Honolulu, HI – February 17, 2010 – Decision Research Corporation (DRC), a rating and policy processing software solution provider to the property & casualty insurance industry, announced today that West Point Underwriters (WPU), a Florida based Managing General Agency and Backroom Processing Operation for personal & commercial homeowners and property insurance, has selected Decision Research’s (DRC) DecisionMaker™ Rating Enterprise solution (DM Rating Enterprise). WPU will utilize the DM Rating Enterprise toolset to enable business users to model, manage, and analyze rates for WPU’s lines of business throughout all 50 states. 

“DM Rating Enterprise provides us the flexibility to support the wide variety of customized rate plans we offer,” said Paul Clayson, WPU’s CIO. “Because the solution places rate control in the hands of the business group, we can react quickly to external changes and adjust rates with minimal reliance on our IT resources. And, given that DRC’s solution is built on an SOA foundation, we are also able to easily call the rating service from other systems.” 

Commenting on the successfully completed proof of concept with DM Rating Enterprise, a key component of WPU’s evaluation and selection process, Clayson added, “No smoke and mirrors here. We wanted to be sure of the solution’s fit, so I requested that DRC host our rates on their rating service while our system generated the rate requests. We found the response time and quote accuracy to be impressive.” 

“After seeing the proof of concept completed, we are confident that DM Rating Enterprise will substantially reduce our overhead for managing rates and rules and will also reduce the time to roll out new rates and programs for our customers” said Dan Hurley, West Point Underwriters’ Vice President of Compliance. “With the DRC solution, I believe that we will be in an even better positioned to service our customers and quickly react to the constant changes in our marketplace.” 

Karen Yamamoto, DRC’s Executive Vice President, noted, “We are delighted to be aligned with West Point Underwriters. Given the marketplace and companies that WPU supports, it was important that they be able to quickly respond to the constant pricing changes and competitive challenges. By empowering the business users to translate rates and underwriting rules, the risk of error is substantially reduced, speed to market is improved, and dependence on the IT staff is minimized.”

About West Point Underwriters

West Point Underwriters (WPU) is a Pinellas Park, Florida based managing general agency and backroom processing operation that provides homeowners, commercial, and mobile home property insurance services. The design elements were based on the agent and created by insurance professionals with over 50 years experience. Established in 2000, West Point Underwriters has successfully provided property products for 9 different Insurance Companies and performed numerous Citizens Insurance Company takeouts. For more information about the Company visit www.westpointuw.com.

About DRC

DRC is a highly experienced and trusted software development company that consistently delivers and successfully implements software solutions to support a wide range of P&C insurance industry lines of business. From the small startup insurers and MGAs to insurers with written premium in excess of $2Billion, DRC clients have chosen DecisionMaker for their rating, quoting, billing, policy administration and claims needs and an impressive return on investment. For more information about DRC, call us or visit www.decisionresearch.com.

Code Red also saw an increased global use of their Code Red Research Management Workspace. Although 80% of clients are based in the U.S., about 30% have offices abroad. They rely on the Workspace to collect and manage research for all offices across the globe. The largest client added in 2009 has over 100 users across multiple offices and continents. 

The Code Red Research Management Workspace has become an essential workspace for Portfolio Managers, Investment Analysts, Traders, CTOs, and COOs. In 2009, Code Red expanded its product offering by further enhancing its Red Alerts™ 4.0 Research Management System (RMS) and working with research providers to distribute research on the IdeaNet™ network. Both products continue to leverage the latest Microsoft® .NET technology to increase the flexibility and functionality of the system. 

Last November, Code Red also announced the first research provider, Retail Intelligence Group, is using the IdeaNet platform to communicate research and trade ideas not only to Red Alerts RMS clients, but to all of their buy side firms. IdeaNet is Code Red’s hosted investment research and trade idea distribution platform. Research providers submit their information directly to IdeaNet to distribute their research, trade ideas, and meeting requests to their clients. 

