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 State Auto banking on SIS UpLink: an investment toward the future

Partner agencies writing with State Auto will soon be submitting both quotes and new business through the Partner feature called UpLink. UpLink is the new way for agencies to send policy details to the carrier for straight-through processing.

Debbie Segbers, Agency Interface Services Supervisor, who has been with State Auto for 24 years, explained that State Auto has decided to use UpLink because its desktop rating application is being phased out gradually and replaced with their online rating and submission system called netXpress. “UpLink provides the connection to netXpress making rating and issuing much easier for agents,” Segbers said.

The UpLink process is similar to the current workflow for adding a new policy in Partner, with the difference being the file is sent in real-time instead of through a nightly batch process. Agents start a new quote/policy in Partner, save the file, and then send it instantly to State Auto’s netXpress system. This enhanced process brings the agency many new benefits and advantages.

Sending policy details directly to State Auto’s netXpress is a benefit to the agency because it eliminates the re-entry of a new quote/policy. The details of the policy are stored in Partner and then copied over to State Auto. The policy transaction log is begun and maintained in Partner. A reminder note also is added and titled “Pending Status — Submit New Business” or “Real-Time Quote Request Follow Up” to round out the agency workflow.

When an agent UpLinks the policy for a real-time quote, State Auto’s netXpress system can be told to order credit scores, and eventually MVRs and other reports. This saves the agency time and provides a more accurate quote. The new business quote then is maintained on the State Auto site. Once the details are in netXpress, the agent can finish the underwriting questions and choose to submit it. Submitted policies will be downloaded the next day into Partner as usual.

An additional advantage to UpLink, according to Segbers, is that the agency is assured that they have the most accurate rating at all times, and they no longer have to upgrade the rating software themselves.

“netXpress is automatically updated with new rates and enhancements. For example, the agent is able to rate our new boat coverage on homeowners, which we were not able to add to the desktop rating,” Segbers said.             Back to the top

State Auto plans to roll-out UpLink rating integration from Partner to all states over time. UpLink should be functioning for the entire state of Ohio in early 2006.

“Each state has different guidelines for the data needed in a policy file, which is why we introduce it one state at a time,” Segbers explained.

In addition to the real-time benefits of UpLink, it also benefits the insurance industry by standardizing information. If you’re interested in learning more about UpLink, contact SIS today! Back to the top

The State Auto UpLink capability was demonstrated live by Craig Segbers, Senior System Programmer/Architect, at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York’s Times Square, on November 17, 2005, during an STFC bi-annual Investor Forum meeting after Chairman/CEO Bob Moone rang the opening bell. “As I’ve told our people countless times, only those insurance companies that can deliver their products efficiently deserve to stay in business. Thus, we look to become ever more efficient through the use of technology and emphasis on controlling costs,” said Moone prior to the UpLink demonstration.

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