The Quantum Award recognizes achievements in interface technology between insurance carriers and agencies that have produced a quantum advance in productivity, profitability and customer service for Vertafore agencies. Quantum Award finalists have successfully deployed single-entry interfaces that incorporate ACORD standards and real-time programming. For the first time, Quantum Award winners were named for regional carriers and national carriers.
The recipient for regional carriers is Grange Insurance, and the recipient for national carriers is The Hartford.
“These carriers are leading the industry in demonstrating how to partner with independent agents as we aim to ‘Dream, Dare, Do’ for our clients,” explained 2009-2010 President James T. Armitage, CPCU, AAI, Arroyo Insurance Services, Arcadia, Calif. “The leaders of these companies have shown how to make technology and workflow work better, using their own commitment, vision and capabilities. As a result, members are able to get business done faster and better.”
Grange Insurance In 2009, Grange implemented TransactNOW with 121 agencies in all of its 13 states of operation. It developed and became the first carrier in the U.S. to offer change processing in the TransactNOW bridge. This full change transaction processing allows agencies to bridge the data to Grange’s rating system for issue without re-entry of the data. Grange’s capabilities also allow agencies to quote new business without re-typing the entire ACORD application.
Grange’s program allows agencies to bridge the information to populate the carrier’s rating system for a quote. Grange’s process goes further into a policy change process that allows an agent to begin by entering the change information in the management system and bridge the data into the carrier’s policy system to complete the change without re-entering the change data.
Grange, which initially developed this function in 2004, incorporated this feature in 2009 into its agency TransactNOW workflow.
Grange Insurance also provides download to each of the Vertafore systems for 506 Grange agencies. A supporter of real-time functionality and the Get Real Time initiative, Grange has 456 primary agencies using Vertafore’s PL Rating product. Grange adheres to ACORD standards.
The Hartford In 2009, The Hartford complemented its prior implementations of real time and download for Vertafore systems with several initiatives:
1. Added Sircon technology solutions for carriers for producer licensing and appointment
2. Expanded real-time quoting for the commercial programs market through its ExpressWay® platform, spanning all commercial sizes
3. Enhanced real-time quoting for small commercial package policy export
4. Enhanced commercial lines billing inquiry for real-time services
5. Converted all Hartford Internet agencies to IVANS E-Commerce Server as part of a download program migration
6. Conducted an education and awareness campaign for TLS e-mail encryption.
Additionally, The Hartford remains the only TransactNOW carrier partner to offer a real-time inquiry service for bond. The carrier doubled its Vertafore PL Rating volume in 2009. The company received five awards at the 2009 ACORD Industry Technology Standards Group conference for ACORD Standards, Download and Real Time.
About NetVU: NetVU is an independent, national member organization committed to providing industry advocacy, world-class education and networking to its 15,000 independent insurance agency members. Aligned by their use of Vertafore technologies, these agencies are united in their shared focus on improving efficiency and enhancing profitability. www.netvu.org