Columbus, OH – Strategic Insurance Software (SIS), the company behind independent insurance agency management system Partner XE, introduces its latest extension: the Partner XE Proposal Creator. This tool offers users the ability to create professional, agency-branded proposal documents instantly, leveraging information stored in the Partner XE system.
SIS President Michael Doran emphasized the new capabilities: “The Proposal Creator offers a simple, easy-to-use approach for creating comprehensive, professional looking proposals. Agencies of all sizes now have the tools to create and customize proposals in a manner of minutes.”
Through the Proposal Creator, policy and submission information stored in the Partner XE system is flooded to predesigned Microsoft Word templates. Agencies customize templates with logos and personalized messaging, making each document agency-branded. Users can select from multiple cover page designs and take advantage of all the capabilities offered in Microsoft Word.
“The Proposal Creator grew out of our partner agencies’ requests to automate the proposal creation process without losing their branding or relying on expensive, complicated third-party systems,” said SIS Director of Product Management, Bryce Lee, “With this new Partner XE product, our users leverage the system they use every day to quickly and easily create complex, professional proposal documents that represent their agency as they wish.”
Lee and his team worked with Partner XE agencies to understand their needs. The team reviewed current agency proposals as well as proposals from carriers and other third-party programs. The best components of each were incorporated to come up with the ideal design and functionality.
John Heinsz, of Partner XE agency HSGW Insurance Services, is part of the agency user group consulted on the Proposal Creator. Heinsz praised the extension’s functionality and the collaborative process to bring it to fruition, “The Proposal Creator is another example of how SIS responds to agency needs. This tool grew out of our user group’s suggestions. We know it will save Partner XE agencies a ton of time and simplify presentations to customers. Once again, SIS has done their due diligence to bring agencies a quality product, at an affordable cost.”
SIS CEO Alex Deak commented on the Proposal Creator’s origins and SIS’s commitment to meeting and exceeding agency expectations. “We heard our agencies’ need for a better way to create proposals, and we delivered a capability based on their specific requests. These simple, but impactful, enhancements fulfill our ultimate goal: advance agencies’ operations so they can better serve their customers.”
“This is just the latest enhancement with many more to come,” Deak said. “We plan to continue our collaboration and partnership with our users, delivering innovative solutions that help them now and in the future.”
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About SIS
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Strategic Insurance Software (SIS) is the team behind Partner XE, an innovative web-based insurance agency management system helping independent agents break free from the status quo. Partner XE is easy to use, streamlines workflows and enables agencies to run their business more affordably and effectively. 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. For more information, please visit https://sispartnerplatform.com.
About Partner XE
Supporting downloads from over 350 carriers, real-time interaction, integrated agency accounting, and much more, Partner XE is a full-featured agency management system at an affordable cost for the independent insurance agency.
SIS is proud to release a new extension to the Partner XE system: the Partner XE Client Portal.
The Client Portal syncs an agency’s website with the Partner XE system, providing insured customers access to policy information online. Through the Portal, agency customers can view and print policy summaries, driver’s lists, auto ID cards, and certificates of insurance instantly. Agencies will receive real-time email notifications of customer activity and can view reports directly in the Partner XE system.
SIS worked closely with Board Members and the Partner XE Community to create the best experience for agencies and their customers alike. Product Manager Bryce Lee said of the Portal, “We achieved what our partner agencies needed: a simple way for policy holders to access their account information from the agency website.”
Multiple Partner XE agencies pilot tested the Client Portal before the full release. Mark Perkins of Perkins Insurance Agency called the Portal “a game changer,” adding, “It gives our clients the ability to securely access their policy information 24/7. This helps us compete directly with online markets and better secures our relationships.”
SIS CEO Alex Deak said the Partner XE Portal “is already one of the best enhancements we’ve added to Partner XE.” He added that the Portal strengthens the agency-customer connection saying, “We ensured the user experience is consistent with the agency brand and complements the existing agency relationship. This adds value through convenience and furthers customer loyalty. That’s the goal: make it easier for our partner agencies to serve their customers.”
The Partner XE Client Portal was released alongside a Partner XE 2017 Update. To read more about the Client Portal and the July 2017 update, read the full press release here.
