ASCnet Honors Carriers for Real-Time Interface, Standards, Download

Applied Systems Client Network (ASCnet), the users group for Applied Systems agency management technology, presented awards to insurance carriers and other partners in recognition of their work to implement download and real-time interface technology with agencies and brokerages. ASCnet presented the awards at its 25th Annual Technology, Education & Networking Conference (TENCon) in Chicago last week.

Published on September 24, 2010

Magna Carta Companies won overall honors in the Ease of Doing Business category. Adoption Awards went to companies that have been “quick adopters of technology that promotes or supports the workflows of ASCnet members.” Achievement Awards recognize “select companies and individuals who have stepped up and achieved success in developing, promoting, implementing and/or supporting ASCnet members in real time, download and industry standards and initiatives.”

The complete list of winners includes:

Ease of Doing Business Award

· Gold: Magna Carta Companies

· Silver: New York Central Mutual Fire Insurance Company (NYCM)

Industry Standards & Initiative Achievement Award

· The Hartford

· IVANS

· Brian Bartosh

· Angelyn Treutel

Real Time

· Adoption Award: Allied Insurance, Berkley Mid-Atlantic Group, Harleysville Insurance, The Republic Group, and Utica First Insurance Company

· Achievement Award: EMC Insurance Companies, Frankenmuth Insurance, Fremont Insurance, and The Hanover Insurance Group

Download

· Adoption Award: Barton Mutual Group, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, Erie and Niagara Insurance Association, Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Salem County, Frankenmuth Insurance, Grinnell Mutual, Michigan Millers Mutual Insurance Company, North Waterloo Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, Phoenix Mutual Fire Insurance Company, The Republic Group, and Tim Parkman, Inc.

· Achievement Award: ACUITY

“These companies and individuals are working with us to drive increased efficiency and improved agent and broker profitability,” said ASCnet Industry Solutions Committee chair Stu Durland, AAI, speaking particularly of the two winners of the Ease of Doing Business awards. “These companies—and the other companies that received awards—have persevered to implement real time and download solutions and have worked closely with agencies in adopting those technologies.

Durland, vice president and owner of Seely & Durland Insurance in Warwick, N.Y., said ASCnet recognized gold winner Magna Carta Companies and its Public Service Mutual Insurance Company for a rapid-fire implementation of download functionality for dwelling fire, home with inland marine, business owners policy (BOP) and workers compensation lines of business.

“Not only did the company put in place the ability for our members to receive automatic download of carrier information for all of these lines of business,” Durland said, “what’s most impressive is that they did it all in a two-month period. Taking such direct and broad action immediately created opportunities to significantly improve workflows throughout their entire agent base.

“We recognize the difficult economic challenges our carrier partners face,” he continued. “We truly appreciate the time, effort and resources Magna Carta and others dedicate to making practical technology available to their independent agents and brokers.”

Silver winner New York Central Mutual last year earned an ASCnet Real Time Achievement Award for its implementation of personal auto real time rating with Web edits, using IVANS’ Transformation Station. “Rather than resting on their laurels,” Durland said, “they did more. They developed an endorsement bridge with next-day automatic download and implemented policy resend via IVANS.”

In addition, the company tested and will accept RPost electronic signature and e-mail encryption, and it recently joined IIABA’s Agents Council for Technology, an industry coalition driving greater efficiency throughout the American Independent Agency System. “From personal experience,” added Durland, whose agency represents the carrier, “I can assure you the company is a true friend of independent agents.”

The Ease of Doing Business awards were generated using statistics from the Applied Systems U.S./Canadian Interface Report and “comments and input from ASCnet members who represent the carriers, as well as committee members, liaisons and our subcommittee chairs,” Durland said.

He explained that three ASCnet Industry Solutions Committee subcommittees interact with more than 200 agency members and carrier representatives from the U.S. and Canada. Angelyn Treutel chairs the Real Time Subcommittee; Donna Barr leads the Download Subcommittee; and JoAnn Litwin heads the Industry Standards and Initiatives Subcommittee. Treutel will become 2011 chair of the Industry Solutions Committee on January 1.

About ASCnet: Founded in 1985 and based in Altamonte Springs, Fla., the Applied Systems Client Network, Inc. (ASCnet) is an international association representing more than 80,000 insurance professionals. The only authorized users group for Applied Systems software, ASCnet promotes successful technology and business practices through communication, education and advocacy. For more information: www.ascnet.org .