Users Groups Do More Than Network; They Drive Innovation In The Industry
There are those who still believe that users groups are luxuriesgreat places to meet other agents, take a few classes, and expand their social horizons.
And theyll join themwhen their schedules clear up, when they have the time, when they need to network. But, these agents are missing the boatand missing an opportunity to shape the industry.
While its true that users groups are great places to network with top agents and interact with other users nationwide, this is only the tip of the iceberg. A good users group is an agent advocate, a unified voice that can represent tens of thousands of agents. A users group is also a vehicle to give them the strength and presence to drive change.
The AMS Users Group has joined forces with other industry advocates to make real-time transaction processing, driven by SEMCI, a reality. Together we have contacted carriers, met with them in person, and illustrated the critical need for SEMCI reform.
Weve shown them the amount of time we, as agents, waste on manual keying and redundant processes. We are now circulating a SEMCI Reform Petition that defines for our carriers the strength and the business represented by independent agentsand showing beyond a shadow of a doubt that lack of productivity in our businesses means lack of revenue in theirs.
But user group advocacy doesnt end with lobbying efforts. The AMS Users Group has dedicated research and development committees, comprised of volunteer agents, who work hand-in-hand with AMS to develop the software that agents need to stay one step ahead of the competition.
A recent example is the development of Direct Bill Commission Statement (DBCS) Download software one of the most revolutionary income generating automation tools in recent history. This program enables agents to automatically create the DBCS, as well as entries for each transaction, transforming hours of manual work into a matter of minutes.
Our agents identified a needa process that was costing them time and moneyand the users group gave them a forum to present that need to our software developer. With the backing of a users group, voices are heard and progress is made.
The AMS Users Group has taken this direct communication with AMS one step further. By logging on to www.amsug.org, members can access an online Enhancement Request System that gives every agency a chance to vote on enhancements to the system. Using this method, member agents play an active role in AMS product development, ensuring that what they get is exactly what they need in order to do business.
And yes, on an individual level, a users group brings agents together to share information and exchange ideas. Its a community. Its a fellowship. And its one of the greatest resources for agent education anywhere.
As an independent agent, you have one voice. As part of a users group, you have the strength of thousands of voices behind you to bring change to the industryand you have the resources of thousands of minds to help you use your system more efficiently. You have an advocate, an action plan, and a way to empower your businessempowering the industry by driving innovation.
Isnt it time you got involved?
Pam Parry is president of the AMS Users Group, based in Irving, Texas.
Reproduced from National Underwriter Property & Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition, November 25, 2002. Copyright 2002 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.
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