Issue 2002-35:   September 3, 2002

This newsletter is for members of the Canadian Insurance Industry, and those who serve it. The newsletter is published weekly, and notes information mostly about the use of the Internet and related technologies in the industry. Some is international, where we feel it is relevant to Canada.

Claims

IBC, Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) launch course on whiplash and back injury.

Faculty at Memorial University's Department of Medicine have joined the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and other partners to create an advanced web and computer-based teaching program. The program is geared to physicians in Atlantic Canada and deals with the early and proper diagnosis and treatment of whiplash and lower-back injuries. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/claims/canada/IBCMUN200208.php

Skills, Jobs and the Community

Industrial Alliance Supports Quebec Firefighters Foundation for Major Burn Victims.

Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services is proud to be associated with the Quebec Firefighters Foundation for Major Burn Victims (Fondation des pompiers du Québec pour les grands brûlés) as the official presenter of Lotopompier's 20th anniversary fundraising campaign. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/humanres/community/IndAllQueBurns200208.php

Programs create opportunities - Clarica grants for children total $1,360,000.

A total of 36 programs will receive grants in 2002 under the corporate donations program for Canada's children offered by Clarica, a Sun Life Financial Company. They include a literacy program for children with reading difficulties in 17 communities across the country and a program in Montérégie providing assistance to youths who have left school. The main goal of this service is to help young people build their self-esteem by giving them a chance to become responsible, active citizens in their communities. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/humanres/community/Clarica200208.php

Managing Relationships

Top Online Brokers Create Separation From The Pack, GómezCanada’s Internet Broker Scorecard Reveals.

Despite continuing market volatility, competition among online brokers remains fierce as evinced by ongoing efforts by leading firms to expand functionality and elevate site usability to ever-higher levels, according to the Q3 2002 Internet Broker Scorecard launched today by GómezCanada, the Internet Quality Measurement firm. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/canada/GomezOLB200208.php

Technology & e-business

Standards Organizations Announce a New Initiative for Globalizing Insurance Standards: ACORD and eEG7.

ACORD (Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development), an insurance standards setting organization with global reach and eEG7, the European standards body for the insurance industry have announced a common initiative aimed at developing a global basis for interoperable insurance messages. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/ebusiness/other/ACORDeEG7200208.php

Distribution

Point-Click-Grow . . . Progressive leads in USA Download Volumes ACORD Survey Reveals Company Leads Industry In Electronic Downloads To Agents.

Progressive was recently recognized by the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD) as the top carrier for personal lines policy information download to agencies. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/other/ProgDL200208.php

Twenty Insurance Carriers Choose IVANS Transformation Station: IVANS E-Commerce Solutions Division.

IVANS, Inc. announced today that the 20th insurance carrier has signed on for IVANS Transformation Station, a managed data exchange for real-time transactions. "The breadth of solutions and transactions is attracting a wide-range of insurance carriers, as is the ability to reach agencies representing Applied, AMS and DORIS," said Anna England, Vice President of IVANS newly formed Insurance E-Commerce Solutions division. More at http://www.insurance-canada.ca/distribution/other/IVANS200208.php

from Doug:

The traffic on our mid-town Toronto residential street where our home and office sits is busier once more after the summer lull and weekend quiet. After a hot long weekend, the boys have sore wrists from scooping so much ice cream at the CNE. Back to school for one later today, but a break for the other until next Monday when U of Waterloo classes start.

Plan your own education with our fall seminars: Sept. 13 for Life Distribution, Oct. 18 for Marketing and Dec. 3 for Knowledge Management.

A good time to supplement your advertising, whether your target is insurance consumer, or insurance professional, with a presence at Insurance-canada.ca. Start small now, and add more in your fall planning cycle and budgeting for next year.