 J.D. Johnson, CIO, American National Insurance COVER STORYInsurers Prepare for the Worst by Strengthening Business Continuity and Disaster RecoveryWhile insurance ranks among the industries best prepared to handle business interruptions, carriers need to constantly adapt disaster recovery plans and technology to changing conditions. SidebarMutual of Enumclaw Has Built Potential Mt. Rainier Eruption Into Its Disaster ResponseWhen an active volcano is right next door, business continuity/disaster recovery planning can take on a whole new dimension. FEATUREMore Insurers Realizing Benefits of e-Payments and Remote Deposit Capture TechnologyWith increased broadband penetration, consumers have begun to expect electronic payment capabilities. And insurers are beginning to learn the benefits of meeting those expectations. UPDATEOracle Launches Insurance Vertical Industry DivisionOracle Insurance will market a comprehensive offering of products - from core applications to pre-configured suites and integration tools to tie together both Oracle and non-Oracle solutions within an insurer's application portfolio. CSC's Java-based POINT IN Update Marks a New Beginning Partnership with Sun Microsystems ensures that POINT IN will be competitive player in policy administration solutions market. CIGNA e-Learning Initiative Aims to Inform Public CIGNA has launched a series of public-facing e-learning modules that aim to educate members and non-members on the basics of the healthcare system. Accenture, Guidewire Claims Dismissed Judge's ruling limits current action to patent infringement but dismissed claims could be reintroduced during discovery phase. Colonial Life Transitions to Harmony Enrollment Platform Starting in the first quarter of 2009, Colonial Life will conduct all volunteer benefits enrollments on its flexible, user-friendly Harmony enrollment platform. NAMES IN THE NEWSJackson Named CIO at TriadTriad Guaranty has named George Jackson as CIO, a newly created position within the company. Harleysville's Byrne Drives Agent Ease and Efficiency While retaining his chief architect responsibilities, Steve Byrne will drive refinements to Harleysville Insurance's agent-facing capabilities as vice president of agency and field automation technology. |
FROM THE EDITORTough Times Don't Have to Mean the End of Innovation in Insurance ITAlthough the weak economy and global financial crisis are putting pressure on IT budgets, these tough conditions may actually drive insurance companies to pursue what would be considered innovative technology strategies. 
CASE STUDIESPinnacol Improves Pricing With Valen's Predictive AnalyticsPinnacol Assurance improves its competitive position by partnering with Valen Technologies to develop a proprietary pricing model that dramatically cuts small-business premiums. ILM Group Virtualizes Data Center With Compellent and VMware Indianapolis-based ILM Group eliminates infrastructure inefficiencies and improves business continuity by deploying Compellent's virtualized SAN and consolidating servers with VMware's ESX. Medmarc 'AutoMates' Processes Network Automation's AutoMate not only eliminates babysitting batch processes but goes on to create efficiencies enterprisewide at Medmarc. |