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Deal for Acturis and InsurE-com

08 May 2002

Acturis and InsurE-com are believed to be making a deal which will allow brokers to access both software houses' online quotations.

InsurE-com's online system has been built to allow third party integration and Acturis looks set to be one of them.

Both systems aim to allow brokers to trade online, Acturis focusing on commercial lines while InsurEcom offers both personal and commercial business.

Linking the systems would give Acturis brokers access to personal lines quotes, while InsurE-com users could access additional Acturis quotes.

David McDonald, co-chief executive director of Acturis, said: "We are in discussions with InsurE-com and have been for some time. We have been discussing elements of co-operation, though nothing has yet been concluded".

Chris Blackham, managing director of Layton Blackham and one of the four brokers piloting the Acturis system, said: "We are going to test InsurE-com's personal lines and want to be able to interlink the systems. I believe both companies are currently working on that."

InsurE-com initially offered only personal lines but in April announced a deal with US intermediary system WinTAM. A commercial lines administration and management system, InsurE-com is currently adapting WinTAM to give brokers online access to commercial quotations.

Layton Blackham is WinTAM's biggest UK user, signed up on what Mr Blackham describes as a "rolling" contract, meaning the broker has no annually renewable obligations.

He stated: "We are piloting Acturis but plan to use whatever system suits our services".

The Acturis system is currently being rolled out across all four of its pilot brokers - Layton Blackham, Bland Bankart, Smart and Cook, and The Beckett Group. The system should go live by Autumn. Acturis is headed up by chairman Sir Brian Pitman, former chairman of Lloyds TSB, and co-chief executive directors Theo Duchen and David McDonald.

InsurE-com is also shifting into its next stage of development. The company recently moved to bigger offices in Brighton and is set to open regional offices in the Midlands, northern England and Scotland, with the WinTAM system largely based in Birmingham. Nearly 140 brokers have now signed up to InsurE-com, with Norwich Union and Axa the latest insurers to join the system's insurer panel. Zurich, Allianz Cornhill, Royal & SunAlliance, Groupama, Sabre, Link and Provident are all live on the system with MMA, Equity Red Star and Avon next in line.

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