Real Time Day Explores the Value of Agency/Carrier Connectivity

More than 20 webinars, panel discussions, and video interviews featuring independent agents, carriers, vendors, and technology user groups are scheduled for the second Real Time Day on Tuesday, April 9. All the sessions explore opportunities for faster and more profitable agent-carrier connectivity using Real Time tools.

Developed by the Real Time/Download Campaign, Real Time Day showcases ways for independent agents, general agents, property/casualty insurance carriers, and service providers to work together more effectively to save time and be more efficient with insurance workflows.

Real Time Day is a virtual event supported by social networking using the hashtag #RTEddie. Real Time Day 2013 information is published online at bit.ly/RealTimeDay.

Each session will be delivered either via 1) a webinar (hosted by an insurance carrier, vendor, or user group) or 2) web broadcast originating from the video studio of ACORD in Pearl River, N.Y., streaming on April 9 at: http://bcove.me/t2hanvfc.

"Real Time Day offers great opportunities for agents and brokers to make their operations better and faster in cooperation with their carriers and service providers and with the support of peer agents through user groups," commented Real Time Campaign Co-Chair Stuart Durland, partner and vice president of operations at Seely & Durland Insurance, an agency in Warwick, N.Y. "Real Time Day is a way for the entire independent agent distribution channel to become more profitable and competitive, and perpetuate its growth."

 Co-Chair Joyce Sigler, CISR, CPIW, CPIA, vice president of administration at Jones & Wenner Insurance Agency in Fairlawn, Ohio, adds, "Real Time Day offers a week's worth of networking and user group meetings all in one day, right from the desktop or conference room. Real Time Day brings to the virtual world and social networking the time-honored insurance industry tradition of learning from others' experiences."

Activities include:

• Web broadcasts with agent interviews, question-and-answer sessions, and discussions and demonstrations by vendors, carriers and user groups.
• Webinars with overviews and instruction on how to use Real Time and Download tools in agency management systems.
• Presentations by insurance carriers and vendors.

Sessions are organized for agency real-time implementation as well as carrier, general agent and vendor real-time implementation. Each presentation has been scheduled twice during the day, to allow options for attendance and to cover different time zones.

Real Time/Download Campaign surveys show that agents who use Real Time and Download save, on average, an hour a day by eliminating multiple data entry, password management and other redundant work. The campaign publishes resources for agencies to get started and to advance with Real Time and Download capabilities, including the "Real Time Makes Real $$$$$" guide, which shows how agencies can sell more by refocusing service staff.

Carriers presenting webinars include: EMC, MetLife Auto & Home, Progressive, Selective, Travelers, and Westfield Insurance. Vendors presenting include: Applied Systems, Appulate, Brovado, IVANS, SEMCAT, Strategic Insurance Software, and Vertafore. Others presenting include ACORD, ASCnet, E&S Joint Working Group, Florida Association of Insurance Agents, NASPA, and NetVU. Additional agency, carrier and user group representatives will participate in panel discussions.