So it still follows the industry-based single entry, multiple company interface model. Joe Gauches, senior vice president of electronic marketing and commerce for The Hartford, says this technology leverages the partnership concept that's supposed to exist between agencies and companies. We're providing our agency partners with the tools to make the sale, and service the customer. At the same time we're retaining the control we need, and we're doing it in a way that doesn't encumber the process. Should there be underwriting concerns, the real-time interface allows the agency and company to have access to the same information at the same time.
Human underwriters can then focus on the exceptions.
And unlike batch mode transactions where you're informed there's an error, but you aren't told what it is, a real-time session gives you precise information about invalid data values. You remedy the information and resubmit. Should the agency request that the policy be issued, that can be accomplished in the same online session. And if the submission simply doesn't fit the Hartford guidelines, that information is passed back to the agency in real-time also. Juracka emphasizes the accuracy of the quote, noting that the request goes directly into the carrier's rating system.