The Chronicle: Issue 2012-39, September 25, 2012
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What's Going Through The Intersection of Insurance and Technology? |
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Several Dimensions of Theory Vs. Reality For BYOD
Google Enters Comparative Auto Insurance Space: Who Should Worry? |
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Business of Insurance
ISB Seminar "Clamping Down on Insurance Fraud"
Join us for a skill building day of Law & Order focusing on counter-fraud measures, from a police investigation, a panel discussion on fraud and a civil trial. Location: Hilton Garden Inn – 3201 Highway 7, West – Vaughan ON.
OneShield: “Faster, Better, Cheaper” – The Efficiency Mantra
“Faster, better, cheaper.” That was the approach to development pioneered by former NASA director Daniel Saul Goldin in 1992, and it became a mantra of organizations across many industries. Over the past 20 years, that approach has seen both success and failure. Its failures have led to controversy, and even some ridicule.
Kingsway Restructures its Insurance Services and Insurance Underwriting Segments
Kingsway Financial Services Inc. announced today that it is restructuring its Insurance Services and Insurance Underwriting segments.
FSCO: Auto Insurance Rates for the Second Quarter of 2012
The Government passed regulations to enact auto insurance reforms effective September 1, 2010. These reforms are designed to reduce excess assessment costs in the auto insurance system and ensure more accident benefit dollars go to treating people injured in auto accidents.
Sun Life Financial and TELUS Launch Nationwide eClaims Solution for Extended Healthcare Providers Across Canada
Extended healthcare providers across Canada registered with the TELUS Health eClaims web portal service can now submit claims electronically on behalf of their patients who are plan members with Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. TELUS' eClaims portal is specifically designed to accelerate and simplify claim processing.
Technology
Celent Insurance Peer Networking Event: Insurance Innovation: Preparing Now for Future Challenges
The insurance industry faces numerous challenges. This one-day event on Oct 26 in Toronto will address Innovation, Future Insurance Capabilities and Data Mastery with discussions led by RSA and TD Bank. For Insurance Company CIOs, CTOs and other Senior Executives. Read the details here.
Risk Control Technologies Launches RC Inspection Version 4
Risk Control Technologies Inc., the industry-leading provider of loss control software solutions for insurers, today announced that the latest version of RC Inspection – version 4 has been officially deployed in production.
IBM Smarter Data Centre Opens in Canada
IBM, together with the Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Barrie, today unveiled one of the nation's most advanced computing facilities: the IBM Canada Leadership Data Centre. The Barrie, Ontario-based centre has been designed from the ground-up with the latest advancements in energy efficient data centre management, business continuity, resiliency, security and disaster recovery services to help organizations efficiently manage growth while reducing costs and securely mitigating risk.
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Opportunity Knocks: how Brokers can exploit technology to be more profitable How open are Brokers today at implementing new technology like SEMCI, eDoc, call recording, or even social media? In this White Paper, Opportunity Knocks, Keal Technology demonstrates how using the right technology will help brokers remain on a level playing field with the fierce competition from Direct Writers. |
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Our People & The Community
The Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board Publishes its 2013 Employment Insurance Premium Rate Report
The CEIFB published its Employment Insurance (EI) premium rate report for 2013 today. “2012 marks a turning point in EI financing,” stated David Brown, Chair of the CEIFB.
The Guarantee Appoints New CEO, Alister Campbell
The Board of The Guarantee Company of North America is pleased to announce the appointment of Alister Campbell as CEO of The Guarantee effective September 4, 2012.
Claims
ClaimsPro International Continues Expansion with Appointment of Julian Millar as Managing Director of the UK and Europe
ClaimsPro International (CPI), an independent division of SCM Insurance Services (SCM) offering dedicated international loss adjusting services to London and the international market, has announced today the appointment of Julian Millar as its Managing Director. This appointment further bolsters CPI's continued growth in the London market, reinforcing its ranks with an experienced and well-known industry professional.
