Has there ever been a more important time for insurers and agents to work together to solve connectivity issues? Life isn't easy these days, but ease of doing business continues to climb the ladder of items independent agents demand of their carrier partners.

Ease of doing business is complicated by the fact agents have their own management systems to enter new business, while carriers have proprietary Web sites they encourage their business partners to use.

Can the two coexist? Mike Fitzgerald, senior analyst in the insurance practice at Celent, believes agency management systems and carrier Web sites can get along. In fact, agents surveyed by Celent for a report last fall replied they use both types of systems frequently. The main concern, though, is to be able to key in information just one time.

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