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.
Policy and Product Management
CGI, Locator Technologies and National Vehicle Service Database Will Help Detect Movement of Stolen and Unsafe Vehicles Across North American Borders.
Toronto, Ontario, September 5, 2007 - To assist insurers and other organizations to detect vehicle theft and prevent fraud, CGI Group Inc., Locator Technologies LLC and National Vehicle Service, a-not-for-profit company today announced the development of a shared database of automobile information for cars in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Distribution
Custom Software Solutions Releases I-Biz For Ontario Wawanesa.
Winnipeg, MB, September 5, 2007 - Custom Software Solutions Inc. and The Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company are pleased to announce the general release and availability in Ontario of auto and habitational electronic data exchange (I-Biz) providing the broker with full electronic processing of renewal, endorsement, cancellation, reinstatement and new business.
Novinsoft Inc. Annual Meeting Sept 14, 2007 in Montreal.
September 5, 2007 - PORT PERRY, ONTARIO - Novinsoft Inc - a leading developer of software for insurance and financial services firms -- announced that they will be presenting their new XML Product Parameters Engine at the Novinsoft Annual Meeting on September 14th in Montreal.
Advocis announces new chair at AGM in Banff.
August 27, 2007 - Toronto, ON - Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada announced today the appointment of Teresa Black Hughes, CFP, CLU, RFP, FMA, CIM as chair of the TFAAC Board of Directors and confirmed its national board of directors at the AGM in Banff, Alberta.
Claims
Symbility Solutions Inc. Announces Partnership With Lautriv
WATERLOO, ONTARIO -- Aug. 21, 2007 - Symbility Solutions Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Automated Benefits Corp. is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Lautriv, LLC, an American national provider of Claims Management Solutions.
Consumer Information
September Markel Let's TalkTM seminar series to address how a claims response protocol can mitigate the negative effects of losses on your trucking business.
TORONTO (29 August 2007) – Markel Insurance Company of Canada today announced its latest educational offering – Let's Talk about The Best Outcomes from Claims & Losses – a cross-country seminar series to help trucking carriers understand the value of a claims response protocol to be held in September in five major Canadian cities.
Business of Insurance
The Co-operators Prepares to Expand in Quebec.
MONTREAL, Sept. 5, 2007 - The Co-operators has announced that it is preparing for significant expansion in the province of Quebec. Today, the co-operative financial services organization announced the appointment of Martin-Eric Tremblay as Senior Vice-President, Co-operators Group Ltd. and President, Quebec Operations. He will be responsible for developing and implementing a Quebec growth strategy for the group of companies that will include increased sales through the broker network, the introduction of Co-operators insurance agents, and new product and service offerings in the province.
Marketing and the Market Place
Guy Carpenter Unveils "Capital Ideas" Global Branding Initiative.
New York, August 30, 2007 - Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC, the leading global risk and reinsurance specialist and a part of the Marsh & McLennan Companies, today announced the launch of a new branding campaign focused on the theme of "Capital Ideas." The campaign centers on Guy Carpenter's tradition of innovation, breadth of intellectual capital, creative spirit and ability to create value through keen insights into its clients' businesses.
Canadian Internet Has a Ways to Go: eMarketer.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2007 - In many respects, Canada is an online powerhouse. According to eMarketer estimates, the country has a slightly higher proportion of its population online than the United States.
Our People
Towers Perrin Survey Shows Companies Making Major Strides in Implementing and Streamlining HR Technology Systems.
STAMFORD, CT, August 29, 2007 -- In a recent annual survey of HR service delivery trends among global organizations, Towers Perrin found that companies are finally reaping the benefits of IT investments in human resources systems, and moving from core upgrades to streamlining for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Product Announcements
ISO Introduces Agri-CAPTM in USA for Agricultural-Related Businesses.
JERSEY CITY, N.J., September 5, 2007 ISO has introduced its Agri-CAPTM (Agricultural Capital Assets Program), an output policy providing broad coverages and pricing flexibility for medium-sized to large agricultural-related businesses.
Reference and Statistics
MIB Life Index Reports North American Life Insurance Activity off 1.5% in July.
Westwood, MA. - (August 30, 2007) North American application activity for individually underwritten life insurance was off slightly in July, down -1.5% year-over-year, according to the MIB Life Index ?. July's decline in the U.S. was largely offset by very positive application activity this month in Canada.
International travel account for Second quarter 2007 (preliminary): reports StatsCan.
August 29, 2007 - Canada's international travel deficit narrowed in the second quarter of 2007. Foreign visitors increased spending in Canada while Canadian travellers reduced spending abroad.
eBusiness and Technology
Gartner Says Worldwide Software as a Service
Revenue in the Enterprise Application Software Markets to Grow 21 Percent in 2007.
STAMFORD, Conn., August 9, 2007 - Worldwide total software revenue for software as a service (SaaS) within the enterprise software markets is projected to surpass $5.1 billion in 2007, a 21 percent increase from 2006 revenue, according to Gartner, Inc. The market is poised for strong growth through 2011, when worldwide revenue will reach $11.5 billion.
Insurance in the Community
Lloyd's helps establish new peace fund.
30/08/2007 - Lloyd's, the world's leading specialist insurance market, today announced that its grant-making body has become the first founding supporter of a new fund established to aid peace building by promoting best business practice in conflict prone areas.
from Doug:
We celebrated our anniversary on the weekend, with a research trip for family history details to Woodstock where we "bumped into" relatives and met some new ones, attended a double-cousin's daughter's wedding reception near Stratford, searched through some cemeteries closer to Lake Huron and attended a play, "The Ballad of Stompin' Tom [Connors]" at the Blyth Festival Theatre. It was a good anniversary celebration.
A moment this morning to remember 911 and those who lost their lives and loved ones. Six years ago; in some respects it seems like sixty, in others only six months.