Other agency management systems talk a big game about conversion but few back it up with clear details about what is involved and how it compares to your other options.

You should know that a conversion is NOT:

• Your team having to map data fields into the new system— We’ve already done this for every major AMS in the market.
• Just an initial load, CSV file, or “snapshot” list of your current clients—If you’re asked to pay for someone to do this that’s a bad sign. We’d do this for you for free.
• You having to keep your old system up for reference—That’s not a conversion . . . It just isn’t.

• Over 1,000 successful transitions from every major system
• A dedicated team with a proven track record
• Accounting set-up by CPA-accredited third-party firm
• From Initial preparation to your Go Live Start Date, your dedicated team will be side by side with you.

Prepare – Partner Set–up & Training Plan

Learn – Agency completes online and in-person training

Convert – Current system data is converted to Partner

Support – Dedicated start date support for agency success

Plan with you for the appropriate Go Live Date. We have already mapped conversions from:

• Epic, TAM, AMS 360, HawkSoft, EZLynx, and more
• You don’t have to do the
  work.

We will receive your data and package it so that it comes into the system properly. We promise to complete this within 5 business days of your back-up.

• Check the details of what data is converted in your conversion documentation.

We provide online training so you can learn the system well in advance of your Go Live date.

• Partner is easy to use, but this helps your team learn it more quickly so they can be productive from day one.

We will come train you in person immediately following your Go Live date.

• You will receive more valuable learning because we schedule our training a few days after your Go Live.—You’ll find your questions more meaningful and your training more “sticky” for this reason.

• Know when your contract ends—schedule an appropriate Go Live Date with the Partner team.
• Order your backup at the appropriate time— timing varies by system. We’ll tell you when you need to ask for it.
• Encourage your team (and if needed challenge them)—change can be hard. The difficulty of a successful conversion is not the data. It’s adapting to change. Your leadership makes the difference!
• Do your Training—Learn how the new system will work so that you don’t lose any time and hit the ground running on day one.

Come to us with questions— we are here to help. WE ARE PARTNER.

SIS

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Strategic Insurance Software (SIS) is the team behind Partner Platform—an innovative web-based 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

Partner Platform

Easily manage the entire life-cycle of your agency’s client relationship from presales to servicing to renewal in a unified system that has sales and marketing, client, policy, and financial management, agency-branded mobile app, integrated text messaging, data analytics, web solutions, and integrations with third-party tools and industry partners.

Do you have a dedicated team that will manage your transition? You should know your point people on a first name basis. Make sure that you are clear on the details of the process and are comfortable with the support you’ll receive.

Preserving the integrity of your agency management system’s data is critical in the conversion process.

Ask your potential provider how they plan to deal with data transfer and processing. Make sure you know what will come over and what won’t. Get the details and get them in writing. For items that don’t convert, where in the new system are they stored? Confirm there is a place or you may be wondering what happened to that information.

You current AMS vendor will provide a data backup. Some vendors offer different “versions” some of which can cost several thousand dollars. Understand what back-up your new provider will require and don’t overspend.

In addition to the type of back up, ask how many back ups you’ll need. This will also influence the cost of the transition.

Getting the data converted is only one piece of a successful transition—learning to effectively and efficiently use your new system is just as important.

Make sure you understand the learning resources available to you and the expected learning curve of the new system. A quality provider will not only offer an intuitive and easy to learn product, but will also supply multiple formats for learning, including:

• On-demand videos, webinars, and training content with
• Guided curriculum by role
• Self-directed topics
• Live onsite training with professionals

How does my agency get additional training and what is the estimated cost? What type of training is included as part of the monthly fee?

Understand the key milestones, associated timeline, and the effort required from your agency to complete the transition.

Look to the provider for the proper steps and timeframes—they should be the experts here. A good provider will have managed many conversions and have a clear outline of the milestones and timelines involved. Work with them to select a start-date that works well for your agency.

Your agency will also have work to complete to make the transition smooth. Make sure you understand what steps and effort will be required of you and your staff. This may include:

• educating your staff on why you are making a change
• ensuring they are equally committed to a successful transition
• cleaning up data in the prior system before the backup
• watching initial training videos

The new provider should also outline expected challenges and ideas for how other agencies have addressed challenges.

Not all conversions are equal.

Partner Platform has successfully managed over 800 conversions from every major system. Detailed planning and execution reduce the stress on your agency and help you enter the process confident in a successful outcome.

Partner StartRight process

• a dedicated team with a proven track record
• ability to convert data from every major system
• accounting set-up by a CPA-accredited third-party firm
• from Initial preparation to your StartDate, your dedicated team will be side by side with you

We’d love to talk with you about how Partner Platform can meet your agency’s needs, and how our dedicated transition team can ensure your data and your staff make the switch with ease.

Questions to Consider

• Who will guide your agency through the conversion?
• Will they remain with your agency afterwards?
• How have other agencies prepared?
• What issues can happen during conversion?
• What guarantees are offered for data integrity in the conversion?
• Is the conversion done by the provider or outsourced to a third party?
• How is communication managed if outsourced?
• Where is the outsourced resource located?
• How long will the conversion be once the new provider receives the data back-up?
• When will the conversion take place?
• Does your agency have input in timeline?
• What is the transition timeline?
• How will you ensure we stick to this timeline?
• How much data is actually converted?
• What type of documentation is provided as to what will convert and what won’t convert?
• Will you work directly with my data or do I have to provide csv. files and spreadsheets?
• Will you run a test conversion?
• What back up do I need to order?
• How many back ups will be required?
• Will my agency be directly involved in data processing? To what degree?
• What are the most effective ways to help my agency learn?
• What type of training will be provided for the transition? Online? Onsite? Blend of both
• How many trainers will be onsite? For how long
• If additional training is needed what are the costs
• How will you tailor training to my agency’s specific needs?
• Will you work with me after the conversion if I want to make any adjustments post-initial conversion?
• Will additional training be offered as updates are made? At what cost?
• What additional transition supports can you provide? User groups? Personalized troubleshooting?

SIS

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Strategic Insurance Software (SIS) is the team behind Partner Platform—an innovative web-based 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

Partner Platform

Easily manage the entire life-cycle of your agency’s client relationship from presales to servicing to renewal in a unified system that has sales and marketing, client, policy, and financial management, agency-branded mobile app, integrated text messaging, data analytics, web solutions, and integrations with third-party tools and industry partners.