TransactNOW® Transforms Workflow

In these difficult times, businesses must find ways to do more with less. Streamlining workflow, especially between agencies and their carriers, is an essential step in achieving efficiencies and bringing productivity back to the bottom line.

Vertafore’s connectivity tool, TransactNOW® is a powerful solution that connects agencies with insurance carrier databases in real time all from the convenience and security of your Vertafore agency management system. Sounds great, but what does it really mean in everyday situations?

At the NetVU Leadership Conference, attendees shared their stories with others of how TransactNOW improved efficiencies in their agency. One such story comes from First MainStreet Insurance where the shifting landscape of their personal lines department required them to “become more creative in order to keep our heads above water,” said Teri Cote, CISR, CPIW, personal lines account manager.

This all happened in the middle of staffing changes and cut backs, Teri explains. “We learned to rely heavily on TransactNOW for endorsements and policy/billing/claims look-ups. We didn’t have a comparative rater at the time so keeping up with new business was next to impossible. Thankfully, we did learn how to quote through TransactNOW. What a Godsend!”

As a result of First MainStreet’s better use of TransactNOW, the department managed to achieve its sales goals despite the environmental and economic challenges it was facing. “In addition,” Teri said, “we reduced our paper storage and consumption by 20% in the last five months of the year. We were still working hard, but we were also working much smarter.”

Even now, after migrating to AMS360 in March of this year, and implementing PL Rating this fall, First MainStreet still relies heavily on TransactNOW for its daily policy inquiries and endorsements. “We can complete an endorsement in both AMS 360 and the company website in the same amount of time it used to take us to complete it in just one of those locations, all due to TransactNOW,” Teri said.

Joyce Sigler, CISR, CPIW, CPIA, vice president and corporate secretary, Jones & Wenner Insurance Agency, finds great value in TransactNOW from the Real Time perspective. “Being able to transmit data to their carriers without duplicate steps is an enormous timesaver. We don’t have to worry about multiple logins and logouts, and we’re assured our data matches what’s in our carriers’ databases,” Joyce explains.

Jones & Wenner has been using TransactNOW for about six years and they’ve set an internal goal to use it even more this year. “Our ability to make changes in Real Time, while the customer is on the phone or in my office has a huge positive impact on the customer’s experience.”

Joyce noted that not all carriers have embraced TransactNOW, many due to a misguided belief that it allows agents to move business too easily. Her response to that is just the opposite, and reminds carriers, “not all agencies sell on price, but they are always looking to place business with those companies that are easy to do business with. By implementing a TransactNOW workflow between you and your agency partners, you are demonstrating how convenient it is. You are also showing them you understand the challenges they face.”

She has a recommendation for agents, too. “If you are currently using TransactNOW with just some of your carriers, your voice is strong and all your carriers need to hear about TransactNOW. It will strengthen your business relationship with your carriers, strengthen your service relationship with your customers, and most of all strengthen your bottom line.”

Find out more about TransactNOW and how your fellow agents are leveraging its workflow benefits by joining the discussions on NCOM. Also, don’t forget to register for the 2012 NetVU Conference, April 26-28 in Anaheim, CA. There will be plenty of sessions on how to take the most advantage of TransactNOW and all the Vertafore line of products. For more resources, go to Get Real Time.

Automation Excellence and Quantum Award Submissions Being Accepted

You have until November 30 to nominate those agencies and carriers that have demonstrated distinction in the use of technology. Automation Excellence will recognize one agency in each of two categories – 25 users or less and more than 25 users. Any NetVU member agency can be nominated including your own agency.

The Quantum Award will recognize insurance companies’ achievements in working agency-company technology to advance workflow productivity and profitability for member agencies. An award will be given in each of two categories – National and Regional Carriers.

For more information, visit the Awards page on the NetVU website.

2012 NetVU Conference EarlyBird Registration: LAST DAY

NetVU Conference – April 26-28, 2012 – Anaheim, CA 

NetVU Conference is home away from home to Vertafore users from all over the country. The conference brings together agents, company executives and technology leaders to learn from experts, and each other. Through networking and education, find out how your peers boost their agency’s productivity and profitability.  Find out how you can influence change in the industry. Review more than 100 sessions addressing the needs and concerns of the various roles within an agency which will include:

• Disney Institute 
• Principal’s Track - NEW 
• Young Professionals 
• IIABA Best Practices Classes
• Security Issues and Standards Implementation
• Vertafore Product-Specific Updates
• Vertafore's Future Direction
• Social Media Marketing and Sales Tips
• System Specific “What’s New” classes
• …and much more

Don’t forget to make your hotel room reservation at our special NetVU Conference rate of $225 at the Anaheim Hilton or $224 at the Anaheim Marriott. Click here for more details

A Simple Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tip for Agency Websites

One way to get more visitors to your site is to build inbound links to your website.  Inbound link building is the practice of getting other websites to link back to yours. This helps with SEO because the engines think if you are connected to all these other sites, you must be important.

Some easy ways for agents and brokers to add inbound links to their websites are to work with the various entities they partner with to add a link to the agency’s website.

Community partners – If you are part of a chamber of commerce or other community association, check their website and see if they name their members. If they do, request that your website information be added to your membership listing.

 

Industry partners – Does your agency work with associations in your area? Trucking, Construction, Real Estate, and other industry associations may promote their insurance partners on their websites. Check their websites and ask to have your website added. Also, if these organizations have a blog, ask if you can do a guest spot talking about insurance. Within the blog post have a link back to your website.

 

Carriers – Many carriers have a ‘find an agent’ page on their website. On these pages prospects can type in their address or zip code and get a list of agents in their area. Check the carriers you work with to make sure your information is up-to-date and includes a link to your website.

 

Philanthropy – Being a part of the community is very important to most agents and brokers. If your company sponsors a 5k or donates to a local non-profit, see if they have a ‘thank you to our supporters’ page on their website. If they do, get the organization to link to your site.

By working with the organizations you already partner with, you can add many inbound links to your site and enhance your search engine optimization. For more simple tips on creating a more effective website, check-out the on-demand presentation “Building a Website.” 

NetVU SSA Certification Coming This February!