“In the wake of large scandals in the past 18 months, firms have become committed to implementing essential technologies such as our research management system to meet regulatory compliance and client expectations. We found that money managers and investors were looking for third-party technology to provide them with more transparency and compliance with regards to storing and managing research information,” says Tim Gavin, Chief Executive Office of Code Red. “Furthermore, the workflow tools contained within Red Alerts allows our clients to systemize their investment process, providing them a leg up on their peers. Our clients that implemented our products in 2009 were looking to make an investment in their technology infrastructure that not only met their budgets but also provided them with security and a competitive advantage. We expect to see this trend increase in 2010.” 

About Code Red, Inc.

Code Red provides research management technologies to the investment management community. The Code Red Research Management Workspace™ includes its flagship product Red Alerts RMS™, a Research Management System; IdeaNet™, a platform for the distribution of research, ideas and meetings; and Open RMS™, a research and data integration service. Code Red’s workspace lets portfolio managers and analysts easily manage research, control the flood of information, and integrate third-party data. It organizes and automates the investment management process, facilitates rating and ranking of information sources, and speeds navigation of investment research and the discovery of new ideas. Code Red’s products are implemented at Hedge Funds, Mutual Funds, Fund of Funds, Endowments, and Private Equity firms. For more information, contact Jaime Bean at (212) 867 6364 or visit our website at www.coderedinc.com.

Exton, PA – January 19th, 2010. iPipeline™, a leader in on-demand software that supports marketing, selling, and processing solutions for the nation’s top insurance carriers, distributors and producers, today announced the launch of its e-Policy solution–the first digital, interactive experience for policy delivery. iPipeline received validation for its feature-rich e-Policy solution and secure, compliant e-Signature technology at an e-Policy Summit held on January 12th with 10 of the nation’s top carriers. All attending carriers indicated the primary benefits for adopting an interactive e-Policy solution are reduced costs and increased placement ratios.

“iPipeline’s greatest assets are our customers and their participation in designing an industry leading solution that drives growth and efficiency within the insurance industry. Based on discussions with these leaders, iPipeline has created a digital, interactive experience for the consumer. Our e-Policy solution enables carriers to reduce the 20-30 day delivery period by 40-50%, while reducing printing and mailing costs for the carriers, distributors, and agents and providing an opportunity to educate, cross sell and up-selling the consumer. Another benefit built into the e-Policy is the ability for the producer to generate leads and referrals,” said Tim Wallace, CEO, iPipeline. “What our e-Policy solution really delivers is a significant placement ratio lift. One of our major carriers attending the summit stated they had reviewed all leading e-Policy solutions in the market place, and what iPipeline presented to the group is ‘way ahead’ of anything else in the market place.”

iPipeline’s new e-Policy solution delivers several benefits to carriers, distributors and agents. Attending carriers prioritized them as follows:

• Reduced costs

• Placement ratio lift through rapid e-Policy delivery

• Lead generation, referrals, education and brand visibility

• A unique consumer and agent experience

• A secure, compliant, and legally-binding solution

To learn more about iPipeline’s new e-Policy and global solutions that support the marketing, selling and processing of insurance, CONTACT US or call (800)758-0824.

About iPipeline:

iPipeline leads its industry in providing the next-generation suite of sales distribution software as a “clean technology” to the insurance and financial services markets through its on-demand service. iPipeline’s channel solutions for carriers, distributors, and producers automate activities for quoting, forms processing, illustrations development, agency management, requirements ordering, contracting, and content distribution, enabling the insurance industry to market, sell, and process faster. iPipeline provides the process automation and seamless integration needed to make a sale by aggregating over 160 carriers, 1,200 distributors, and their financial professionals in a single, Web-based environment – the iPipeline Network. With headquarters in Exton, Pennsylvania, iPipeline has offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Salt Lake City. Visit us at www.iPipeline.com.

When Jose Pierre, founder and CEO of Marketware International Inc., travelled to Haiti in 2007 he was struck by the enduring beauty of the country. He also met young people who were starving – for opportunities. That gave Pierre an idea. Marketware, a financial IT firm that develops Microsoft-based products including the .NET-based webBroker Plus, currently outsources some of its development to India.

