Partner XE agencies are invited to join the NASPA board and SIS team October 4-5, 2012 at the Embassy Suites in Columbus for a day and a half of networking, educational sessions and small group training sessions with SIS and NASPA members. Sessions have been designed to benefit the actual users of the system, as well as the Agency principals.
Conference highlights include guest speakers, Cal Durland, Director of Member Relations, ACORD, Bill Tedrick, CEO, NxTech, Nathaniel Seevers, Social Media Expert, Paul Fuller, EVP – Product Management, SIS and Alex Deak, CEO, SIS. A packed agenda also includes multiple sessions on NASPA approved best practices for your agency using Partner XE and roundtable discussions that will help shape the future of your Partner XE agency management system.
Here’s a sampling of what you can expect:
Best Practices Workflows in Partner XE – Setting your Agency up for Success!
Real Time, Transformation Station, & Weblink – Maximizing the Time you Have Through Real Time!
Agency Accounting Principles and Practice using Partner XE
Social Media Marketing for the Independent Insurance Agent
Making your Producers More Productive – Leveraging Partner XE with Some Great Sales Best Practices
Using automation technology to enhance your business
Best Practices Part 2: Real Time
Did you know that according to Jeff Yates, Executive Director of ACT “Real-time inquiry and servicing are saving 50 minutes daily for those employees using the functionality (in their agency management systems)?”
What you could accomplish if you could squeeze an additional 50 minutes out of a typical workday—50 minutes per employee that is? There are no two ways around it. The answer to that question has to be “a lot.”
That said, it would be negligent to write a blog series on “universal best practices” for using an agency management system without talking about Real Time.
What is Real Time?
Real Time is, “the ability to click on a button from a client file in your agency management system for immediate access to carrier information on that client.”
Why use Real Time?
Let us count the ways…
When you use Real Time tools through an agency management system you can access multiple carrier sites using one password/login procedure.
Real Time provides a simple, consistent workflow through the agency management system by eliminating the need to learn and train on the individual workflows of each carrier portal.
Real Time automatic data transfer between the carrier site and the agency management system saves time and reduces errors by minimizing the need for manual data entry.
Permanent transaction records are automatically recorded in the agency management system, increasing E&O protection.
All of the above translates to a reduction in time spent on routine tasks and the ability to provide customers with more thorough service and personal attention. The BEST PRACTICE then, is to recognize that even though Real Time may not be offered by all carriers it is in an agency’s best interest it to use it wherever and whenever possible.
Stay tuned for more “best practices.” If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to get in touch. Give us a call at 800-747-9273.
About SIS: SIS is the team behind Partner XE insurance software – an innovative online-hosted insurance agency management system that helps independent agencies streamline workflow and grow their business. Built on a foundation of strong technology and exceptional service, we’re moving forward with a constant eye on innovation that will make independent agents’ lives easier. We’re out to take the industry – and your agency – to a new level.
Using automation technology to enhance your business
Top 10 “Universal” Agency Management System Best Practices
Looking to simplify workflow and improve agency productivity? Want to use automation technology to transform and grow your business? Read on. At SIS we want to help you do just that. Adhering to the following list of universal best practices for agency management systems is a good way to start. No matter what agency management software you are using, these practices can significantly enhance productivity (and as a result make every day a little easier).
Use the Real Time Tools provided by your agency management system to connect with carriers.
Use electronic Document Management and Storage to its fullest. Create and integrate new paperless workflow procedures and make sure all personnel are properly trained.
Establish documented workflow procedures and file naming conventions.
Be diligent with Data Entry. Train producers and CSRs to log all necessary information into your agency management system so that anyone who gets a call from a client can log in and have all the information they need at their fingertips.
Streamline Accounting by using an accounting system created for agency accounting that is a part of your agency management system.
Fully embrace Custom Reporting Features and use reports to drill down and gain insight into your business.
Use your agency management system to Empower a Mobile Workforce.
Make sure all data is backed up. Always.
When in doubt, Automate.
Get involved in your system’s User Group to make sure your system stays up-to-date with today’s every changing technology and continues to fill your ever-changing needs.
In the coming weeks, we’ll drill down on these topics in a bit more depth with a series of blog posts. If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to get in touch. You can contact us by filling out a short online form or by calling 800-747-9273.
