Make no mistake, billing is obviously an important function in what businesses do, but in terms of technology solutions, although it is listed as a core solution, as the old saying goes: Some things are more core than others.

I'm writing an article for the June issue of Tech Decisions on billing solutions and wanted to share some information from Martina Conlon, a principal with Novarica, who wrote a research report called “Billing in Insurance: Current State, Challenges, and Plans.”

Billing grew up as a function of the finance department, but it has evolved over time into a customer service issue and that is where the technology focus comes in. If companies were simply sending statements with the amount of money you owe them there wouldn't be much hubbub about them, but as Conlon and others point out, billing is one area where carriers can reach out and touch their customers—and not just touch them in the wallet.