Orbit UK and GXS, a provider of business-to-business e-commercesolutions, announced a new managed services solution for the UKinsurance industry. Managed Gateway for Insurance will provide asimplified method for UK-based insurers to adopt and conduct B-to-Be-commerce transactions. Orbit UK is working with GXS to offer thisnew service, which has been designed for the UK insurance communityand its providers, enabling improved and faster B-to-B integrationbetween insurers, intermediaries, and consumers. Orbit UK hasextensive experience in the UK insurance market, working with morethan 50 companies, including major insurance providers, brokers,and financial institutions.

"With Web-based portals, direct Internet connections,traditional EDI VANs, and the proliferation of dozens of standardsand protocols globally, UK insurers are mired in B-to-Bcomplexity," says Steve McCall, director of Orbit UK. "By combiningGXS' broad range of B-to-B capabilities with Orbit UK's knowledgeof the insurance sector, we believe we can simplify B-to-Be-commerce for both insurers and their business partners."

The UK insurance industry is undergoing rapid change asconsumers are dealing directly with insurers over the Web orthrough retail channels. Insurers are responding to thesechallenges with new products and flexible pricing schemes, but toooften the availability of these services are delayed due totechnology challenges. For a product to be available for sale inthe market, it first must be integrated into the softwareapplications used by the broker community. An extensive testing andcertification process is required to complete the integration aseach software provider uses different message formats and networkprotocols for B to B.

"Together, GXS and Orbit UK have extensive experience andexpertise in implementing scalable and flexible B-to-B programs forfinancial services and insurance companies. With the increasinglycompetitive landscape in the UK insurance market, insurers need todifferentiate themselves by making it fast and easy to resell theirproducts," says Steve Keifer, vice president of industry andproduct marketing.