Northbridge first carrier certified eDocs for commercial lines by CSIO

Northbridge Insurance, a unit of Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., has obtained eDocs certification, for commercial lines, from the Centre for Study of Insurance Operations, CSIO announced Tuesday.

EDocs is intended to help brokers save time by allowing them to download policy documents directly from a carrier’s computer system to their broker management systems, and to store those documents in their BMS without manual intervention.

Northbridge was already certified eDocs for personal lines and now it is the first insurer to obtain certification for commercial lines, CSIO noted Tuesday.

“As a means of making business easier for commercial customers and helping brokers retain their commanding commercial market share of over 90%, CSIO has expanded its eDocs certification program to specifically certify eDocs for commercial lines,” stated Toronto-based CSIO, an association of property and casualty insurance carriers, brokers and technology vendors. CSIO oversees development, implementation and maintenance of technology standards and forms for the industry.

EDocs for personal lines has been available for certification since September 2013, and it was the first business activity available for certification, which is free to CSIO’s paying members.

In order to be certified, members need to submit a completed application package that includes a self-assessment, including supporting documentation. CSIO then reviews those applications and those who are successful receive a certification letter.