Sun Microsystems introduced the Sun Distribution Channel Portalsolution to help the insurance industry open up new markets andbetter serve new and existing customers by making it easier todevelop new product distribution channels. The solution includesSun servers, storage, services and software to help insurers reachnew customers through non- traditional channels such as banks,supermarkets, post offices, kiosks, telephones and PDAs. The Sunsolution also helps insurers reduce bottom-line costs associatedwith traditional distribution channels and offers ways to improvecustomer service.

The distribution channel portal solution has straight-throughProcessing (STP) capability to bring the back office systemsthrough to the front office. This means insurers can sell existinginsurance products and create, launch, and manage newproducts-without adding IT processes that could delay the salescycle. Accessible via an Internet browser, the portal presents asingle customer view and covers all insurance products in anylanguage and in any currency. It also delivers real-timeperformance monitoring of agents, products and channels, and offersFirst Notice of Loss to improve claims handling.

"In today's insurance industry, the product is no longer acompetitive differentiator. What is most important today is howinsurers find and serve their customers," says Larry Scott, vicepresident, global financial services industry for Sun Microsystems."Our new solution enables insurers to discover and implement newdistribution channels in order to serve new markets withoutincreasing expense ratios."