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As American Agent & Broker celebrates its 80th anniversary, it's a great time to take stock of the progress independent agents have made with the technology that powers their offices. Technology progress can frustrate agents because of its cost and the length of time it has taken to improve. Remember "Paper-free in '83," or the promises to achieve SEMCI (single-entry, multiple company interface) in the '80s and '90s?

The good news is the kind of automation that agencies have a right to expect is finally starting to arrive. Many agencies are now taking advantage of real-time technology to reduce the time for processing tasks and enhancing their bottom lines with more proactive service and sales. Many of today's agencies are virtually paper-free in personal lines, and others are working on small commercial business now that carriers and vendors have improved their commercial lines download times. The great progress being made with real time is putting independent agencies in striking distance of achieving the vision of SEMCI.