ACORD Recognizes Leaders in Standards Implementation

ACORD, the industry standards group that is establishing standards and data object models for the exchange of information, recognized those companies and solution providers that have implemented ACORD XML and EDI standards at the ninth annual ACORD Technology Conference in Orlando this past week.

Susan Ousey, senior vice president, ACORD, said that implementation of new standards requires hard work and dedication, "but, it is only the beginning. It is those companies that take these standards and implement them with their business partners that bring to life e-business with all of its advantages in the marketplace."

Early Adopters of the XML specification last year laid the foundation for the 32 companies recognized this year as "Implementation Champions." This year's award winners submitted many different business messages for certification.

Those companies being honored as Implementation Champions for 2001 are: ACUITY; Allfinanz Inc.; Applied Systems Inc.; ChannelPoint; CSC Life; CSC: P&C Solutions Unit; DWL Inc.; e-Nable.com Corp.; E-Z Data, Inc.; FIPSCO (Another Fiserv Resource); GE Financial Assurance; INSpire Insurance Solutions; InsureHiTech; InSystems Technologies; IVANS; JCRS Inland Marine Solutions Inc.; LifeLink Corporation; Manulife Century; Marsh Inc.; MetLife; Philibert Software Group; Riskclick Inc.; Royal & SunAlliance; Safety Insurance Co.; Silverlake Software; Silverstream Software; Spidertek Corporation; The Hartford; The St. Paul; TowerStreet; Travelers Insurance; and VirtualFinances.Com.

Additionally, each year ACORD recognizes the leaders in AL3 implementations through the ACORD Upload and Download Awards. Many of these companies continue to lead year after year. One industry leader is Applied Systems, Inc., which won Upload Vendor of the Year for Total Implementations for the seventh year in a row and earned the Download Vendor of the Year for Total Implementations for the eighth consecutive year. Applied Systems' performance this year continued with an additional AL3 implementation award for Percent of Growth in the Upload category.

Another familiar AL3 implementation award winner is SAFECO, which has walked away with its seventh Download Company of the Year for Total Implementations award. The Hartford won Upload Company of the Year for Total Implementations. Liberty Regional Agency Markets received the Upload Company of the Year for Percent of Growth. The Download Vendor of the Year for Percent of Growth went to North American Software Associates, and Mutual of Enumclaw was awarded the Download Company of the Year for Percent of Growth.

ACORD Technology Conference 2002 is scheduled for May 19-21, 2002, at the Dolphin Resort at Disney World in Orlando. For more information, visit www.acord.org.