Issue 2006-13: March 28, 2006
eBusiness and Technology
Hyland Software named to KMWorld's list of 100 Companies that Matter in Knowledge Management.
Cleveland, Ohio - February 23, 2006 - Hyland Software, Inc., developer of the OnBase enterprise content management (ECM) software suite, has been named to KMWorld's sixth annual list of 100 Companies that Matter In Knowledge Management. This is the third time that Hyland and OnBase, which includes core capabilities in document imaging, workflow and records management, have been recognized by KMWorld with this distinction.
Enhanced SAS® Anti-Money Laundering now quicker to detect suspect activity.
CARY, N.C. (March 15, 2006) - SAS, the leader in business intelligence, today underscored its commitment to the financial services industry with the release of a new version of SAS
Anti-Money Laundering. Complementing its recently announced SAS® Money Laundering Detection, the new offering includes several enhancements to help institutions worldwide fight against money laundering.
Distribution
CoVirt / CANNEX Agreement for Annuity Surveys.
TORONTO, March 22, 2006 - CoVirt Inc. (Canada) announced today a fee agreement and increased integration with CANNEX Financial Exchanges Limited for payout annuity surveys. Payout annuity surveys are normally available directly from CANNEX at a cost of $5 per survey.
Introducing investment illustrator - a flexible and simple illustration system for the wealth market: illustrate inc.
Toronto ON 24 March 2006 - illustrate inc is pleased to announce the release of investment illustrator - a flexible, rules-driven tax compliant illustration product for the wealth marketplace. Investment illustrator is in production at two companies.
Sun Life Financial U.S. and M Financial Group form distribution relationship.
WELLESLEY, MA [February 27, 2006] - Sun Life Financial U.S. and M Financial Group ("M Financial") today announced an agreement to offer Sun Life Financial's broad selection of life insurance and annuity products and services to M Financial's Member Firms and their high net worth clients.
If You Build It, Will They Come? Asset Management Firms Struggle to Provide Right Content on Intranets, says kasina.
NEW YORK, February 14, 2006 - What if they built a better intranet and nobody came? That is the question facing those asset management firms that, in seeking to leverage their intranets to boost sales, are instead failing to provide wholesalers with the tools and information needed to succeed, according to a new study from kasina, LLC, a leading consultant to the financial services industry.
Policy and Product Management
Arbella Mutual Insurance Company Reports Success with MSB's Tele-Estimating ServicesTM (TES).
LOS ANGELES March 20, 2006 - Marshall and Swift / Boeckh (MSB), the leading worldwide provider of building cost data and estimating technology to the property insurance industry, along with the Arbella Insurance Group of Quincy, Mass., announce a successful completion of MSB's Tele-Estimating ServicesTM (TES).
ACE USA Selects Camilion's AuthorityUnderwriter™ and ProductAuthority™.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- March 23, 2006 - Camilion Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of product management, online sales and underwriting solutions to the insurance industry, announces that ACE USA, the U.S.-based division of the ACE Group of Companies, has licensed AuthorityUnderwriter™ and ProductAuthority™. These innovative products are designed to create efficiency and ease-of-use for producers, and improve speed to market for a range of insurance products.
Consumer Information
ICBC offers tips to avoid buying a stolen vehicle.
March is national fraud prevention month, and ICBC is advising consumers to be aware when purchasing used vehicles. By taking the proper precautions, one can greatly reduce their chances of purchasing a stolen or fraudulently altered vehicle.
Life Insurance: Like 'Deal or No Deal' Without the Drama LIMRA Survey Shows.
Windsor, CT, March 14, 2006 - What does the NBC-TV hit game show "Deal or No Deal" have in common with life insurance? They both bring out the same - sometimes irrational - behavior in people who face a hard choice involving a lot of money. Sadly, many people just put off making any decision, sometimes until it's too late.
Manitoba Public Insurance hails growth in seatbelt use and pledges to get the final few to buckle up.
March 1, 2006 - While Manitobans have become some of the most conscientious seatbelt users in the country, according to a new Transport Canada survey, Manitoba Public Insurance said today it will not relax its efforts to convince all Manitobans they should use vehicle restraint systems properly.
Marketing and the Market Place
RBC Financial Group 13th Annual Housing Survey.
March 6, 2006 Toronto, ON - The 13th annual RBC Housing Survey, conducted by Ipsos Reid, finds that nine in ten (90%) Canadians view home purchase as a good investment, up 18 points in seven years. In fact, 43% think home buying is a "very good" investment.
Managing the cycle is key, say Lloyd's underwriters.
21/02/2006 - Lloyd's underwriters see managing the insurance cycle as the most important challenge facing the global industry for the second year running, according to new research published today. The findings come in the wake of two record hurricane seasons.
LOMA Looks at Insurers Preparing for Avian Flu.
Atlanta, GA - March 16, 2006 - As avian flu continues to spread among birds in Asia and Europe, scientists say there is a possibility the virus could mutate into a form that can pass between people. Insurers could face several challenges for which they need to be prepared if avian flu develops into a worldwide pandemic.
Product Announcements
Basing Auto Insurance on Exact Odometer Readings: Another Pricing Innovation from Progressive Direct.
DES MOINES , Iowa - Feb. 27, 2006 - Many auto insurance companies ask customers to estimate
their annual mileage when applying for a new policy; these up-front estimates generally have a minimal influence on the overall premium. And, these companies don't ask for updated mileage readings over time.
Reference and Statistics
North American Life Insurance Activity Up Slightly in February: MIB.
(Westwood, Mass. - March 17, 2006) North American application activity for individually underwritten life insurance was up slightly in February, +0.5% year-over-year, marking the second consecutive month of positive 2006 results according to the MIB Life Indextm. This is the first time back-to-back increases have been seen in the Index in over three years. Year-to-date (YTD) North American applications are up +1.2%.
Managing Relationships and Customer Service
KANA Addresses the Pain Points of Self-Service Search by Ensuring Every Self-Service Experience is Personalized and Successful.
MENLO PARK, Calif. - March 13, 2006 - KANA Software, Inc., a leading provider of service resolution management (SRM) solutions, today announced that through the use of KANA IQ, its award-winning knowledge base for self- and assisted-service, leading organizations are providing a better customer experience than that of Online Self-Service Search.
from Doug:
We had a terrific visit to Halifax last week. There was so much to see and do, it felt like we hardly scratched the surface. Visited the historical sites: Maritime Museum, Art gallery, Pier 21, St Paul's (oldest) and St George's (round) churches, Tower Road, King's College and more. Enjoyed meeting the people who were the "official" reason for our visit, and even lunched with my cousin - we decided we had not seen each other since 1967. How time flies.