“The whole tech discussion started about why couldn’t the same thing be done in Haiti,” Pierre says.

Upon his return to the U.S., Pierre decided the first step would be to create a program to better train Haitian students for work in the IT industry. Together with his wife Bernadette, Pierre started a foundation, The Children Heritage Foundation, to raise funds and begin laying the groundwork for an IT training program.

After speaking to several universities, the foundation found support from MIS professors in the U.S., who agreed to develop the IT curriculum. The American University of the Caribbean, based in Les Cayes, Haiti, donated classrooms for the program’s instruction. A team of students from Hunter College, of the City University of New York, developed the English proficiency curriculum, as Pierre had decided that the classes should all be conducted in English.

“We felt that part of Haiti’s isolation is that people speak Creole and French in a region that is primarily English and Spanish,” Pierre says.

With these steps in place, the foundation is moving forward, with its first class of 30 to 40 students beginning study this fall. At an information day on June 19, 300 prospective students attended, some of whom had returned from the Dominican Republic to apply for the opportunity. A two-year technical degree and four-year applied science degree will be offered.

“That way if students wanted to continue their studies, they will have a degree from an accredited American university. We want to give them a fighting chance,” Pierre says.

Pierre plans to open an office of Marketware in Haiti in two years, when the first class would be graduating, starting with small Web-development type tasks.

“We want to make sure they have opportunities and that we are not just creating the knowledge with no opportunities when they are done.”

There are still challenges: the foundation is still hoping to raise money for more laptops as well as for transportation of equipment. In addition, fiber optics is not in place and today Internet connections remain slow at best.

Yet Pierre feels those challenges are outweighed by many of the positives that Haiti has going for it. The government has expressed strong support for the program, and Pierre and members of his team have already met with Haiti’s president and prime minister. With a median income of $500 a year, the population is eager for opportunities. Former president Bill Clinton’s recent appointment as UN Special Envoy to Haiti may help bring attention to infrastructure issues. And then there’s proximity – the country can be reached by plane from the New York area in just three-and-a-half to four hours.

“Three-and-a-half to four hours from a major city in the most powerful country in the world. We cannot solve all the world’s problems but we can begin to make a difference.”

Companies expand cloud opportunity for developers and channel partners.

REDMOND, Wash., and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Jan. 20, 2010 — Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU) and Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) plan to create new opportunities for software developers to deliver and market Web applications to small-business customers through the Intuit App Center. The two companies plan to integrate the capabilities of their cloud services platforms — the Intuit Partner Platform and Windows Azure platform — to enable developers and channel partners to deliver solutions to the millions of employees within businesses that use QuickBooks® financial software. In addition, the two companies will provide small businesses with Microsoft’s cloud-based productivity applications via the Intuit App Center. 

Intuit will name Windows Azure as a “preferred platform” for small-business cloud application development on the Intuit Partner Platform. The companies expect this to jump-start development and distribution of new Web-based applications to help small businesses in today’s challenging economy. The free Windows Azure software development kit (SDK) (beta) for Intuit Partner Platform is available today at http://developer.intuit.com/azure. 

“Intuit and Microsoft are trusted technology partners to small business,” said Walid Abu-Hadba, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of the Developer & Platform Evangelism organization. “By combining the pooled technology assets of our developer communities, we stand to produce an outpouring of new applications to help small businesses enhance their competitive edge.” 

Immense Ecosystem of Developers and Channel Partners Benefits Small Businesses

As two leading technology platform providers to small businesses, Intuit and Microsoft are creating a vast ecosystem of more than 750,000 development firms and channel partners to create more new innovative applications and services that will reach the market more quickly.

• For Microsoft developers, the ability to develop applications for Intuit’s loyal customers will open a new landscape of sales prospects looking for small-business solutions.

• For Intuit’s developer community, Microsoft provides a cloud platform and tools that will boost developer productivity and expand the possibilities to extend Intuit’s core application functionality.

