Segment
Brokers
Most insurers using social media tools, but many lack a strategy
May 1, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterThe majority of insurers are now using social media in some way, although more than a third don’t have an established social media strategy, according to a report released Tuesday by research and consulting firm Celent. Eighty percent of insurers…
Channel Surfing
May 1, 2013 Jeremy BowlerWhat is the impact of channel selection on customer experience? Although customer use of self-service and emerging channels is on the rise, brokers, agents and customer call centre representatives continue to be primary points of contact for many questions and tasks.
Moves and Views
May 1, 2013 by Canadian Underwriter1 Travelers Insurance Company of Canada recently named Lucy Hathaway [1] as its new vice president, middle market, business insurance. Hathaway joins Travelers Canada from RSA, bringing with her 18 years in underwriting and management roles in commercial insurance. Her…
House call
May 1, 2013 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorScott Tannas, former part-time disc jockey turned full-time head of Western Financial Group Inc., has a new set of priorities as he steps into his role as senator and eases back from the business he founded almost two decades ago.
Ontario government proposes changes to meet 15% auto insurance premium reduction
April 30, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Ontario Liberal government said Tuesday it will be introducing legislation that, if passed, would reduce auto insurance premiums by 15% on average, a figure first proposed by the NDP in the province. The government, which is set to deliver…
Canadian businesses divided on telecommuting policies: BMO
April 26, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterCanadian businesses are divided on whether telecommuting (working remotely) is good for productivity and employee morale, although some are taking steps to make their workplaces more flexible, according to BMO Bank of Montreal. Research firm Pollara surveyed a sample of…
Guarantee CEO shares theories on decline of foreign P&C carriers in Canada
April 26, 2013 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorDomestic insurance carriers have nearly doubled their combined share of the Canadian property and casualty market in the quarter-century Alister Campbell has been in the industry, and on Thursday he offered some theories as to why. Campbell, CEO of The…
CIP Society speakers discuss impact of direct writers
April 26, 2013 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorBrokers are losing market share to direct writers while customers are demanding more web and mobile services, but an executive with RSA predicts the decline of brokers’ market share will slow down. “We’re quite bullish on the broker channel,” said…
Applied Systems announces general availability of Epic 7 broker management system
April 24, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterInsurance software provider Applied Systems announced Wednesday the general release of Epic 7, the latest version of the company’s broker management system. This is the first time Applied’s Epic system has been commercially available to brokerages in Canada. Earlier this…
U.K. tech company acquires Toronto-based iter8
April 24, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterQuindell Portfolio Plc, a United Kingdom-based technology provider for the insurance industry, has entered the North American insurance market by acquiring Iter8 Inc., a Toronto-based provider of software-as-a-service for property and casualty brokers and agents. The agreed valuation of the…
Customer’s age not necessarily best indication of how they want insurance quotes: survey
April 24, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterA prospective customer’s age is not necessarily a good way of predicting whether they want to get insurance quotes online, but agents need to become adept at using mobile devices and online services such as blogs and social media, a…
RIMS Community Service Day kicks off RIMS Conference & Exhibition
April 21, 2013 by Canadian UnderwriterRIMS Community Service Day, expected to attract more than 100 risk and insurance professionals in support of the Child Care Resource Center (CCRC), kicks off the 2013 RIMS Annual Conference & Exhibition in Los Angeles later today. The Zurich-sponsored event,…