The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America isencouraging its independent agency system members to take part in abenchmark agency technology survey.

The poll is being taken by the ACORD-User Groups InformationExchange's (AUGIE).

Respondents can access the survey until March 1 atwww.augiesurvey.org, the Alexandria, Va.-based associationsaid.

“The 2002 survey spurred industrywide reforms,” said Jeff Yates,executive director of the Agent's Council for Technology. “I hopethis year's survey has as much of an impact.

“The last survey helped to bring about improvements to a numberof issues, including commercial lines download, real-time rating,and communication between agents, vendors, carriers andassociations.”

This year's survey aims to update the 2002 survey with questionsdesigned by agent user groups working closely with carriers andtechnology vendors.

“The more agents and brokers who take part [in the survey] thebetter,” said Robert A. Rusbuldt, chief executive officer of IIABA.“This is how you get your voice heard and make your opinion count.This is a great opportunity for participants in the independentagency system to collaborate so we can all do our jobs better andmore effectively serve Main Street America.”

Results will be announced in May at the ACORD LOMA InsuranceSystems Forum in time for carriers and vendors to plan for 2007 andbeyond.