IN DEPTH: ARCHITECTING THE FUTURE Insurers Warm to Flexible Technology Architecture Changing customer and distributor demands, along with efficiency advantages, are driving adoption of flexible, service-based technology architecture at insurance carriers. CIO: Insurers Must Build Capabilities on the Four Tiers of Architecture CIOs must answer the business's needs armed with appreciation of the different levels of enterprise architecture -- business, information, application and technical -- in order to avoid a proliferation of disconnected point solutions. Business/IT 'Linkage' Key to Insurer's Adaptation to Changing Marketplace To meet burgeoning consumer communications and transaction demands, insurers must built a services-enabled technology architecture in close collaboration with the business leadership. Independence Blue Cross' Operational Control Center Takes a Customer's View of Operational Monitoring The proactive approach of Independence Blue Cross' Operational Control Center anticipates customer use issues while providing diagnostic insight to the carrier's technology architects. DISTRIBUTION WATCHCeltic Insurance Automates ApprovalsChicago-based health insurer automates key decision-making processes to speed application approvals and differentiate itself from competitors on individual health insurance Web portal eHealthInsurance.com. UPDATEIBM's SPSS Acquisition May Speed Insurers' Adoption of Predictive AnalyticsThe addition of SPSS to IBM's capabilities rounds off the vendor's offering at a time when insurers are poised to invest more heavily in predictive analytics, according to industry analysts. CSC's Social Network Reaching Critical Mass CSC carrier clients are embracing WikonnecT, the vendor's business-to-business social network, as a way to collaborate with one another to solve IT issues. Stuart Tainsky Named First CIO at PURE As the first CIO at PURE, Stuart Tainsky will seek to improve the nascent carrier's ease of doing business while establishing a more holistic approach to technology. Liberty Mutual Agency Markets Expands Access Through Comparative Rater Liberty Mutual Agency Markets has facilitated access for independent agents through the SeaPass Hub comparative rater, further diversifying the ways producers can interact with the carrier. |
FROM THE EDITORThere's a Business Case (Maybe) for Social Networking SitesFacebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites can be fun and distracting -- but as more users of all age groups start to explore business uses for these sites, insurers and other businesses are starting to take them more seriously. CARRIER CONFIDENTIALTechnology Transformation Puts CUNA Mutual in a Stronger PositionAs part of its corporate transformational efforts, CUNA Mutual's IT organization revamped its technology infrastructure, building an agile foundation to help the carrier grow and respond to turbulent market conditions. 
SOURCING WATCHThe Insurance IT Quandary: Balancing On-Premise, Captive and Outsourced IT SolutionsA blended approach to on-premise and outsourced IT solutions can help carriers now and in the long term, says 3I Infotech's Sukirat Kochar. CASE STUDYHosted Policy Admin System MUSIC to Startup's EarsStartup Montpelier US Insurance (MUSIC) achieves its ambitious launch goals by adopting OneShield's Dragon policy administration system. Conseco Drives Call Center Quality With NICE Suite Using a suite of NICE products -- including workforce management, call analytics and call recording applications -- Conseco has built upon technical improvements in its call centers to drive a culture of quality. NAMES IN THE NEWSHandren Aims to Make Mutual of Omaha's IT 'World-Class'Former USAA executive Tim Handren takes a purposeful approach to Mutual of Omaha's technology architecture and IT capabilities in support of fulfilling the company's potential as an integrated financial institution. |