Gaining Competitive Advantage Through Internet Innovation

Insurance companies that identify and implement innovative and successful ways to exploit the benefits of the Internet—including enhanced customer service and personalization, as well as streamlined processes and transactions—are going to gain a competitive advantage. To showcase insurance industry online successes and to present best practices from which all kinds of insurance companies can benefit, the Insurance Internet Innovation award has been launched by Insurance & Technology, InSystems and META Group.

The Insurance Innovators Award recognizes insurance companies who use Internet technologies to improve business relationships. The new award is intended to recognize an innovator (individual or group/team) who has acted as a change agent by advancing Internet education, and/or the adoption of Internet technology, in an insurance company or insurance industry association. Among the criteria for determining the winner, who will be announced in June 2002, are the following:

-- Led the development of new products/processes around the Internet;
-- Led use of the Internet to improve relationships with customers, distribution channel partners and regulators;
-- Initiated use of the Internet to stimulate new business opportunities; and
-- Achieved cost reductions and productivity gains through Internet-based processes.

The deadline for applications will be April 1, 2002. For details on the award program, and to obtain/request an application form, visit the InSystems Web site (www.insystems.com).