Increasing the number of carriers to offer real-timecapabilities should be the industry's highest priority according toa survey of insurance agency and brokerage professionals.

47 percent of respondents to the Real Time/DownloadCampaign's 2013 Agency Technology survey asserted that thisshould be considered a "Top 3" priority from a field of 13 possibleenhancements, and similarly, 48% regarded real time capabilities ashaving a priority rating of a "5" on a 1 to 5 scale. 

Industry professionals assert that bringing in more companieswill allow brokers to operate more effectively and efficiently, andReal Time/Download Campaign co-chair and vice president andcorporate secretary at Jones & Wenner Insurance Agency JoyceSigler, encourages immediate implementation.

"We encourage agents not to wait. They can eliminate duplicatekey strokes and save significant time today by implementing RealTime with those carriers that offer it. Agent adoption willencourage more carriers to make the investment in this time-savingtechnology," says Sigler.

Expansive commercial lines real-time comparative ratingfunctionality ranked second in the campaign study, with four in tenagents and brokers describing it as a "Top 3" priority. Similarly,survey participants said that consistency in the real-timeworkflows offered across carriers and easier password managementwere also "Top 3" priorities.

"Agents and brokers have seen the many benefits of personallines real-time comparative rating and they're eager to see similarbenefits in the commercial arena," said Campaign Co-Chair StuartDurland, vice president and co-owner of Seely & DurlandInsurance. "Many carriers now offer commercial lines real-timerating through agency management systems. Agents can avoidconsiderable duplicate data entry today by using these tools andsuggesting to their non-Real Time company partners that theyimplement this technology as soon as possible."  

Durland believes that increased implementation of RealTime/Download will allow for sharing best practices informationamong carriers and foster continued growth of the interfacetools. 

To drive better, more consistent carrier and vendor real-timeimplementations, the Real Time/Download Campaign developed aresearch guide. "Agency Real-Time 'Best Practice' Workflows andImplementation Strategies: Guidance for Carriers andVendors" includes various enhancements ranked by industryprofessionals that have potential for development and success inthe industry. The Campaign's research includes insight from morethan 2,200 professionals who work in the United States andCanada.

"The survey offered tremendous insight into what users andnon-users believe should be improved," Sigler says. "We need towork together as an industry to help address these issues and tohelp drive even broader availability and adoption."