Segment
Brokers
Embracing technology key for brokers to stay competitive: IBAO head
April 4, 2013 Harmeet Singh, Online EditorUsing technology to meet today’s consumer expectations is key for Canadian brokers to stay relevant and competitive, says the head of Ontario’s broker association. The way consumers interact and purchase goods and services has changed dramatically over the past 20…
Canada-specific elements key to developing Applied’s Epic 7 broker management system
April 4, 2013 Harmeet Singh, Online EditorEditor’s Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Epic 7 includes a Canadian French translation and was available in the United Kingdom, which it is not. Canadian Underwriter regrets the error. Addressing the Canada-specific needs of brokers…
Ontario court rules against scrap dealer who tried to use liability insurance to pay employee’s injury claim
April 3, 2013 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorThe Ontario Court of Appeal recently upheld a lower court decision in favour of Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada, which was sued by a Hamilton-based scrap metal dealer, for not defending or indemnifying it when it was sued by…
Both Sides Now
April 1, 2013 Gary HirstUnderstanding international business practices and regulatory protocols are critical drivers for client and broker success on the global stage. To effectively manage this added cross-border risk, brokers need a firm grasp of both the risks associated with their clients’ industries and the legal requirements in which they operate.
Get Connected
April 1, 2013 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorComputers are supposed to save time and effort, but too many brokers still spend too much time re-entering data from their own records into insurance carrier systems. Combine that wasted time with what some analysts see as an industry that lags other sectors in capitalizing on readily available technology to maintain existing – and attract new – business, and resources may be diverted away from what brokers see as fundamental: face-to-face contact.
Who do you tell?
April 1, 2013 The CIP Society - Insurance Institute of CanadaA seasoned broker who maintains good relationships with current and former clients notices that she is losing business to another producer. Upon investigation, she discovers the advice being provided by the other broker may be putting clients at risk. What’s an ethical broker to do?
Pull to Push
April 1, 2013 Dianna FioravantiEconomical Insurance is launching a pilot involving eight broker partners to test the functionality of its eDocs solution, based on the Centre for Study of Insurance Operations’ (CSIO) XML standard. The goal is to help brokers realize enhanced efficiencies by pushing declaration documents electronically to their broker management systems.
The Go-Between
April 1, 2013 Angela Stelmakowich, EditorRoss Totten may have announced his retirement (from the Totten Group), but seems not to be slowing down. His next role as consultant will allow him to tackle whatever venture strikes his fancy.
FSCO nears halfway point of mediation backlog pilot
March 31, 2013 byThe Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) is reaching the midway point of a six-month pilot aimed at streamlining part of its mediation process and saving mediators’ time. Effective Jan. 2, the pilot program allows the parties involved in mediation…
Start Up
March 31, 2013 Craig HarrisBrampton, Ontario’s Dara Banga caught the entrepreneurial bug and launched his own adjusting firm, DSB Claims Solutions, just over a year ago. His main weapon? A singular focus on quality and customer satisfaction.
Collision Course
March 31, 2013 John NorrisCar repair facilities are under financial pressure – one estimate suggests that half of all shops could close within ten years
The Cost of Ignorance in Structural Engineering
March 31, 2013 Dr. Farhood NowzartashFrom the seven ancient wonders of the world, the only one left standing today is the Pyramid of Khufu in the Egyptian desert. Any man-made environment is destined to vanish eventually, but we are convinced that buildings will stand forever.…