Discover what Partner XE and SIS can offer your agency. Contact us at 800.747.7005, Option 6 or [email protected]
Britt Linder of Peterson Insurance Services has been in the business for over 25 years, working side-by-side with his family to serve the community of Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. His family-orientated agency prides itself in delivering specialized service with Southern hospitality. With an eye for growth, Britt saw it was time to get his agency off a DOS-based agency management system and onto a Windows-based and cloud accessible system.
When Britt talked with SIS President Michael Doran about Partner XE, he not only found the capabilities his agency needed but the partnership they wanted. We talked with Britt about this partnership, hearing his stories of personalized service and being on a first-name basis with the SIS staff. We also covered:
The benefits of cloud-based operations
The importance of workflow flexibility
The time-saving elements of customized reporting
And the value in great service and support
“The greatest thing I could say about the SIS company and staff is they have found ways to make my agency run smoother,” Britt told us. Find out how in the full client story.
Check out even more Partner XE community testimonials on our client stories page. Or contact us to get in touch with one of our partner agencies today!
Thanks to all of our clients who chose to participate in the Partner XE Regional Learning events in Iowa and Missouri! These were held in mid-May 2017.
It was another positive and informative experience to hear what’s on the mind of the agencies we serve and share recent updates to Partner XE was well as what is coming.
There is always a sense of gratitude when the feedback we receive regarding the enhancements we are making to Partner XE hit the target for what enable our clients to be more effective and productive.
We’ll continue to seek input and listen to the ideas of the Partner XE User Community so that the software reflects the reality of the independent agent.
Also a big thanks to Progressive and Safeco for their collaboration to make these events possible.
When John Horvath’s father-in-law, Jeff Neverman, founded Neverman Insurance in 1979, he knew the key to success was building and maintaining independent insurance agency relationships. Since then, Neverman Insurance has been involved in their Westlake, Ohio community; supporting local schools and businesses and providing community members with personalized service.
“Community has always been a big part of what we do,” John said of the agency. When John took ownership, he saw the potential to strengthen these relationships – by maximizing their management system technology. He saw they were under-utilizing capabilities and missing opportunities to grow. So, he reached out to SIS to help his agency thrive into the next 30 years.
We talked with John about his experience with SIS and Partner XE. He shared his insights on how he leveraged both the Partner XE system and the SIS team to cultivate his client base and improve agency operations. Our conversation covered:
Why he focuses on personalized customer attention
How great service is in the details
What he looked for in a new system and provider
Why he keeps choosing SIS and Partner XE
Which upcoming Partner XE enhancements have him excited
Read our full conversation here. Want to hear more from a Partner XE agency? Check out our client stories page or get in touch with us and we’ll connect you with one of our partner agencies today.
The insurance industry – like others today – is understaffed. In late 2021, an insurance labor market study showed that 53% of agencies planned to “aggressively hire” within 12 months to fill vacancies. The same study also showed that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to fill open positions. As an owner, your insurance agency management relies on knowledgeable staff, but it can be challenging to fill positions in today’s market.
With hiring season just around the corner, your agency needs to focus on how to recruit new talent for your team. Past tactics may no longer work on a younger, more tech-driven workforce. It’s time to expand your outreach, position insurance differently, and look for diverse qualities to keep your agency growing.
Mike Maranda has been in the insurance business for over 40 years. He’s guided his agency through many seasons, but his recent journey to find the right agency management system for his team was one of the most painful.
After many years with a system they loved, Quality Insurance Service was forced to make a change when one of the big-name providers acquired their original system. Mike and his business partner decided to pick one of the big-name systems to avoid needing to make a change again anytime soon.
Yet, after selecting one of the dominant providers, they were frustrated to move through a cumbersome system with unresponsive service. After four years, they’d had enough and started searching for a new system, eventually joining the Partner Platform community.
As the insurance industry grows more competitive, the particulars of your specific insurance agency management will make your business stand out. Those particulars could be location proximity, ease of doing business, or even something as simple as how your website looks. Though price still matters, changes in cost can only go so far.
The true test of what makes your agency the best choice is the overall customer experience. Seemingly small touches that make each interaction easier, more personable, and leave each customer with a positive feeling have a real impact. Today it’s about more than the best price and the latest tech; it’s how you use these tools to empower, differentiate, and create the best experience in your agency.
SIS is proud to release a new extension to the Partner XE system: the Partner XE Client Portal.
Britt Linder of 
When John Horvath’s father-in-law, Jeff Neverman, founded 