Product: Atlas
Company: Property &Casualty Management Systems, Inc.
Web site:www.pcms.info

Property & Casualty Management Systems Inc. (PCMS) hasintroduced a new version of its Atlas software system that utilizesthe latest Microsoft Windows and .NET technology. Atlas gives usersa lower total cost of ownership, faster implementation time, and abetter return on investment by offering real-time data and onlineaccess.

Randi Aubry, office manager of Mississippi-based USA InsuranceCo., says her staff is looking forward to using the .Net versionbecause policy processing will be faster than with the earlierversion of Atlas. USA already was pleased with the PCMS product. Wewere on an old DOS system before we went with Atlas, says Aubry. Wewere doing a lot of manual work. Atlas has automated a lot of ourprocessing. She cites billing processing, cancellations, andrenewal billing as three areas that have improved, thanks toAtlas.

The processing system also has eliminated the use of preprintedforms. Before, we had to load everything into the printer, saysAubry. Now, everything is done on our laser printer. We dont haveto load any forms.

PCMS president and founder Beryl Goldman says, We reengineeredthe Atlas system so customers could take advantage of the costefficiencies available with Microsoft .NET frameworks. This newsystem allows insurance companies of all sizes to have a Web-basedadministrative system that executes day-to-day tasks but atone-fifth the price of similar products.

Atlas provides authorized personnel-secure access to informationfrom any location with Internet connections. Agents, brokers,branch personnel, clients, and other team members can access systemfunctions for getting quotes instantly, viewing full policyhistories, generating management reports, and performing othertasks while reducing duplicated efforts between administrativestaff or different offices.

It can be installed and fully operational within weeks or monthsof the date ordered, depending on the size of the system and thenumber of specialized insurance products supported. Whether thecompany carries personal lines, such as automobile and homeownerspolicies, or complex commercial lines, including commercial auto,customized commercial packages, multi-lines, and more, Atlas canincorporate various products into the modular system.

Dedicated solely to the property/casualty insurance industry,Atlas operates both standard and proprietary administrative tasks.PCMS will include online access to the server for policyadministration, claim administration, accounting, management, andstatutory reporting. Product functionalityratings, underwritingrules, and policy issuancewill be implemented based onspecifications provided to PCMS.

The Atlas system offers the following standard functions:

Policy administrationRatings, underwriting rules, policyissuance, and forms production are coordinated online.

Accounts receivableAll receivables are recorded automatically indetail. When nonpremium items are being applied, they aredistributed automatically to the appropriate policy premiumreceivable detail and may be stored by real-time date of entryand/or the deferred date entered during processing. Receivables canbe generated from agency, insured, client, mortgage, certificateholder, or other interests.

BillingRecords specifying billing type, payment plan, andvarious parameters of the billing are associated with receivables,and the billing cycle runs in batch mode. Atlas can render allstandard billing forms, including delinquent notices and requeststo cancel, reinstate, or renew policies. In addition, all paymentplans are customized according to the companys guidelines.

Claims administrationClaims reports of any length can beaccommodated. Users can assign the cause of loss or set up diaries(automatically or manually) while online.Specification/verification of coverage is based on the date ofloss. Coverage search and view are all online. All reinsurancerecoverables are generated by the system. At the same time, lossreserves, loss payments, LAE reserves, and loss adjustments areprocessed.

Reinsurance accountingThe system understands quota share, excessloss, catastrophe, and facultative reinsurance arrangements. TheAtlas policy and claims administration programs are interfaced withreinsurance arrangement modules to provide necessary premium/lossrecords for reinsurance accounting.

Statutory reportingState regulations and compliance reports onsolvency and premium levels are generated automatically.

Management reportingAtlas can be customized to track employeeactivity, account status, activity by product, lines of business,and other management reports. Tabular and graphic forms can becreated. Access is limited to authorized personnel.

Atlas incorporates two layers of security to protect theintegrity of company data. The networks firewall protects thesystem from outside invaders. The second layer utilizes login codesand internal permissions for access to private or classifiedinformation.

Product: AIRProfiler
Company: AIR WorldwideCorp.
Web site: www.air-worldwide.com

Underwriters and risk managers have a new tool available toassess natural catastrophe hazards in insured locations withAIRProfiler from AIR Worldwide. The latest release of the productenhances the user interface with the ability to integrate theapplication into any Windows-based underwriting system.

GMAC Re has been using the AIRProfiler system to identifypolicyholders located in flood plains. Gary Marshall, vicepresident of GMAC Re, says his company insures automobile dealersinventory, and the software has been of great assistance inidentifying flood zones. Its vital we know where the flood zone is,he says. As best as possible, were trying to make some decisions onthe likelihood of the area flooding again. Flood insurance throughthe government is only on buildings and content. It doesnt coverautomobiles on the lot. Were more interested in where the cars arelocated.

AIRProfiler offers color maps, which differentiate betweenno-flood zones, a 100-year zone, and a 500-year zone.

The thing about flood is its predictable, says Marshall. Withwind and hail and tornadoes, you know its going to occur, but youdont know where. Flood, though, is more precise. If certain areashave heavy rain, there is going to be high water.

The AIRProfiler system, Marshall says, is very straightforward.By entering a location into the system, underwriters can determineas well the propertys elevation.

AIRProfiler also analyzes the risk from hurricane, earthquake,flood, and severe thunderstorm in the U.S. With the addition of thesevere thunderstorm hazard, it now includes tornado, hail, andstraight-line windstorms. In addition, the latest release updateshurricane and earthquake hazards with current scientific data.AIRProfiler contains the hazard data embedded in AIRs catastrophemodels, offering users location-specific peril information. Itallows underwriters and risk managers to enter a property addressto get information on distance to active faults, storm surgepotential, details on historical tornadoes in the area, and otherhazard-related information. Also available are risk scores based onthree measures of risk: the AAL (average annual loss), the 100-yearreturn period loss level, and the 250-year loss level.

AIRProfiler is an extremely useful tool for the underwritingdecision-making process, giving insurers easy access to importanthazard information, says Uday Virkud, senior vice president at AIRWorldwide Corp. Since risk can vary within a ZIP Code, insurersneed the higher-resolution property information provided byAIRProfiler. In real time, the product will determine if a propertybeing considered for coverage is at an above-average risk fromnatural catastrophes. If properties reach a certain threshold ofrisk, it is common for an insurer to run a more extensive lossanalysis before making the final decision on underwriting.