Press Releases

Acturis Signs Up Two More Leading Broker Partners

01 August 2001

Insurance technology solution provider Acturis today announced that it has signed up leading brokers The Beckett Group and Layton Blackham Group as development partners.

According to Theo Duchen, co-CEO of Acturis: "We are extremely pleased to have secured the support of both The Beckett Group and Layton Blackham as we work to reduce the inefficient transaction handling that currently exists within the commercial lines insurance industry. Combined with existing partners Bland Bankart and Smart and Cook, the Acturis team is now able to call on the experience of some of the UK leading brokers, both in terms of business sectors and regional representation. By working together we will develop an efficient platform that fulfills the need of the ambitious, professionally managed post GISC brokerage and delivers real cost savings from day one".

The Beckett Group and the Layton Blackham Group are both considered as being among the most innovative and forward thinking brokers in the UK. As well as undertaking rapid expansion through acquisition and the exploitation of new market opportunities, they constantly seek to enhance capacity, flexibility and profitability through the adoption of new technology based solutions.

David McDonald co-CEO of Acturis, commented: "We have analysed and segmented the UK broking market in detail and have been very careful in selecting our broker development partners. The industry's problems will not be solved overnight. This is not about PR and marketing - it is about working together to re-engineer the way insurance business is done to remove duplication, waste and rework, improve end to end processes, reduce costs, increase profitability and improve customer service".

According to Chris Blackham, Managing Director of Layton Blackham Group: "In the current climate of reduced margins and increased customer expectations it is essential for us to adopt new ways of transacting our commercial business faster and at lower cost. By becoming a development partner we can not only bring the Acturis solution into our business, but also have a hand in shaping its functionality".

In addition Robert Beckett, Chairman of The Beckett Group, said: "With Acturis, technology is only part of the overall solution. By working closely with the team at the development stage we can help to redesign the processes within the commercial lines sector to enhance the efficiencies and bottom line profitability of our own business and the industry as a whole".

Acturis, which originated from a project called 'Riskline', will provide brokers with a web-based technology platform to support administration and to give access to innovative, new services which in turn foster growth and make broker operations more efficient. The solution consists of several key connected components:

• Acturis Broker Trading Platform - a core back office system provided on an Application Service Provider (ASP) basis for
  daily operations, This core system is the product of many years of development and over £10m of investment
• Acturis Innovator - a mechanism to quickly create new products and services for brokers
• Acturis Connected Environment - an on-line environment to facilitate the passing of data and the exchange of structured
  risk information between brokers and insurers electronically. Connectivity with other industry facilities, such as Polaris for
  personal lines, is also contained in this component
• Acturis Information Provider - an advanced management information system providing all partners with critical business information

Acturis is also working with leading insurers including Norwich Union in the development of its solution. It is expected to begin trails with development partners in the 2nd quarter of 2002, with a full roll out expected six months later.


Press Release listings