About SIS: SIS is the team behind Partner XE insurance software – an innovative online-hosted insurance agency management system that helps independent agencies streamline workflow and grow their business. Built on a foundation of strong technology and exceptional service, we’re moving forward with a constant eye on innovation that will make independent agents’ lives easier. We’re out to take the industry – and your agency – to a new level.
10 Things Agencies Do Right (and Wrong) with Agency Management Systems:
The Good, The Bad and The Opportunity
Earlier this month Insurance Journal published an article 10 Things Agencies Do Right (and Wrong) with Agency Management Systems. In the article, several industry thought leaders, including Jeff Yates and Steve Anderson, shared their views on how effectively independent agencies are using their management systems.
The Good News
Overall the folks interviewed felt that agencies are doing a good job using their agency management software to increase efficiencies, create agency value and provide good client services. The ways that these things are being done (utilizing software as a service, accounting tools, personal lines downloads, etc.) help define and round out the top 10.
The Bad News
Most of the “bad news” cited in the article can bundled into the categories of poor planning and implementation, lack of accountability/ follow through and failure to use the available technology to its fullest.
The Opportunity
Of course, if you look at it like we do, the “bad news” is really just an opportunity for improvement. Identifying areas of deficiency is the first step to addressing them.
Is your agency taking full advantage of Real-Time?
Do you use your agency management system’s reporting capabilities to their fullest?
Are you consistent and thorough with data entry?
Does your agency take advantage of system updates and implement workflow improvements as they are released?
Are you an active participant in your agency management system user group?
If not, there is no better time than the present to start. It will take time, but with a conscious commitment to change, buy-in from your team and the right agency management system partner at your side things should fall into place with relative ease.
Partner effectively
At SIS we make it our business to help our agency partners make the most of their systems. Of course our service team is always ready and willing to answer system questions. Where we set ourselves apart is that we also make it a priority to listen to their concerns and find new ways to help them improve business operations and efficiency.
Because of our ongoing commitment to our partner agents’ success, our professional services offerings and enhanced training opportunities will continue to grow to help every agent get the most out of Partner XE’s features and capabilities.
Partner XE is a fully hosted agency management system, so upgrades are automatic – you just need to start using the new features. We help with that too…
In addition to a large online library of training resources, we offer monthly informational webinars, send out bi-monthly tips and tricks and often include “agency to agency” features in our newsletter where our agents share best practices. NASPA, our extremely active user group is another great source of information and knowledge sharing.
If you want to turn the bad news into opportunity, there is no better agency management system partner to help you than SIS. Built on a foundation of strong technology and exceptional service, we’re moving forward with a constant eye on innovation that will make your life easier. We’re out to take the industry – and your agency – to a new level.
After a successful release in June Version 1.8 of the Partner XE agency management system is up and running. This marks the third update in a little over a year and is testament to SIS’ commitment to continual improvement.
We appreciate all the wonderful input we got from NASPA and all of our partner agencies in planning for this release. Work is already underway on V1.9, scheduled for release this fall.
Complete details on V1.8, along with help sheets and video overviews can be found on PartnerNet.
Highlights:
Improved workflow:
New scan & attach icons – Ten times faster than DocBox, new scan and attach icons are now on the Desktop Search, Client, Contacts, Claims and Individual Summary screens.
Additional efficiency:
More policy data on Quick Summary screen – Insurer, Writing Company and premium amount are now included on the policy view on the Quick Summary Screen.
Enhanced search features:
Quick Search – The main Partner XE search engine is now web-based. The biggest immediate benefit is that you will now get search results as you type into the search box just like you see on Google. Long-term this is part of an overall plan to increase the speed and performance of Partner XE.
Increased data security:
User permissions – A new Accounting user permission, ‘View Bank Balances on Checks & Receipts’ has been added. The default setting now intentionally hides bank account balance information so that you have control over who within your agency has access to this financial data.
Complete details on V1.8, along with help sheets and video overviews can be found on PartnerNet.
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it. The answer to that question has to be “a lot.”
After a successful release in June Version 1.8 of the Partner XE agency management system is up and running. This marks the third update in a little over a year and is testament to SIS’ commitment to continual improvement.