Innovative thinking at ACT & AUGIE Meetings
Posted by David Gallagher on Fri, Jun 11, 2010 @ 12:30 PM
I'm still thinking about the ACT (Agent's Council for Technology) and AUGIE (ACORD User Group Information Exchange) Meetings held at this year's ( May 2010) ACORD LOMA Annual Insurance Forum.
At the AUGIE meetings, Brian Bartosh, President of the Top' O Michigan Agency, and chair of a working group examining the refresh and update of ACORD forms introduced an innovative idea. While clearly positioning the idea as "for discussion", and not endorsed by AUGIE, it got me thinking. The idea was to "scrap" ACORD forms, and replace these standards with ACORD "print output standards".
All pre-built forms and data mappings for the iter8 portal and connectivity products adhere to ACORD standards. They capture information necessary to produce ACORD forms, and present information via pdf or print format. In addition carriers with unique requirements can capture additional information, and use it in rating, and in presentation to agents and policy holders.
Therefore I think we are a neutral observer.
It seems to me that the design of the form, such that it captures a myriad of information and must accommodate many scenarios, is very complex and at risk of growing too large to manage. Instead, if the working group was to dictate what information is needed, and how it should be presented to reflect ACORD Standards it would work much better. This is what Brian is saying. Let standards dictate what should be collected, and then how to present it, instead of worrying about how to put everything on an 8-page form.
I realize this means changing years of "this is how we do it", and that regulators must be brought on board, so that print outputs present all relevant information.
Still, to me this represents innovative thinking, something the industry should welcome.