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UniGroup has selected Accenture Duck Creek software from Accenture to manage its core claims operations. The new software will enable its customers, agents and employees to submit, process and administer cargo loss claims from first notice of loss to resolution via an online system. Once the software is implemented, it will help UniGroup improve efficiencies and reduce claim-handling cycle time with streamlined and automated processes. The company will utilize Accenture Duck Creek Claims to support claims functions within its businesses, including residential carriers United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit; logistics company UniGroup Logistics and international relocation provider UniGroup Relocation. Accenture Duck Creek Claims is included in the suite that also incorporates billing, policy and rating software. The configurable software is designed to work independently or as a combined approach to manage all aspects of the property & casualty insurance lifecycle. The software can be deployed through an on-premise implementation or via Duck Creek On-Demand, a Software as a Service model.
Pacific Specialty Insurance Company has completed the first phase of its transition to Accenture Duck Creek On-Demand, a software as a Service (SaaS) model, utilizing Duck Creek claims technology from Accenture to support its powersports line of business. The modern claims software is delivered via the Accenture Cloud Platform, and uses Microsoft Azure, provides Pacific Specialty with more consistent and comprehensive functionality that enhances internal processes, helps to improve efficiencies and supports a more customer-centric approach to better serve customers and agents. This first phase of the deployment was completed within seven months with Pacific Specialty’s remaining property and liability business lines scheduled to transfer to Duck Creek On-Demand during the first quarter of 2016. This initial software change is part of a larger complete system transformation that will move all legacy-based insurance core systems to Accenture Duck Creek On-Demand through a planned rollout.
The Accenture Duck Creek Suite includes policy, rating, billing and claims software. The configurable software is designed to work independently or as a combined unified approach to manage all aspects of the P&C insurance lifecycle. Value can be attained via on-premise software or Duck Creek On-Demand, a Software as a Service model.
The Accenture Cloud Platform is a multi-cloud management platform that produces, orchestrates, manages, and governs enterprise cloud resources. Its centralized dashboard gives organizations the control and agility to manage their business services simply, securely, and effectively across multiple clouds on demand, at speed, from a single point.
Concord Group Insurance has upgraded its current Accenture Duck Creek policy software from Accenture to take advantage of the latest features to optimize their four personal lines of business: automobile, mass automobile, dwelling fire and homeowners. The Northeast regional insurer will use the technology advancements to pursue new revenue opportunities and help reduce product development costs in addition to improving the services it provides to customers and independent agents throughout Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
The Concord Group will also benefit from technical and feature upgrades to the industry-leading Accenture Duck Creek Rating engine and Accenture Duck Creek Templates included in the comprehensive policy software. The updated system supports pricing accuracy and enables regulatory compliance through the pre-configured bureau-based content within the 10,000 ISO/NCCI policy forms. The configurable software is designed to work independently or as a combined unified approach to manage all aspects of the P&C insurance lifecycle. Value can be attained via on-premise software or Duck Creek On-Demand, a Software as a Service model.
New London County Mutual Insurance Company (NLC) and Guidewire Software, Inc. announced that NLC has selected Guidewire InsuranceSuite as its new platform for underwriting, policy administration, claims management, billing, and rating. HCL Technologies, a leading global IT services provider and Guidewire PartnerConnect Consulting alliance member, will lead the implementation. NLC selected InsuranceSuite to help modernize its core system infrastructure and operations in an effort to better address the evolving needs of its agents and customers. The company also sought to make its product offerings more agile, enable speed to market, and increase the ease of pricing changes.
Guidewire InsuranceSuite will enable NLC to:
Enhance its customer service levels by providing customers with multiple self-service options (mobile, Internet, and phone).
Leverage tools that will eliminate manual processes and make it easier for agents to conduct business with them.
Enhance operational efficiency and productivity throughout the organization by standardizing policy administration, billing management and claims handling processes on a common platform.
State Auto Insurance Companies, Columbus, Ohio, has selelcted Effisoft USA’s WebXL software for ceded reinsurance administration. Effisoft USA, Dallas, is the North American division of Effisoft, Europe’s leading vendor of reinsurance software. State Auto will gain a comprehensive solution capable of administering its multiple reinsurance arrangements. WebXL will replace Access database and the manual processes State Auto uses to manage reinsurance. State Auto selected a hybrid model, which provides what most insurers demand: retention and ownership of company data while outsourcing software management. Both the application and database servers are installed on site at State Auto. Effisoft will remotely manage and maintain the WebXL platform. The project, which kicked off in September, is scheduled to be completed in less than a year.