 “Intuit is driven to help small businesses succeed by improving their bottom line,” said Bill Lucchini, vice president and general manager of Intuit’s Platform as a Service Group. “The Intuit App Center is a huge breakthrough, allowing us to get innovative apps that solve real problems in users’ hands faster than ever before. Now, Microsoft developers can enhance their businesses with access to the small-business channel, the Intuit App Center will get stronger and small businesses will reap the rewards of all this innovation.” 

“The Windows Azure SDK for Intuit Partner Platform is great news for .NET and Intuit Partner Platform developers,” said Joe Dwyer, CTO of Propelware, a longstanding member of the Intuit Developer Network, specializing in integrating software applications with QuickBooks. “Our developers are already very familiar with Visual Studio, and with the Windows Azure platform, we will no longer have to worry about maintenance, reliability and scale and can focus on creating richer applications for small businesses faster and respond quickly as their needs change.”

New Opportunities for Developers and Channel Partners

The Intuit Partner Platform will give Windows Azure developers the ability to build applications that their customers can use to take advantage of their QuickBooks data. In addition, developers get instant access to a pre-built channel for acquiring customers — a potential market of millions of employees at small businesses that use QuickBooks. A simple click from the QuickBooks Pro and Premier 2010 toolbar takes small businesses to the Intuit App Center where they can find, buy and use Web-based business applications built on or integrated with the Intuit Partner Platform. Applications in the App Center can also be accessed via any Web browser.

Integrated Microsoft Online Services on the Intuit App Center Later this Year

Later this year, Microsoft plans to make Microsoft Online Services, including Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Live Meeting and Microsoft Office Communications Online, available for purchase in the Intuit App Center. These cloud-based applications streamline business communication and collaboration with comprehensive security, high reliability and simplified IT management. As a result, small businesses will have a complete set of high-quality Web applications that deliver the capabilities, flexibility and value they need.

Additional Information

• To download and test the Windows Azure SDK (beta) for Intuit Partner Platform and other tools, go to http://developer.intuit.com/azure.

• To learn more about the Windows Azure platform, visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure.

• To learn more about the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite, visit http://www.microsoft.com/online/business-productivity.mspx.

• To learn more about the Intuit Partner Platform, visit http://ipp.developer.intuit.com.

• To learn more about upcoming Intuit and Microsoft Activities, visit http://www.microsoft.com/business/enterprise/alliancepartner/intuit.mspx.

About Intuit Inc.

Intuit Inc. is a leading provider of business and financial management solutions for small and mid-sized businesses; financial institutions, including banks and credit unions; consumers and accounting professionals. Its flagship products and services, including QuickBooks®, Quicken® and TurboTax®, simplify small business management and payroll processing, personal finance, and tax preparation and filing. ProSeries® and Lacerte® are Intuit’s leading tax preparation software suites for professional accountants. The company’s financial institutions division, anchored by Digital Insight, provides on-demand banking services to help banks and credit unions serve businesses and consumers with innovative solutions.

Founded in 1983, Intuit had annual revenue of $3.2 billion in its fiscal year 2009. The company has approximately 7,800 employees with major offices in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India and other locations. More information can be found at www.intuit.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Intuit, the Intuit logo, and QuickBooks, among others, are registered trademarks and/or registered service marks of Intuit Inc. in the United States and other countries. For free trials and promotions, please see the Web sites listed above for the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to such offers.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Executive Summary

In this report, Microsoft and a number of its elite managed partners in financial services and insurance provide insight into some of the best practices and processes that can help your business further develop your joint alliance program. It illustrates how a number of higher profile partners are working with the Microsoft alliance team, as well as with HP and Intel, to maximize their competitive advantage by way of their alliances. It is intended as a guide to help you reduce your risk in your partnering process while pointing out ways to help you build new streams of revenue, lead generation and brand building.

Managed Partners

Microsoft expects a clear commitment to its technology and roadmap. This is especially true of smaller, focused companies that are in an emerging market area where the risk to the customer is often mitigated by the joint-relationship that Microsoft brings to the table in terms of marketplace commitment.

