Technology Report:
NAPSLO releases technology survey results

Security, developing web portals, and going paperless are among the top focus areas for IT staff, according to a survey of NAPSLO members.

The survey was conducted by NAPSLOÕs Communications & Technology Committee during February and was based on a similar survey conducted in 2003.

Nearly 120 firms responded and the results, and an executive summary is available on NAPSLOÕs website.

One change of note occurring in the industry since 2003 is the movement to using third party agency management systems as opposed to in-house or custom programs. In 2003 approximately 20% reported using in-house programs, compared to 11% in 2007.

Among the other areas examined in the survey included asking about the top focus areas for IT departments. Security was the top issue with 47% of respondents noting it, developing a web portal was second at 45%, and going paperless was third at 43%.

Regarding how firms conduct transactions, nearly all receive policy information via e-mail and fax and more than half get information via postal mail. On e-mail, the most common formats supported were DOC, PDF, and TIF and most firms also reported that they archive or store email. Most firms also reported inbound and outbound faxes were processed electronically.

AAMGA Technology Conference
Approximately 200 people attended the AAMGA Automation Conference in Atlanta in early March. NAPSLO was the sponsor of the keynote program regarding the state of the industry.

Representatives of brokers, carriers, ACORD, and the retail agents technology group, Agents Council for Technology, discussed the state of transfer of data along the distribution chain.

One of the issues discussed was the new ACORD eForms+ which are enhanced ACORD fillable forms with data extraction capabilities.

When sent electronically, the data can be pulled electronically into an agency management or carrier system using ACORD eLabel XML tags.

 Through the new forms, companies, agencies and vendors can automate and simplify customer communication, capture data more accurately and securely, and reduce re-keying costs and errors associated with manual data entry.

ACORD is in the process of upgrading all of its forms to be eForms+ but many are available today.

The forms are available to ACORD Advantage members at the ACORD Advantage site www.acordadvantage.org for $139 for most members.