Issue 2002-15: April 16, 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.
Distribution
Maritime Life changes look to line up with customer experience. With the introduction of its new logo, Maritime Life is not only sporting a new look, but has also renewed its commitment to customers. As part of a journey that focuses on the needs of customers and partnerships, Maritime Life has adopted a new way of interacting with customers on the Web. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/MaritimeWeb200204.php
Manulife's 24/7 online advisor business tool adds public site, new features. Manulife Financial advisors across Canada are putting technology to work exactly when and how they want it, thanks to the development and ongoing improvements to Manulife's bilingual advisor Web site Repsource. It's one more way independent Manulife advisors get to "write the rules" on how they want to do business. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/ManulifeWeb200204.php
CoVirt to Supply HUB Financial with Internet Broker and Policy Management Service. CoVirt Inc. (Canada), a relatively new provider of enterprise solutions for insurance organizations, and HUB Financial Inc., one of Canada's largest brokerage general agencies, have just announced that CoVirt is to supply HUB with its multi-channel broker and policy management service, VirtGate. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/CoVirt200204.php
The Standard Life Assurance Company is pleased to announce the addition of several new coverage options to its "Protecta" critical illness insurance. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/Standard200204.php
CSIO Insurance Portal
Major milestone with the CSIO Insurance Portal: All the remaining functions have been moved to the CSIO Quality Assurance area after finishing the internal testing. In this new environment more testing can be done more easily by the various parties involved. We have now listed more companies with their Portal intentions. Keal Technology will join Applied Systems in testing soon.
We hear a lot about the technology infrastructure and application development and testing for the CSIO Insurance Portal. Although these may be the sizzle and the steak for this endeavour, the skeleton of a smoothly running operation requires much more. Article at www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/canada/CSIOHelp200204.php
eBusiness & Technology
Manulife Financial and IBM sign largest IT services contract in Canadian insurance industry. IBM will manage Manulife's information technology (IT) infrastructure and operations. The value of this contract is estimated at approximately CDN$850 million over a 10-year period. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/announce/IBMManulife200204.php
As insurance carriers face competitive pressures to reduce operating costs and streamline business operations, many insurers are turning to business process outsourcing (BPO) and information technology outsourcing to achieve those goals, according to a survey by Gartner, Inc. as reported in Virtual Insurance March 28 from SellingWithTechnology.com and more at www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/other/VIGartner200204.php
New e-Business report from kasina helps Technology Vendors understand the business challenges facing Financial Services Firms. A successful technology implementation in the financial services market requires that technology vendors anticipate the needs and speak the language of financial services firms, understand the investment management organizations and structures, and identify the key opportunities to provide unique solutions. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/other/kasina200204.php
Marketing
Province-wide Car Seat Clinics Keep Kids Safe: The Co-operators sponsors car seat awareness day. Community coalitions across the province ran car seat inspection clinics on Saturday April 13th, during Ontario's second Love Me - Buckle Me Right Day. More at www.insurance-canada.ca/market/canada/Co-opCarSeat200204.php
from Doug:
From early spring we seem to have jumped to near-summer today - Mother Nature does have that habit of reminding us who is in control from time to time.
Please note my new e-mail address; finally after much procrastination doug.grant@insurance-canada.ca
Check out our seminar on Technology in the Life Supply and Distribution chain