Improving the ease with which retail agents and members of the excess and surplus lines industry work with each other electronically has been a significant focus of the industry for the past few years. Today we're moving to a era in which we can transfer data electronically up and down the insurance chain without having to rekey information at each level.

The recent announcement that Lloyd's of London joined the efforts of the Retail Agent E&S Initiative's working group is further evidence that various parties in the industry are joining forces to improve data transfer methods. As part of this initiative, Lloyd's will be coordinating efforts to improve the efficiency of electronically transferring data from its partners in the U.S. to the London market.

This interaction was the latest in the actions taken over the past few years by the National Assn. of Professional Surplus Lines Offices (NAPSLO), the American Assn. of Managing General Agents (AAMGA), ACORD, the Agents Council for Technology (ACT) and others in the industry to improve the electronic interaction between retail agents and the E&S industry.