(Image credit: Shutterstock.)
ACORD (Pearl River, N.Y.), the global standards-setting body for the insurance industry, has announced the release of Version 1.1 of its Next-Generation Digital Standards for insurance data exchange, the first version of which were released earlier this year. Developed through ongoing collaboration with leading industry organizations, the Standards enable omnichannel information exchange using fine-grained business transactions, according to an ACORD statement.
Bill Pieroni, CEO, ACORD.
The ACORD Next-Generation Digital Standards are designed to function across any technology interfaces to support data transfer mechanisms such as microservices and RESTful APIs. Applications of these messages include customer-facing mobile apps, the Internet of Things, distributed ledgers, and other cutting-edge technologies.
“Insureds’ expectations are no longer shaped by our industry alone,” comments Bill Pieroni, President and CEO, ACORD. “Agents and carriers need to be able to fully engage stakeholders across both traditional and digital touchpoints.”
ACORD reports that its efforts in this area have been aligned with members of the independent agent community through its standards development partnership with the Agents Council for Technology (ACT), a program of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (The Big “I,” Alexandria, Va.).
“Working with ACORD provides a valuable opportunity for us to enhance the voice of the independent agent in determining our industry’s future,” said Big “I” President and CEO Bob Rusbuldt. “By increasing the speed, efficiency, and quality of data exchange, the Next-Generation Digital Standards benefit agents, insurers, and ultimately our customers.”
Bob Rusbuldt, President and CEO, Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.
Key Insurance Organization Partners
ACORD reports that it has also partnered with insurance carriers, brokers, and other organizations to collect user stories which continue to influence the direction, priorities, and form of the Next-Generation Digital Standards. Key partners in this latest release include AIG (New York), Capgemini (Paris), Chubb (Zurich), CNA (Chicago), DTCC (New York), The Hartford (Hartford), and W.R. Berkley (Greenwich, Conn.).
“Insurance product models and distribution paradigms are fast evolving,” comments Kiran Boosam, VP, Insurance, Capgemini. “By engaging non-insurance firms to sell and service at the right ‘signature moments,’ additional value can be delivered to consumers. “ACORD is playing a pivotal role in promoting this ecosystem growth, standardizing data exchange. We are excited to participate with ACORD to design the APIs and to offer them on our Open Insurance platform.”
Kiran Boosam, VP, Insurance, Capgemini.
Important features in Version 1.1 of the ACORD Next-Generation Digital Standards include expanded support for the following:
- Electronic payments
- Commercial lines quoting structures for business owners’ and workers’ comp policies
- Claims movement & placing documents
- Policy administration search inquiries and the carrier-broker distribution channel
- Producer management
- Technical/accounting for distributed ledger technology
The ACORD Next-Generation Digital Standards are available for download by members of ACORD Standards programs across all lines of business. For more information, visit www.acord.org/standards.
ACORD Releases Next-Generation Digital Standards to Streamline Insurance Data Exchange