Technology Report:
New forms offer possibility of data transfer

During the ACORD LOMA conference in Orlando, keynote speaker, William Shatner may have been the topic of many conversations, but a number of other issues were reviewed. 

ACORD updated attendees on the status the new ACORD eForms+, which are enhanced ACORD fillable forms with data extraction capabilities.

ACORD is in the process of upgrading all of its forms to be eForms+ and had expected to complete the upgrade process by the end of May.

When sent electronically, the data can be pulled into an agency management system, carrier system or any third party using ACORD eLabel XML tags. These eLabel tags can be used to map the data to front-end or back-end systems. ACORD is currently in the process of updating all of its XML tags in to eLabel tags to be consistent. Through the eForms+, companies, agencies and vendors would be able to send information up and down the distribution line without having to re-enter the data, as it could  be imported electronically into client systems.

Firms with proprietary web sites would still be able to manually set up interfaces to handle the information. The forms are available to agents and brokers through the ACORD Advantage Program at the ACORD Advantage site www.acordadvantage.org. 

Agents and brokers can obtain additional information by contacting ACORD Member Services at memberservices@acord.org. Interested carriers and vendors can obtain additional information by contacting:

• Ron Dudley, 845-620-1700x470 or rdudley@acord.org  
• Malou August, 845-620-1700x462 or maugust@acord.org

In other news at the conference, the Agents Council for Technology (ACT), the IIABA"s technology group, launched a marketing campaign to encourage independent agents to use more real time opportunities.

The campaign, "Real Time – Make It Your Business," is being promoted by various agents and brokers, carriers, technology providers, user groups as well as agent and industry associations. It advocates the implementation of Real Time and Download interface applications by key segments of the independent agency system: namely independent agencies, brokerages and carriers.

"Real Time" is defined as the ability to click on a button from a client file in an agency management system or comparative rater for immediate access to carrier information on that client. Details can be found online at getrealtime.org.