News Briefs

Campaign: Real-Time Transactions Are Up
Less than a year after the launch of a campaign to increase efficiency of communications between independent agents and carriers, several leading national and regional carriers are reporting their real-time rating and policy inquiry transactions doubled in 2007, according to an industry coalition. The Real Time/Download Campaign (www.getrealtime.org) is supported by independent agents, associations, carriers and technology providers. ASCnet and Applied Systems are among the sponsors.

“Preliminary numbers indicate we’re making inroads industry- wide to help agents, brokers, vendors and carriers improve workflows by using Real Time and Download,” says Lisa Parry Becker, Real Time/Download Campaign co-chair, vice president of sales and marketing at William B. Parry Agency in Langhorne, Pa., and a director of ASCnet. www.getrealtime.org

Applied Systems Names Layden COO
Applied Systems recently named Mark Layden its new chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing the company’s Technology Division. Layden most recently was vice president and general manager of Products and Innovation at Fair Isaac Corporation, a decision management solutions company.

Layden says, “Our efforts will continue to ensure that we provide the greatest advantage to our customers and other important industry stakeholders.” Company Chairman and CEO Jim Kellner adds, “Throughout his career, Mark has cultivated a business perspective and technological expertise that will bring tremendous value to what we do every day for the success of our agent and broker partners.” www.appliedsystems.com

Free, Disaster Planning Training Online

Small business owners now have a free, online, training program to help them better plan for disaster. Each of the eight training modules, which run less than 20 minutes, are available to supplement the print version of The Institute for Business & Home Safety’s Open for Business disaster planning toolkit.

Users can set up automatic e-mail reminders to help them schedule and complete all of the sections over time. When all modules and accompanying homework are finished, the user will have a completed Open for Business, business continuity and disaster recovery plan. Modules and other resources are online at the Business Protection section of www.disastersafety.org.

AQ