Issue 2004-14b:   April 13, 2004

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.

Customer Relations and Service

Standard Life Launches Health & Wellness Web site.

Standard Life's Group Insurance division announced today the launch of a new Web site dedicated to the promotion of health and wellness. The virtual health and wellness centre was developed in the context of the line of business theme - Well. And well worth it. It includes information on key health and wellness issues such as physical activity, nutrition, heart health and prevention.

Empire Financial Group Launches Next Phase of groupweb Using DWL Technology.

DWL, the leader in Enterprise Business Services software, today announced that Empire Financial Group has launched phase two of groupweb - an initiative to achieve proven cost reduction with web-based self-servicing capabilities for group business. Following on the success of Empire's initial implementation of DWL InsuranceT for Group Life and Health, which provides a password protected site for electronic plan administration, phase two of the project now adds full update and enrollment capability in real-time, using version 3.0 of DWL Insurance for Group Life & Health.

Distribution

National Group Benefits Forum, by ConnectInsure.

If you are a group benefits provider, you won't want to miss ConnectInsure's Annual National Group Benefits Forum. This forum is free of charge and will give brokers an opportunity to network with executives from major benefit providers as well as their peers with in the group benefits industry. Brokers will be exposed to issues that are of growing concern to the Canadian group market, as well as earn valuable C.E. credits.

Custom Software Solutions Inc. Receives $1.250 Million Investment From ENSIS Growth Fund.

Custom Software Solutions Inc. (CSSI), a developer of automation software for the Canadian insurance industry, today announced it has obtained a $1.25 million investment from ENSIS Growth Fund (ENSIS) to expand marketing efforts in Canada for its broker management system and standardized single entry, multiple company interface (SEMCI) solution for the transfer of data between brokers and insurance companies.

New Kasina Study is First to Segment Financial Intermediaries by Behaviours.

Traditional methods of predicting financial intermediary investment preferences based on distribution channel segmentation provide little insight into underlying behavior and may actually be counter-productive, according to the results of a new study announced today by kasina.

CSIO Insurance Portal Status Update

Week ending April 2:Peel Mutual's habitational rates have been loaded and are in systems testing.
Grenville and Germania Mutual have committed to use the portal.
The alpha/beta test brokers continue with the pilot.

Claims

Crawford Appointed Lloyd's Agent in Six New Offices in Canada & U.S.

Jeffrey T. Bowman, president, Crawford International, is pleased to announce that Lloyd's of London's Agency Department has appointed Crawford as Lloyd's Agent in five new locations in Canada. The new Lloyd's Agencies are in Victoria, Nanaimo, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Thunder Bay. Crawford is currently the Lloyd's Agent in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.

e-Business and Technology

New SAS®9 Software Revolutionizes the Business Intelligence Industry.

SAS today delivered SAS®9 to users worldwide, complete with a new platform, enhanced analytics and refined user interfaces that provide fresh insights for solving business problems and driving competitive advantage. This software marks the most significant release in SAS28-year history. SAS®9 is faster, more efficient and easier to use than its predecessors. It can accommodate changing organizational needs without any loss of efficiency. The new platform connects all SAS applications so they work together transparently, and it also communicates with other data sources and programs.

Hyland Integrates with Leading GIS Software Product.

Hyland Software, Inc., developer of the award winning OnBase® enterprise content management (ECM) software, has created an integration with ESRIs ArcIMS® product. The integration allows users to link documents stored in OnBase to locations on maps within ESRI ArcGIS applications. ESRI is a leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology and its software is the standard in state and local government and is used by more than 24,000 government agencies around the world.

Seminar

Time-consuming document searches, records security storage space costs, and regulatory compliance dominate concerns when streamlining operations for a more robust bottom line and serving clients with new policy delivery technologies. Peter James and Franz Gangl, IKON Office Solutions will focus on the importance of educating and empowering users with new strategies for implementing a paperless solutions at the next Insurance-Canada.ca seminar Policy and Document Management Systems: Developments and Trends - a half-day on Thursday May 20 in Toronto - Register now.

Auto Insurance

More New Brunswick drivers getting lower insurance rates as Facility Association numbers continue to drop: IBC.

The insurance industry announced today that it has moved about 2,000 drivers from the higher-priced Facility Association in March. At the beginning of the month, there were almost 17,000 New Brunswick drivers insured by Facility Association.

Manitoba Public Insurance supports World Health Day 2004.

Road safety this year's theme -- With road safety being the theme for World Health Day 2004, Manitoba Public Insurance is reminding all Manitobans many collisions can be avoided with care and caution.

Statistics and Reference

Universal Life Continues to Lead the Way in USA Life Sales: LIMRA.

For the third year in a row, sales of universal life outpaced those of other life insurance products, accounting for 35 percent of the new annualized premium generated in 2003.

from Doug:

I hope that you are reinvigorated now that Easter has passed and, at least here, Spring has visited once again with an unexpectedly pleasant weekend. A year ago I suggested that my Dad write a bit of a farm history - I was fifth generation on that farm near Stratford ON. This weekend coming will see a family reunion and we plan to distribute this sixty page composition - needless to say the last minute efforts are proving quite a challenge, especially with Murphy hanging around where he is least needed