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AAMGA Special Section Information in real-time Automation Committee keeps AAMGA members ahead of the curve By Phil Zinkewicz
Each year, prior to the AAMGA annual meeting, the association’s Automation & Technology Committee hosts a conference for chief information technology officers, IT specialists, and principals of MGAs and companies. Educational sessions are conducted, and access to industry experts is afforded, in order to provide attendees with real-time information to further improve their operations through the more effective use of technology. Last year’s conference offered sessions on disaster recovery and business continuity planning which included information about some of the off-site products that can assist with those efforts. There was also a presentation by Microsoft, which included an update on its partnership with ACORD to automate workflow and business processes between retail agents, general agents, and carriers. In addition, there was a session on open source software, exploring the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. This year’s Annual Insurance Automation & Agency Management Conference concentrated on system security measures, real-time communication between vendors and MGAs, and regulatory matters that affect MGAs and their use of technology. “Perhaps it’s my own personal prejudice, but I believe the people who attend our conferences represent the best of the best,” says Matthew Letson, of the Wilmington, North Carolina-based Hanover Excess & Surplus, Inc. Letson and Mark Wilson of Scottsdale Insurance Co., in Scottsdale, Arizona, co-chair the Automation & Technology Committee. “Technology is ever evolving and is critical to MGA operations,” says Letson. “For example, we had one session on IT management that was extremely informative. Let’s say your agency has a Web site or a network, but you haven’t built in the proper firewalls. Perhaps you have had to let go an employee who still has access to your Web site or network. In that session we examined the processes that an MGA must go through to take precautions to protect its private information. In a sense, this was sort of a ‘best practices’ type of session,” he says. Letson says the conference also had a session on proper accounting within MGAs. “A good many MGAs are allowing the agents they deal with to handle policy management within the MGAs themselves. Some are even letting their sub-producers handle rating. However, some MGAs might be going further in letting them handle endorsements or other things they shouldn’t be doing. This session examined these situations from the accounting side of the picture.” Moreover, this year’s conference also had a two-hour session on an XML overview and update to examine ways of moving information expeditiously, says Letson. “Our opening session, sponsored by NAPSLO, was one that examined regulatory issues as they affect technology changes,” he says. Letson says also that his committee believes it’s important for vendors to spend “quality time” with MGAs. “As in past years, we offered showcase sessions, where separate rooms afforded attendees the opportunity to see extended demos of different MGA systems. The demos focused on various functions such as accounting, rating, account management, etc. Vendors had to arrange for these sessions ahead of the conference and were allowed a half an hour to discuss their system with MGAs. Of course, vendors have an opportunity to meet MGAs in the exhibit hall, but those are usually five-minute, small-talk sessions as attendees move from table to table. These showcase sessions give vendors more time to spend with MGAs to find what they really need.” Finally, Letson hits upon a theme that is often espoused by AAMGA members. “The importance of networking cannot be overstated,” he says. “Our conference offers our members the chance to network with experts in the technology arena. They can have all their IT questions addressed, vent their frustrations with their current systems and, overall, improve their grasp on the advances in technology so that their agencies can be run in a safer and more efficient manner.” * |
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