Verisk Insurance Solutions announced that Prepared Insurance Company has integrated Verisk’s underwriting analytics into its policy management system to support expansion into new states. Prepared Insurance has integrations with several Verisk underwriting and risk analytics for replacement cost estimates (360Value), loss history reports (A-PLUS Property), and property-specific risk analytics (LOCATION ). The integrations allow Prepared to use Verisk’s analytics to help streamline underwriting decision-making while retaining underwriting integrity. To help effectively manage risk and adequately price policies in coastal regions, Prepared uses several LOCATION catastrophe risk management analytics from Verisk, including the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule (BCEGS). In addition to BCEGS, Prepared uses the LOCATION Distance to Coast and Windpool Eligibility services to help support its catastrophe risk assessment during the underwriting process.
Oceanwide announced that Mutual of Omaha, a leading insurance and financial services company, has selected Oceanwide Bridge to support core processing for the company’s Special Risk participant accident insurance product. Oceanwide Bridge will enable the Special Risk Division of Mutual of Omaha to replace the current multiple systems; consolidating quoting, rating, binding, and policy processing onto the single Oceanwide solution. A true SaaS based application, the new system enables rapid implementation and a quick-to-value timeline. Included in the Oceanwide Bridge solution, which is being deployed by Mutual of Omaha, are: an agent/consumer portal, underwriter workstation, rating, billing, document production and business intelligence reporting. In addition to the single system environment, anticipated benefits from implementation of Oceanwide Bridge include streamlined processing, improved cost and process efficiencies, elimination of duplicate data entry and the ability for both agents and consumers to access the system via Bridge Portal.
Xchanging plc announced positive results from the company’s strategy to strengthen and expand its Insurance Software Division, Xuber, via the acquisitions of Total Objects and the businesses acquired from Agencyport in 2014. In 2015, Xuber has secured 20 new contract wins with new and existing customers, in addition to growing existing business. The amalgamation of the three businesses substantially increases the breadth of Xuber’s insurance software capabilities whilst bringing the benefits of Xchanging’s global scale and expertise to the acquired companies. The union has also created a talent pool that is unrivalled in the specialty insurance marketplace.
Insurance Auto Auctions, Inc. (IAA) announced the launch of IAA Total Loss Solution, a suite of products that directly impacts the opportunities to improve customer satisfaction and more effectively manage costs during the total loss claims process. The first two product lines the company has launched are IAA Inspection Service and IAA Title Service. IAA Inspection Services was developed to reduce the cycle time from date-of-loss to total loss determination. Three offerings are included: Enhanced Images, Condition Report and Appraisal. These offerings are designed to allow direct towing to the salvage auction, where high-resolution imagery can support virtual inspection of vehicles, resulting in faster cycle time and reduced claims cost. Efficiencies within the inspection process can be further leveraged by IAA providing a pre-loss vehicle condition and option report, and a vehicle valuation to provide a comprehensive solution to the total loss claims process. IAA Title Services includes three offerings, all designed to suit the specific needs of the customer, including: Title Procurement, Title Solutions and Title Direct. Title Procurement is a seamless offering that can be used by carriers to manage the document procurement process on all total loss claims. Title Solutions can be utilized on those complex claims with unresolved title and document issues. Title Direct is a service that allows documents from multiple sources, typically the insured and lienholder, to be sent directly to an IAA Branch, reducing cycle time and cost for the carrier.
GMC Software (GMC) has joined Guidewire PartnerConnect, as a Solution Partner. GMC Software is also participating in the Ready for Guidewire accelerator validation program. GMC Software’s enterprise customer communication platform and Guidewire InsuranceSuite will allow insurers to streamline their customer communications leading to a higher quality customer experience. This will enable insurers to consistently deliver relevant personalized messages, at the right time and through their preferred channel. The partnership will place both companies in a better position to serve insurers who want to streamline communication processes for increased responsiveness and faster times to market. GMC Software has successfully completed the Ready for Guidewire accelerator validation process for its Inspire accelerator and Guidewire ClaimCenter. The GMC Software developed accelerator is a fully functional integration between Guidewire ClaimCenter and GMC Inspire R10, an enterprise communication platform. The accelerator is designed to significantly reduce the implementation effort when integrating GMC Inspire with ClaimCenter.
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