TRAVELERS INITIATES INTEGRATION DEAL WITH RACKLEY

As a result of its focus on improving the ease with which its independent agents do business, Hartford-based Travelers Property Casualty has formed an integration relationship with Rackley Systems Inc. (Pulaski, TN). As a result of the deal, Rackley for Windows Personal Auto rating—a comparative rating tool—now has an ACORD-standard AL3 integration bridge with Travelers agents based in Alabama and Tennessee. Eventually, the bridge will be available to Travelers' agents in most of the states for which Rackley provides rating tools (including most of the southeastern states).

The bridge provides electronic data transfer from Rackley for Windows comparative desktop system to Travelers'ATLAS3—an Internet-based automation system for policy, quote, rate and issuance for automobile insurance. According to Dick Cuozzo, assistant vice president, personal lines automation, Travelers, the integration bridge that transfers the comparative rating data will provide efficiency for agents, because it will reduce the need for reentry.

"Travelers recognizes that agents often start their new business process within their comparative raters, and we don't want them to lose the benefit of those initial keystrokes," says Cuozzo. "This new process essentially eliminates redundant keying by populating Travelers' quote, rate and issuance system with the same data keyed into Rackley for Windows Rating."

In addition to the agreement with Rackley Systems, Cuozzo emphasizes, Travelers Property Casualty continues to work with various agency management system vendors and rating companies to create a range of automation options for agents.