Hibernian, Ireland's largest insurance company and Kainos, Ireland's leading indigenous business solutions specialists, were joint winners of the prestigious B2B category at the Information Management Awards, which took place in London on 1 December.
Hibernian, Ireland's largest insurance company and Kainos, Ireland's leading indigenous business solutions specialists, were joint winners of the prestigious B2B category at the Information Management Awards, which took place in London on 1 December. The accolade is in recognition of Hibernian B Live, an innovative web-based interactive system enabling Hibernian brokers to offer their clients an instant service, reducing the time taken to issue a policy from seven days to seven minutes.
The Information Management Awards, now in their tenth year, are the premier European IT awards for the recognition of excellence and innovation in the management of business information and knowledge in e-business and this year there were a total of 500 entries. Finalists are judged to have demonstrated the skills to implement leading-edge technology projects to reap real business benefits, and develop groundbreaking innovative products.
"We are delighted to receive the B2B Information Management Award," commented Michael Garvey, Hibernian director of underwriting and distribution. "Hibernian B Live has been a large and complex project and is already delivering real benefits. The new technology means the end of delays for customers and those frustrating it's in the post phone calls. Because it is a real time insurance system, using it has effectively revolutionised the way we do business."
Hibernian and Kainos jointly developed B Live enabling Hibernian's intermediaries to process customer quotes, to write new business, to complete insurance certificates and discs (on van insurance policies) and to issue documentation immediately to customers.
Paul Gannon, director of Kainos Ireland commented: "Kainos is extremely proud of the Hibernian B Live project, which ably demonstrates the positive impact technology can have on business efficiency and customer service. It clearly provides a compelling return on investment."
The B Live system is the first of its kind in the insurance industry in terms of the back office access provided to intermediaries, the speed of transaction and elimination of paper from what is traditionally a "paper-heavy" industry has reduced the time and cost associated with transacting business. The key technical challenge was to leverage the functionality of the central business process system and to provide these services quickly, securely and accurately over the internet to insurance intermediaries.
Kainos has established a history of success at the Information Management Awards, being winners in 2000, 2001, 2002 and again 2004, including the CRM project award for the Bank of Ireland (BoI) , first prize in the Business to Consumer (B2C) Project category for its innovative work on PropertyNews.com, one of the largest property portal sites in the UK and Ireland and first prize in the B2C category for eircom's "1901" service. Hibernian and Kainos were listed as finalists in three other categories in this year's competition including a nomination for the Premier Project Award.
Hibernian is Ireland's largest composite insurance group, ranked first for general insurance and top three for life, pensions and investments. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva plc, the sixth largest global insurance group. Aviva trades under the Norwich Union brand in the UK and Northern Ireland.
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Press contact:
Kela O'Riordan
01 617 8164
086 606 8842
kela.oriordan@hibernian.ie
Notes to editors:
- Hibernian is Ireland's largest composite insurer, ranked first for general insurance and top three for life and pensions
- Hibernian is part of Aviva plc the world's sixth largest insurance group based on gross worldwide premiums
- Aviva employs 60,000 staff globally
- Hibernian news releases are also available on www.hibernian.ie