Timely and accurate information has always played a critical role in enabling insurers to make confident and strategic business decisions. But having this information is even more important as insurers grapple with increased competition from niche players, globalization, and compliance and regulatory pressures, says Craig Bedell, director of Global Insurance Solutions for recently acquired Cognos. As insurers move to a business model that relies less on operating to profit and more on automating processes to reduce costs, the right information will help them make the important and sometimes difficult decisions that will improve their bottom line results. Front-end technologies such as SOA and Web services provide decision-makers with the information they need about their customers, their competitors, and their internal operations.
