NU Online News Service, Aug. 11, 12:30 p.m. EDT

Agency principals and high-value producers show a clearpreference for carriers with better Web portals to get quotes andsubmit applications, according to a survey of more than 250 smallcommercial agents across the country by analyst firm Novarica.

The survey documented the relationship between e-businessfunctionalities delivered through portals and agency managementsystem integration, and how this affects agency commissions.

"Convenience, relationship, responsiveness and speed are theareas most likely to make a carrier the agent's top choice," saidKarlyn Carnahan, a principal in Novarica's insurance practice, wholed the research project along with analyst Tse Wei Lim.

"While an underwriter relationship may make the difference inwhether a carrier is number one or number three for an agent, otherfactors also are highly correlated with the 'top carrier'position," she said.

Among the functions deemed critical by the agents surveyed arequick quotes, full quotes and application submission, according toMs. Carnahan.

Application upload, policy download, commission statementdownloads and policy quotes are among the critical functions foragency management system connectivity, she added.

An agency's customer service representatives have a strong voicewith carriers, according to Ms. Carnahan.

"While a company may hear loudly from principals that certainfeatures are needed, they look to those who actually place thebusiness to determine which features to add next," she said.

The full report is available from Novarica at www.novarica.com.