Opta acquires getClarity: linking property and risk data with consumer profiles
February 14, 2019 by David GambrillWith its recent acquisition of getClarity, Opta Information Intelligence is expanding into the area of customer and prospect behaviour. Opta is Canada’s largest property data aggregator and a provider of risk intelligence and loss control services. Its solutions include iClarify…
Behind on your digital strategy? Three ways to catch up quickly
February 13, 2019 by Jason ContantMerging with or buying digital firms, and cooperating with digital natives rather than trying to fight or resist them, can pay dividends for a majority of businesses, according to a blog published Tuesday by Harvard Business Review. The blog, 3 Digital…
How your brokerage might benefit from partnering with an innovation hub
February 11, 2019 by Jason ContantA brokerage in Nova Scotia has partnered with an innovation hub in Atlantic Canada to “up its game” in the digital space. AA Munro Insurance, which has more than 20 locations in Nova Scotia, has partnered with Volta Labs. This…
Why the cyber market has become so crowded
January 31, 2019 by Greg MeckbachClients shopping for cyber insurance today can choose from among far more carriers than they could a few years ago, because it’s such a profitable line of business. However, one reason cyber is more profitable than other lines of coverage…
Private flood insurance cited in new emergency management plan
January 28, 2019 by Jason ContantFederal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments could “engage the private sector to develop an affordable private flood insurance model for the entire population, including clear incentives for mitigation of flood risks,” says a newly released emergency management strategy. Ministers have…
Alberta insurance tech provider acquires Ontario specialty insurer
January 23, 2019 by David GambrillBesurance Corporation, a Calgary-based insurance and technology company, has agreed to acquire Fenchurch General Insurance Company, an Ontario-based specialty insurer that offers insurance programs across Canada. Specifically, Fenchurch provides programs in warranty, trucking, surety and accident and sickness. Its products…
How weak insurance sector growth puts technology in the spotlight
January 17, 2019 by Jason ContantExpected weak insurance sector growth in the near-term is fueling the need for efficiency gains through technology and innovation, Ernst & Young Canada said recently. The EY Insurance Outlook 2019 reveals that insurance sector growth is expected to remain weak…
Why future AI will involve less data
January 14, 2019 by Jason ContantMachines and applications with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities will soon rely less on bottom-up big data and more on top-down reasoning that more closely resembles the way humans approach problems and tasks, Accenture said Monday. “We will have top-down systems…
2019 Executive Outlook | Colm Holmes, Aviva Canada
January 3, 2019 Canadian UnderwriterCanadian Underwriter approached Canadian P&C industry executives with two questions: 1) What is the single most important change the industry must make looking forward into 2019? 2) How might this change be brought about? Their answers, featured in our 2019…
2019 Executive Outlook | Heather Masterson, Travelers Canada
January 3, 2019 Canadian UnderwriterCanadian Underwriter approached Canadian P&C industry executives with two questions: 1) What is the single most important change the industry must make looking forward into 2019? 2) How might this change be brought about? Their answers, featured in our 2019…
Innovation hub for on-demand insurance products opens in Toronto
December 20, 2018 by Jason ContantAn insurance cloud platform provider has opened an “innovation hub” in downtown Toronto to “ideate, experiment, test and deploy” new on-demand insurance products. Slice Labs announced Wednesday the opening of the Slice Launch Studio for the company and its partners…
Flying cars may appear in urban skies by 2023
December 17, 2018 Christopher Reynolds - THE CANADIAN PRESSThe flying cars depicted in science fiction classics such as “Blade Runner” and “The Fifth Element” have long been seen as flights of fancy, but their arrival is closer than you think. At least a dozen companies are prototyping or…