Since the introduction of ACORD-based interface, the industry has struggled to identify the overall penetration of download into the independent agency channel. In early 2013 IVANS began a project to measure the industry utilization of download, and to provide insight into areas of opportunity. Today, more than 250 carriers send more than 120 million ACORD download messages to 25,000 independent agencies every year.
In late 2013, IVANS began a test project with Westfield Insurance Company to roll out Activity Notes download transactions and, at the same time, provide Westfield’s independent agencies with a Connection Report. The Connections Report for Westfield was a personalized company report used with agencies to identify any download connections from any of the agencies’ carriers that were inactive. IVANS also began to work with agency solution providers such as NASA, Applied Systems, Vertafore and SIS, as well as the major software user groups, to provide additional agencies personalized connections reports.
The IVANS Connections Report has determined that more than 40% of the total available download connections from carriers are inactive, largely because many agencies have a misconception about the availability of download connections from their carriers.
“When we received our connections grid, it was an eye opener,” said Casey Hearring, system administrator, Schultheis Agency. “I thought we were downloading EVERYTHING we possibly could. The IVANS Connections Report showed lines of business that we weren’t downloading and alerted us to new downloads offered by carriers.”
IVANS Connections Report is an agency’s first step toward fully automating information exchange with carriers. By activating all lines of business available from carriers, an agency strengthens its carrier relationships and maximizes agency efficiency by reducing time spent on administrative tasks.
“This is such a great tool,” said Christine Horne, system support manager, Bankers Insurance. “Seeing a real, tangible analysis of the download connections available to our agency has given us greater insight into our interface setups: where we are, where we want to go and what we need to do, strategically, to get there. This is a key part of leveraging interface to create greater value and efficiencies for our agency.”
Agencies can begin to see the immediate benefits of turning on all available download connections by requesting a personalized IVANS Connections Report and activating on all available downloads. Encourage your agencies to request a personalized connections report, through IVANS via email or register online.