IBAC regrets end of portal, stands behind CSIO

The Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC) has expressed its disappointment with the recently announced demise of the CSIO Portal Project.
“It is with great disappointment for IBAC that the portal project will not continue growing to better serve the needs of brokers as well as insurers,” IBAC announced in a press release.
The Internet-based portal which featured a single-entry, multiple-company interface was designed to provide brokers with real-time, online price-quoting province-wide. As of the date the CSIO wound down the Portal Project, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO) had reported signing up at least 255 broker registrations. On Sept. 30th, the 40th insurance company had signed onto the project.
IBAC President Bob Kimball notes “the portal was a tool designed to bring insurance brokers to the next technological level [in terms of] efficiency, lowering of information costs, and overall operational enhancement of the services they provide to their customers. Technology is something that our industry should embrace, not fear.”
IBAC reiterated its support for CSIO, shortly after CSIO board members voted recently to pull the plug on the portal.
“We stand behind CSIO and their commitment to continue working on the development of needed technological tools which will best address the market-place challenges facing our industry,” IBAC says in its release. “As a substantial backer from its inception, IBAC has done its utmost to drive its development through the myriad of obstacles associated with any new product.”