Carriers Push Download
to Bridge a Data Divide
Belatedly, commercial P&C insurers and agents are realizing the
efficiencies afforded by download technology. By Doug Bartholomew
To download, or not to download? That is the question for carriers and agents yet to fully embrace the technology that enables the transfer of policy information
in an accurate and timely manner.
To be sure, carriers have largely adopted download tools for personal lines.
Those insurers that have implemented
the technology are able to provide faster, more accurate service to both agents
and policyholders as a result. Among
commercial lines carriers and agents, the
uptake has been markedly slower.
But over the past year, the momentum
has begun to shift in favor of adoption of
tools that enable download. Much of the
credit for this sea change is due to a major
industry initiative—carriers, agents’
groups, and industry trade groups that are
actively supporting the industrywide
adoption of download technology for
both personal and commercial lines. “The
ease of doing business is a very important
consideration,” says Jeff Yates, executive
director of the Agents Council for Technology (ACT), an arm of the Independent
Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.
So far, the proof that download can
benefit all parties concerned—insurers,
agents and customers—has been in the
pudding. For commercial lines carriers
that have implemented download tools,
the gains have been well worth the in-
vestment.
