Tech Decisions February 2009
Cover Story
Spinning Their Wheels
At a fundamental level, every auto insurer calculates premium exactly the same way: rate times exposure. But beyond that simple formula are differences as numerous as there are auto insurers, with eac
Features
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Criminal Minds
When times are tough, some people work harder. Unfortunately, others choose the easy way out, and for insurance companies, that means now is the time to use their technology tools to keep a close eye
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Same But Different
While sometimes similar, all carriers are not created equal in the ways in which they process claims, and neither are their claims systems. All good claims solutions offer a broad spectrum of function
Columns Editor's Note
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Privacy at a Price
We Americans insist on our claim to privacy as essentially an inalienable right--witness the countless related laws and safeguards. Yet we're schizophrenic in privacy's application--just look at our fas
Columns Trends & Tech
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That Old Black Magic
The use of computers in business has transformed not only the way we do business, it also has transformed the way we regard and use computers. The first generation of business computers--early mainfram
Columns Shop Talk
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Vendor Park Goes Jurassic
Last year was an extraordinary time of stunning financial meltdown and the advent of political change. While the beginning of 2008 appeared rather positive and upbeat, by the end of the year we learne
Columns Stats Watch
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No Slump for BPO
Interest in business process outsourcing (BPO) among North American insurers, like most business investments these days, is declining, but a new report from Celent anticipates a BPO rebound once the e
Departments Industry Intelligence
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Jackson Adds Online Functionality for Advisers
Jackson National Life Insurance Company unveiled a new corporate Web site, www.jackson.com, adding tools and services to create a resource for advisers and their clients. Beyond applications that allo
Departments Business Solutions
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Deadline Buster
Late last year, months after going live with a document management project, Janet Cochrane, COO of Renaissance Group, had a conversation with her husband, Bruce, who is the CEO of Renaissance. "He tol
Departments Agent Relations
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Patience and Persistence
While the goal of universal adoption of real-time technology for agent-carrier transactions remains elusive, newly elected ASCnet chair Mike Montgomery believes much can be achieved if both agents and
Departments Top Tech
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Growing Together
When Alan Mercaldo joined MAG Mutual Insurance Company 16 years ago as a project manager, he could not have known he eventually would become the company's first-ever CIO. "As access to information bec
News
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Ed Note
We Americans insist on our claim to privacy as essentially an inalienable right--witness the countless related laws and safeguards. Yet we're schizophrenic in privacy's application--just look at our
