Catching Up (Part I)
OK, I admit it. I have been spending a lot of time on Twitter. It has been a great learning experience and fascinating “listening” and participating in those little 140 character conversations. I will get back to more of my experiences with Twitter later. But first – I have been neglecting this blog. I feel the urge to “catch-up”. As the Tag Line on my blog sates, “my random ramblings on insurance industry technology and marketing related topics” and over the past few weeks I have accumulated a bunch of thoughts and experiences I want to share with you.
Jay Menna of Virtual MGA recently walked me through a an on-line demo of his product. If you are an MGA you might find this worth a look. Virtual MGA is in the business of helping MGA’s distribute their programs or products electronically. An agent using this product can access the MGA product on-line and easily go from quote to policy issuance.
Pictometry is a very unique and interesting product using some very cool technology. Basically, it provides users with an aerial photograph library of a geographic area. What makes this product special is both the quality of the photos and the quite frankly amazing things you can do with them. For example, you can make measurements on an image using tools for determining height, distance, elevation and even roof pitch. Unlike traditional geospatial information systems that rely on only a top-down view of an area, Pictometry captures images from an angle which creates a more natural three-dimensional view so that users can see land features and structures clearly and in their entirety.
I think carriers and any agent or broker that writes a reasonable volume of commercial business will be intrigued by this application. The Pictometry offering has very real application in the submission process but even more significantly, I see it providing value to underwriting, risk management/engineering and claims departments by providing full visual information on properties and structures.
I still have a lot more catching up to do and more on my Twitter expereince but that will have to wait until Part II. Stay tuned……
