Making Sense of XML

Despite its tendency towards conservatism, the insurance industry has been on the forefront of recognizing and capitalizing on the potential of the XML "meta-language" to streamline a whole array of once-paper-intensive processes, including B2B e-commerce transactions. Yet, even as there have been a number of early successes, there also are many questions about this still-evolving technology. How can XML help insurers accelerate their e-business and customer-centric initiatives? What's happening with insurance-specific XML standards, and why does this matter? What companies are leaders within insurance in XML deployment? What are some of the future technology developments involving XML, and how will they affect the insurance industry?

To help provide some of the answers, Insurance & Technology—in partnership with Doculabs, a Chicago-based research and advisory firm that helps organizations choose the right technologies for e-business-presents "Best Practices in XML: Finding the Right Strategy for Insurance." This special publication, prepared exclusively for distribution at this year's ACORD Technology Conference, has been created to provide insurance industry decision-makers with an up-to-the-minute overview of what's happening with XML. In consultation with ACORD, we've identified some of the industry visionaries who have recognized the potential of XML to transform their businesses, and you'll read about their successes. From Doculabs, there is expert analysis of some of the opportunities-and pitfalls-involved in deploying XML, and how to traverse the technical hurdles. Additionally, "Best Practices in XML" offers a quick reference to what's going on at this year's ACORD Technology Conference, both on the exhibit floor and in workshops and general sessions.

On behalf of both Insurance & Technology and Doculabs, we welcome your questions, feedback and opinions about the opportunities to deploy XML in insurance. Please direct your comments to Doculabs at info@doculabs.com, or to me at kburger@cmp.com; or visit our respective Web sites at www.doculabs.com and www.insurancetech.com.

Have a great show!

Katherine Burger

Editorial Director

Insurance & Technology

Katherine Burger is Editorial Director of Bank Systems & Technology and Insurance & Technology, members of UBM TechWeb's InformationWeek Financial Services. She assumed leadership of Bank Systems & Technology in 2003 and of Insurance & Technology in 1991. In addition to ... View Full Bio