Whenever there’s an enhancement to a Vertafore product, chances are a group of NetVU volunteers has been hard at work — reviewing suggestions made by users like you and collaborating with Vertafore product managers to make changes that benefit us all.
NetVU advocates for these changes through its Product Maintenance and Enhancement (PM&E) Work Groups. Currently, there are Product Maintenance and Enhancement Work Groups for AMS360, Sagitta, BenefitPoint, ImageRight, AIM and VPI. Over 100 NetVU volunteers serve in these groups, which meet at least monthly to review and consider recommendations for improving the products and systems NetVU members use.
“Getting involved in a PM&E Work Group is a great way to support the products we rely on every day,” says Jim Helton, Gulfshore Insurance, Naples, Florida, leader of the ImageRight Work Group. “It not only gets you a sneak peek at what’s coming, but also gives you the opportunity to help make the products better.”
How It Works
The work groups collaborate with Vertafore product managers to gather suggestions from users on how to improve systems, with the goal of maximizing efficiency and productivity for all users.
“The work group will determine if user feedback should be implemented in future releases or passed to the education work groups to share knowledge about workflow with other users,” explains Melissa Bond, NetVU member relations manager. “Volunteers in our work groups commit to participate in monthly virtual meetings as well as an face-to-face meetings for some groups.”
The work groups use the Ideas tool to review and prioritize enhancements and provide feedback to Vertafore. Ideas is a forum that allows NetVU and Vertafore to share information and collaborate on future releases.
“We take great care to make sure that each idea is reviewed,” says Angela Minutaglio, Marsh & McLennan Agency, Somerset, New Jersey, the BenefitPoint Work Group leader. The group reviews the top ideas for the year based on voting and presents them to the BenefitPoint development team. Minutaglio adds, “We’re committed to meeting twice a month via phone to review ideas; discuss the system releases; give feedback on development issues, changes and updates; and view mockups in test systems.”
Wanted: New Members
Dawn Mathews, AINS, AIS, CPCU, CPIW, IMA Financial Group Inc., Wichita, Kansas, chairs the Sagitta Work Group. It meets virtually twice a month with Bruce Westman, Vertafore’s Sagitta product manager, to review Ideas feedback and upcoming releases.
“We are always looking for new members who can bring new insights to our group,” she says. “We strive for a diversified membership from all areas of an agency — IT, systems, client service, accounting, training and more.”
Kevin Dickmann, Tolman & Wiker Insurance Services LLC, Ventura, California, is a member of the AMS360 Work Group. “Being in a PM&E group helps to get your voice heard,” he says. “Several things happen at each meeting you attend. You meet a great group of people who have the same interest as you. You almost always learn something new, and you can help shape the product.”
To get involved in one of NetVU’s Product Maintenance and Enhancement Work Groups, contact Melissa Bond at [email protected]. Learn more about Ideas and how to provide feedback on the Ideas page of NetVU’s website.
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