Financial Services Strategy

It’s important to look at how Microsoft’s financial services group has historically crafted its annual strategy and partnering efforts. Usually this process begins by looking at the variety of business areas within financial services through the lens of IT spending and industry taxonomy.

Key Findings

•  It was not necessary to have a formal written plan to be successful.

•  Many partner managers are attempting to incorporate different types of measuring sticks, beyond revenue only, to gauge the success of their partnership.

About the Author

Ralph Severini is a senior alliances, sales and marketing executive who has managed and developed a variety of channel and strategic partnership programs.

He has managed partner relationships for companies including SunGard, Sun Microsystems and Entrust. He has constructed alliances that run the gamut from simple co-marketing through joint ventures and OEM partnerships. And he has also worked at a managerial level in financial services in a non-IT role.

Ralph has served as a partner relationship liaison to Microsoft where he was able to differentiate the positive aspects of a seemingly competitive relationship and turn it into a win-win for both companies. He previously developed a set of partnerships in the financial services industry which helped propel his company to over $100M in sales in two years. And he also built multi-million dollar channel and OEM business through partner companies including BEA, SunGard and SWIFT.

Ralph holds a bachelor degree in mathematics from Rutgers University, a MS from the Stevens Institute of Technology in NJ and a MBA from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. He holds two diplomas in financial services in the areas of risk and underwriting and is a member of a number of organizations including The Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals (ASAP), MENG, IEEE, AIIM, and others.

He resides in NJ and he has been an aqua-commuter to Manhattan for the past 15 years. Ralph is a contributing Research Analyst to Windows in Financial Services and you can also read his regular blog on partnering, sales and marketing at http://www.rgsmanagement.com/SeveriniBlog

TABLE OF CONTENTS

]]> http://www.windowsfs.com/uncategorized/financial-services-alliances-and-partnering-with-microsoft-intel-and-hp-2/feed 0 http://www.windowsfs.com/research/financial-services-alliances-and-partnering-with-microsoft-intel-and-hp http://www.windowsfs.com/research/financial-services-alliances-and-partnering-with-microsoft-intel-and-hp#comments Sat, 09 Jan 2010 14:17:59 +0000 Windows in Financial Services http://www.windowsfs.com/?p=5320 In our challenging economy where scaling your business is critical, it’s your partnership, alliance and channel relationships that provide an extra dimension for growth opportunities. Yet navigating alliance programs and channel programs with global corporations such as Microsoft, HP and Intel is complex and resource-demanding. As a result, Windows in Financial Services, the leading publication and information resource for Microsoft in banking, insurance and capital markets, recently commissioned a research report on partnering with Microsoft.

This forty-plus page report covers Microsoft focus areas, strategies and best practices in their financial services’ alliance program. It includes the feedback and results of interviewing fifteen Microsoft managed partner companies in financial services. These interviews were conducted with an appropriate selection of CEO’s, alliance directors, and sales and marketing executives from businesses that span from less than a hundred employees into the thousands. In addition, the report includes a review of how HP and Intel engage in their financial services partner program and how these key partners build joint value with Microsoft.

This research report offers valuable insights into:

•  How some of the top Microsoft managed-partners attain elite status

•  Areas that are gaining the most attention in Microsoft financial services

•  Best practices that can help you gain traction in developing joint business, sales leads and marketing momentum with Microsoft

•  And lastly, many of these alliance best practices are applicable in general to working with Microsoft, not just in financial services

The FINANCIAL SERVICES ALLIANCES AND PARTNERING WITH MICROSOFT (Intel and HP) research findings detail best practices that will help you build, improve and accelerate your partner program with Microsoft, HP and Intel in 2010. This valuable 45 page report contains 6 figures and 10 tables.

Purchase now for an introductory fee of only $75.

A Table of Contents and Abstract are available for your review, just click on them now.

Table of Contents
Abstract
Bio of Author

For further information on this practical and insightful report and its contents, please feel free to call our Research Analyst Ralph Severini at 732-291-8749 or email him at Ralph@windowsfs.com.

You can order by either:

• Filling out the form below

• Or by phone by calling 732-291-8749

Don’t miss out.  Get started now on the best practices that will help you build, improve and accelerate your partner program with Microsoft, HP and Intel in 2010.