Appeal Court restores ruling by FSCO director's delegate
Ontario's Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of Certas Direct Insurance Company in a decade-long dispute over accident benefits, opting to set aside a divisional court order on the interpretation of the limitation period under the Insurance Act.
Marketing
How Smartphones Save Money
Smartphone coupon usage increased more than 100% in both 2012 and 2011. Smart shoppers are consulting multiple platforms to aid with shopping and to save money, according to recent surveys. Not only are they cashing in print and online coupons, but consumers are increasingly using their smartphones to get deals while in the store. According to a July study by media and marketing services company Valassis, due to rising food and gas prices, 74% of US consumers planned to use more coupons this year.
Marketers don't just measure fans and growth, but build relationships and connect with fans
Even if, for many, current measures of social media marketing effectiveness are still basic, the goal of such programs has gone far beyond simply gaining followers and "likes," research shows. Social marketing software company Awareness surveyed US marketers in July 2012 and found that better customer engagement was a top business objective for social media. Objectives focus more on relationship building and tying social media back to business results, showing marketers want to go deeper with their social media work than just counting fans.
Distribution
IBRI introduces Mobile App for Brokers
Today, the Independent Broker Resources Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) announced the launch of its new mobile application: The Insurance Companion.
Consumer Information
Europ Assistance Canada introduces Medical Concierge Program
Europ Assistance Canada (EA Canada) has introduced the EA Medical Concierge Program, a health management and assistance program that is focused on giving Canadians better control over their healthcare. The new Medical Concierge Program's services include helping Canadians navigate the complexities of the healthcare system, exploring all avenues of treatment options, and access to a wide variety of other health and wellness related resources.
ARSi: The Role of Medical Assessments in the Workplace
Disability Management Services assist employers and employees as they work to reduce the impact to the employee and the business when an employee experiences a disability. Accurate medical adjudication of claims and return to work intervention are the first crucial steps in returning an employee to work from disability.
For Benz Drivers Only
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada today announced the launch of First Class Insurance, an automobile insurance plan designed exclusively for Mercedes-Benz drivers. This unique and comprehensive program will be the first of its kind in Canada, and the only branded auto insurance program sponsored by a luxury automobile finance company.
Allstate Canada urges teens to take action with new Just Drive Canada contest
High school students across the country had the opportunity to witness distracted drivers first-hand through Allstate Insurance Company of Canada's Action Against Distraction campaign. In seven cities from coast to coast, these teens spotted a total of 1,985 distracted drivers during rush hour, which served to start a national conversation about solutions to distracted driving.
Fraser Institute on Healthcare Costs
Canadians often misunderstand the true cost of our public health care system. This occurs partly because Canadians do not incur direct expenses for their use of health care, and partly because Canadians cannot readily determine the value of their contribution to public health care insurance.
Arctic sea ice extent settles at record seasonal minimum
On September 16, Arctic sea ice appeared to have reached its minimum extent for the year of 3.41 million square kilometers (1.32 million square miles). This is the lowest seasonal minimum extent in the satellite record since 1979 and reinforces the long-term downward trend in Arctic ice extent.
Joe's Corner:
Waiting for your eCall?
eCall is an EU initiative intended to bring rapid assistance to motorists involved in a collision anywhere in the European Union.
Even if no passenger is able to speak, e.g. due to injuries, a 'Minimum Set of Data' is sent, which includes the exact location of the crash site. Estimates say eCall cuts emergency services response time. It goes down to 50% in the countryside and 60% in built-up areas.
The European Commission is aiming to have a fully functional eCall service to be in place throughout the EU by 2015.
In North America a similar service is available by GM via their OnStar service.
This technology won't prevent accidents, but it certainly sounds as though it should help save lives and assist in recovery time for sustained injuries with faster medical response. The question is, how will our Canadian insurance industry encourage use of this technology?