SGI certified eDocs for commercial lines

Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) has obtained eDocs certification for commercial lines, the Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO) announced.

EDocs is intended to help brokers save time by letting them download policy documents directly from carriers’ computer systems to their broker management systems, and to store those documents in their BMSs without manual intervention. CSIO has offered eDocs certification for personal lines since 2013. Prior to announcing SGI’s certification for commercial lines Oct. 1, CSIO had announced in September that Northbridge Insurance and Unica Insurance had also obtained certification for commercial lines.

In addition to administering Saskatchewan’s compulsory Auto Fund, SGI also provides property & casualty coverage in Ontario and Western Canada. SGI writes p&c in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba through SGI Canada Insurance Services Ltd. and in Ontario through Coachman Insurance Company. In July, SGI announced it is offering commercial insurance in B.C., with target markets including small business, retail, construction, transportation and oil and gas servicing companies. In 2014, SGI sold its 75% stake in Insurance Company of Prince Edward Island.

By obtaining eDocs certification for commercial lines, SGI “has demonstrated that it is a company committed to improving commercial lines workflow efficiencies and helping its broker partners deliver exceptional customer service,” stated Catherine Smola, chief executive officer of Toronto-based CSIO, in a press release Oct. 1.

CSIO is an association of property and casualty insurance carriers, brokers and technology vendors. At its annual general meeting last May CSIO chairman Steve Whitelaw (Travelers Canada’s vice president of strategic execution and planning) told members a total of 19 firms had obtained eDocs certification, up from 10 in 2014.

CSIO certification is free to vendors and carriers paying CSIO membership fees. In order to be certified, members need to submit an application package to CSIO for review. Those who are approved receive a certification letter.

Another technology available for certification is eDelivery, which lets insurance providers deliver home and auto insurance documents to customers’ Canada Post epost electronic mailboxes.

CSIO announced last August that Northbridge is certified for eDelivery.