It's a mad, mobile world, and today's insurance customers expect instantaneous service and information from their independent agents. According to IIABA's 2010 Agency Universe study, today's agents are less concerned about how much technology costs and more focused on usage: the need to market effectively on the Internet, security and ease of use of new real-time functionality.

Today's application software, largely driven by cloud computing and available for little to no cost, can deliver multi-platform tools that enable agents to conduct business from virtually anywhere and reach customers like never before.

A recent conversation on the ACT (Insurance Agents Council for Technology) LinkedIn group illustrates the types of tools that property-casualty agents are using to meet the demands of today's mobile, tech-savvy consumers. Some are for general use; others are industry specific. What they all have in common is a focus on sharing information quickly and easily over a variety of platforms and devices, with ease of collaboration the ultimate goal.