Insurers Ready For Web Services

NU Online News Service, Sept. 24, 11:59 a.m.EST?Insurance companies are uniquely positioned to takeadvantage of Web services as part of their efforts to enhance"e-strategies," says a study from the Needham, Mass.-basedTowerGroup.

According to the researchers, the use of Web services within thefinancial services industry has received a lot of attentionrecently, but it should not be regarded as another Web fad, or anattempt by vendors to repackage existing technology.

Web services, said the study, "Web Services: Delivering the NextPhase of e-Enabled Insurance," is an emerging informationtechnology mechanism that can provide the communications standardsand reusable tools needed to create connections between informationsystem platforms.

"This technology helps by providing standardized components forconnecting the diverse elements of the distributed computingenvironment typical of many insurance data centers," the studynoted.

The study explores the benefits of using Web services in theinsurance industry and how insurance carriers can move toward ane-enablement strategy, said a spokesperson for the researchorganization.

Also included in the study is an examination of the standardsand organizations behind the mechanisms driving Web servicestechnology. It cites examples of how insurers can effectivelydeploy Web services technology.

Further information is available at www.towergroup.com.