Please complete this form to order a copy of this research report.

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Exton, PA – January 5th, 2010. iPipeline™, a leader in on-demand software that supports marketing, selling, and processing solutions for the nation’s top insurance carriers, distributors and producers, today announced that National Western Life has selected iGO e-App™. Under the agreement, National Western Life will be deploying full iGO e-Apps (intelligent fillable forms) with e-Signature and e-Submission for their international and domestic Life and Annuities business. iPipeline will also provide a user interface within the iGO e-App that enables producers to access and run various quotes and illustrations to support marketing, sales and processing activities. The solution, built on the Microsoft .Net Framework in a cloud computing environment, includes content distribution and management capabilities to deliver new efficiencies to the insurance industry.

“National Western Life has contracts with independent agents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, 4 U.S. territories, and Haiti. The Company also accepts applications from individuals in Central and South American, Caribbean, and Pacific Rim countries. This win demonstrates how our Web-based iGO e-App solution and disconnected client can be used in concert to support a demanding global application,” said Tim Wallace, CEO, iPipeline. “Key to the success of this international deployment is the use of our e-Signature and e-Submission capabilities. We are pleased to have National Western Life as a valued business partner and look forward to deploying our solution set in 2010.” 

“iPipeline recognizes that it is critical for insurance firms to streamline workflows, improve efficiencies and embrace straight-through processing,” said Bill Hartnett, Director of U.S. Insurance Industry Solutions, Microsoft Corp. “With iGO e-App, based on the .Net Framework in a cloud computing environment, National Western Life will benefit from ease of access and accelerated processing power.” 

“National Western Life is committed to providing our producers with the best technology to support their marketing, selling and processing efforts on a global basis. Our evaluation of competitive products was vigorous and key to iPipeline’s final selection. After speaking with several of their major carriers, we were convinced iGO e-App was the way to proceed,” said Scott E. Arendale, Senior Vice President of International Marketing, National Western Life. “Our international as well as our domestic deployments demand a wide-spread solution and talented delivery team. We look forward to the international and domestic launch of term and annuity quotes and forms as well as the domestic launch of iGO e-App annuities in early 2010. Soon afterwards, we will follow with the international implementation of iGO e-App in five languages for our life business. This means doing business with National Western Life will be easier and faster for our international producers as a result of our partnership with iPipeline.” 

“This initiative sends a strong message to our distribution partners that National Western Life is committed to being their company of choice,” said Chris Johnson, Domestic Chief Marketing Officer, National Western Life. “These significant investments in technology, during some of the toughest financial times our industry has faced, will have an immediate impact on the ease of doing business with us.”

To learn how you can implement iPipeline’s global solutions to support the marketing, selling and processing of insurance, contact us or call (800)758-0824.

About National Western Life Insurance:

Founded in 1956, National Western Life is a stock life insurance company offering a broad portfolio of individual universal life, whole life and term insurance plans, annuity products, and investment contracts meeting the financial needs of its customers in 49 states as well as residents of various countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim. The Company has approximately 290 employees and 10,700 contracted independent agents, brokers and consultants, and at September 30, 2009, maintained total assets of $7.3 billion, stockholders’ equity of nearly $1.1 billion, and life insurance in force of $18.5 billion. www.nationalwesternlife.com

About iPipeline:

iPipeline leads its industry in providing the next-generation suite of sales distribution software as a “clean technology” to the insurance and financial services markets through its on-demand service. iPipeline’s channel solutions for carriers, distributors, and producers automate activities for quoting, forms processing, illustrations development, requirements ordering, contracting, and content distribution, enabling the insurance industry to market, sell, and process faster. iPipeline provides the process automation and seamless integration needed to make a sale by aggregating over 160 carriers, 1,200 distributors, and 600,000 agents in a single, Web-based environment – the iPipeline Network.

With headquarters in Exton, Pennsylvania, iPipeline has offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Hartford, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and Salt Lake City. Visit us at www.iPipeline.com.