Sword Launches Cloud-based ACORD Form Conversion Tool

Sword Insurance, which is soon to be renamed AgencyPort Software, announces the general availability of Turnstile, a standards-based PDF conversion solution for the cloud. Available to insurance carriers, MGAs, and insurance technology vendors, the service converts ACORD PDF forms to ACORD XML for point of sale, rating or policy administration systems.  

For many carriers, a considerable amount of time is spent manually rekeying data found within a PDF email attachment.  Turnstile converts this information automatically, allowing carriers to handle submissions more quickly, providing a better experience for their independent agents and allowing carriers to do so at lower cost. Additionally, carriers can rely on Sword Insurance to update Turnstile as new ACORD forms and new form editions are published.   

"Let's face it, the faster carriers can deliver a quote to a customer, the better their chance of signing them," says Allan Egbert, CTO for Sword. "Where most agency interfaces come up short today, either because technology solutions aren't in place or independent agents don't use the solutions, Turnstile fills a gap for carriers in their ease of doing business initiatives. Agents don't have to change their behavior, learn a new system, or be issued with another password."

Turnstile is a secure service for any agent portal and interface that shortens intake time and reduces processing costs, thereby eliminating lost sales opportunities. It is hosted by Rackspace Hosting. 

"Insurers consider ease of doing business a top priority in 2011, and technology vendors are responding by providing more agency interface options with better support for varied business processes, according to Martina Conlon, a principal in Novarica's insurance practice focused on the P&C and healthcare markets. 

"We encourage insurers to regularly assess their business processes and consider product options that address agent's needs and eliminate manual re-keying of data," she says. "Streamlining application submission can deliver big wins in efficiency and customer satisfaction."

Turnstile can be integrated into a carrier's front-end solution or carriers can work with the Sword Insurance professional services team to complete the integration. The web service can be adapted to either modern or legacy architecture.

The pay-per-use service is available as a standalone solution or as an add-on for existing AgencyPortal and BookSmart customers. Unlike other PDF transformation solutions, Turnstile requires no software downloads or confusing middleman websites, significantly simplifying the process.