AgencyPortal® chosen to help carrier modernize technology capabilities for better alignment with business growth strategies
Boston, MA – February 12, 2015 – Agencyport Software, leading provider of distribution software and services to the P&C insurance industry, announced today that Merchants Insurance Group has chosen the vendor’s AgencyPortal®: web-based distribution platform, and its form-to-data automation service, Turnstile®:, to advance its commercial lines offering and provide additional web capabilities to its independent agents quickly and easily.
Offering a variety of commercial and personal lines products, Merchants sought a nimble web distribution solution to keep it in step with changing market demands while also serving its long-term growth strategies. With an eye on growing its commercial auto business, Merchants sought to expand its online presence in the sector and to make it easier for agents to conduct business, including offering new capabilities like automated ACORD form upload. Merchants also wanted a solution that would shield agents from any future technology upgrades it makes to back office solutions.
“When we first began researching front end solutions, we considered a policy system that we could extend out to our agents,” said Peter Balisteri, CIO at Merchants Insurance Group. “It didn’t take long for us to understand, however, that a single system approach would take far longer to implement than we wanted. Having something that was built with an agent focus and improves our speed-to-market was key in our decision-making.”
“It was critical the solution make it as easy as possible for agents to do business with us and we feel strongly these new technologies will help our agents be more efficient and make working with Merchants an even better experience,” stated Charles Makey, Sr. VP of Insurance Operations at Merchants Insurance Group.
“Our ongoing research shows that agents’ needs and expectations are changing faster than ever,” said Curt Stevenson, CEO at Agencyport Software. “That coupled with the speed with which technologies now evolve requires a platform built to handle what tomorrow has in store—business- and technology-wise. We’re proud to help Merchants leverage today’s and tomorrow’s technologies to protect, steer and grow its business into the future.”
About Merchants Insurance Group
Merchants Insurance Group offers personal and commercial insurance through a network of more than 650 independent insurance agents throughout the Northeast and North Central United States. With corporate headquarters and regional operations located in Buffalo, N.Y., Merchants also operates offices in Hauppauge, N.Y.; Mount Laurel, N.J.; and Bedford, N.H. Merchants’ Web site can be accessed at www.merchantsgroup.com.
About Agencyport
Agencyport Software lets P&C insurers engage simply and quickly with their product distribution channels and technology partners. We offer the world’s leading web-based distribution technologies and robust business intelligence tools—making the complex business of insurance simpler and smarter, increasing efficiency, improving underwriting, and sharpening carriers’ competitive edge.
