readership, we will include it in a 'planned' list of company careers/jobs sites. The fee is our standard directory entry charge of $150. for a year.
We have started some design work on two new sections of our site. Both will feature insurance products, especially niche or specialty products. One will be in our Professional section, with brokers/agents/distributors as the targeted audience. The second will be on the consumer side of our site. If your organization would be interested in working with us in the early stages of this, we will arrange some reduced pricing to feature your product(s).