Issue 2006-22: May 30, 2006
Policy and Product Management
Commercial Underinsurance & Solutions Topic of MSB Forum.
NATICK, MA MAY 25, 2006 - Marshall & Swift / Boeckh (MSB), an MDA company and the leading worldwide provider of commercial and residential building cost data and estimating technology to the property insurance industry, unveils enhancements to its industry-leading commercial property valuation application, BVS(TM). The enhancements reflect MSB's continuing support of the commercial insurance market with products and services that improve underwriting workflow efficiency, valuation accuracy, and overall profitability of commercial property portfolios.
New Lloyd's proposals to ensure right checks at right time.
23 May 2006 - In his first letter to the market, Lloyd's Chief Executive Richard Ward has set out proposals to streamline the way insurance contracts are checked, produced and issued. The changes, which follow consultation with the market, will lead to a better overall service for customers, and shorten the often lengthy process for ensuring the quality of insurance contracts.
Distribution
Global IQX Announces IQX Secure - Enables quick and secure data import/export.
May 22, 2006, ACORD LOMA Insurance Systems Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada - A new solution from Global IQX, a specialist in component-based sales and service solutions for group benefits carriers, will enable insurance carriers handling large amounts of data to import and export it securely. A patent is pending on the innovation developed by the company's Chief Architect Yufeng Chen and President & CEO Michael de Waal.
Camilion Solutions Introduces AuthorityOnline™.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - May 23, 2006 - Camilion Solutions, a leading provider of software solutions for the insurance industry, today announced AuthorityOnline™, a complete online solution for P&C carriers looking to take their commercial and specialty lines business online, or who are looking for a way to rationalize their online systems into a single, easy to use, web-based platform from which brokers can write business, get quotes and bind policies in minutes.
Advocis 2006 National Conference, June 14-17, 2006 in Victoria BC.
The 2006 Advocis National Conference in Victoria, British Columbia, will celebrate our Association's 100th anniversary with special events to mark this milestone.
Claims
Symbility Solutions Demonstrates Mobile Claims Integration with Microsoft'R' Insurance Value Chain at ACORD/LOMA Insurance Systems Forum 2006.
WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(May 17, 2006) - Symbility Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Automated Benefits Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AUT) today announced it will demonstrate its mobile claims processing system in the Microsoft IVC Partner Booth #400 at the ACORD/LOMA Insurance Systems Forum in Las Vegas, NV May 22 - 24, 2006.
eBusiness and Technology
Infosys Study: Insurance Industry Shifting Technology and Business Strategies to Spur Profitable Growth.
FREMONT, CA, May 22, 2006 - Infosys Technologies today announced that a comprehensive study on underwriting in the $222 billion commercial lines insurance industry has revealed that U.S.-based Property & Casualty (P&C) insurers are taking new approaches to risk assessment and acceptance to sustain profitable growth in their business.
Government Agencies That Deliver Outstanding Customer Service Provide An Experience That Rivals The Private Sector, Accenture Report Finds.
WASHINGTON; May 17, 2006 - Government agencies that lead the public sector in customer service are focused on developing sophisticated, interactive and transactional capabilities on par with the best of the private sector, according to a new global research report by Accenture.
Business of Insurance
RIMS Benchmark Survey Book Records Total Cost of Risk Down in 2005.
New York, May 25, 2006 -- According to the 2005 Annual Benchmark Survey from the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS), the commercial insurance industry remained a buyers' market in 2005, and shows no signs of hardening any time soon. The 2005 RIMS Benchmark Survey book provides risk managers objective and actionable insurance market information based on the insurance programs of more than 1,400 participants from the U.S. and Canada - the largest number of respondents in 25 years of benchmark surveys.
Marketing and the Market Place
StatsCan: Travel between Canada and other countries.
Same-day car travel from the United States increased only slightly in March after falling to its lowest monthly level on record the month before. Over 1.2 million Americans took same-day car trips to Canada in March, up a marginal 0.4% from February. (Unless otherwise specified, monthly data are seasonally adjusted.)
Consumer Information
Manitoba Public Insurance reports same Jeep Cherokee targeted 10 times by thieves.
A Winnipeg vehicle holds the dubious distinction of being one of the most stolen/attempted stolen vehicles in Manitoba - 10 thefts or attempts in just six years, says Manitoba Public Insurance.
Be Safely Seated: Tips for Ensuring Children are Protected in your Vehicle - Cooperators.
GUELPH, ON, May 23, 2006 - Summer is almost here. For many Canadian families, that means more travel and time in the car. With 8 out of 10 child car seats improperly installed, there's no better time to inspect your child's car seat and protect the ones you love.
International Conference on Distracted Driving: Proceedings and Recommendations (from TIRF and CAA).
May 9, 2006 - The International Conference on Distracted Driving - co-organized by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) and the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) - was held October 2-5, 2005 in Toronto, Ontario. The purpose of the conference was to identify rational and effective programs and policies for controlling the problem of distracted driving, based on solid facts about its magnitude and causes.
Transport Canada and Canadian Safe Boating Council Launch Safe Boating Awareness Week with a Splash!
May 19, 2006 - OTTAWA - The 2006 boating season was kicked off today with the national launch of Safe Boating Awareness Week.
Expedia.com Survey Reveals Vacation Deprivation Among American Workers is at an All Time High.
BELLEVUE, Wash., May 23 2006 -- Expedia.com®, the world's leading online travel agency, recently commissioned its sixth annual "Vacation Deprivation" survey, conducted by Harris Interactive® and Ipsos Reid. The survey revealed that Americans (1) are likely to give back more than 574 million (2) vacation days in 2006, with each employed U.S. adult age 18 and older anticipated to leave an average of four vacation days on the table.
NOAA Predicts Very Active 2006 North Atlantic Hurricane Season: Residents in Hurricane Prone Areas Urged to Make Preparations.
5/22/06 - The Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration today announced to America and its neighbors throughout the north Atlantic region that a very active hurricane season is looming, and encouraged individuals to make preparations to better protect their lives and livelihoods. May 21-27 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
WSIB Launches Young Worker Safety Awareness Campaign.
TORONTO, ONTARIO - May 8, 2006 - Think This Couldn't Happen to you? Think Again. Workplace safety may not be top of mind for the many young people across Ontario who will soon begin summer jobs. But it should be. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) hopes its newest marketing campaign targeted at young workers, their parents and employers will help to get the message out.
from Doug:
In Toronto, we have experienced the sudden arrival of summer this week, in juxtaposition to the miserable Victoria Day weekend. I am eagerly awaiting the return of more seasonal temperatures as we prepare to kick off a four-day heritage conference on Thursday. We are looking forward to lots of good events, and time to share with about 130 from across the country.