Optimum General obtains CSIO certification for commercial lines eDocs

The Centre for Study of Insurance Operations (CSIO) has announced that Optimum General Inc. has obtained CSIO certification for commercial lines eDocs.

Optimum is now CSIO eDocs-certified for both of its lines of business, as the company obtained certification for personal lines eDocs in 2015, CSIO reported in a press release on Thursday.

“Optimum is proud to renew its engagement towards operational efficiency with the addition of CSIO certification for commercial lines eDocs,” said J.-Sebastien Lagarde, vice president of corporate strategy and business development at Optimum. “With the influx of technology at our disposal, it is important that we offer the tools necessary to our broker partners in order to benefit from gains in efficiency. The ability to send commercial policies via eDocs is just another step that we are taking in order to increase the ease of doing business with Optimum,” he added.

To support the broker channel in maintaining its commanding commercial lines market share of 90%, CSIO expanded its eDocs certification program to include eDocs for commercial lines. Through certification, CSIO promotes the standardized implementation of eDocs for maximum efficiency and interoperability for all CSIO members, the release noted.

Catherine Smola, president and CEO of CSIO, congratulated Optimum on obtaining CSIO certification for commercial lines eDocs. “CSIO certification is ultimately about enabling the delivery of innovative solutions by promoting efficient workflows; clearly, Optimum understands that and will now, I’m confident, deliver even more value to its broker partners,” Smola said in the release.

CSIO certification is available to member companies and vendors. eDocs for personal lines has been available for certification since September 2013, with the additions of eDocs for commercial lines and eDelivery as the second and third business activities available for certification.

CSIO is Canada’s industry technology association of property and casualty insurers, software providers and over 36,000 brokers. CSIO is committed to improving the consumer’s ease of doing business within the broker channel by overseeing the development, implementation and maintenance of technology standards and solutions such as eDocs, Telematics, eDelivery and eSignatures. In addition, CSIO operates CSIOnet, a secure, industry-owned platform for the efficient exchange of policy information for the broker channel. CSIO maintains offices in Toronto and Montreal.

Optimum General, a Canadian holding company that is part of Optimum Group, underwrites property and casualty insurance throughout Canada. Founded in 1969 by actuaries, Optimum Group is a Canadian-owned private international financial group, active in life insurance, property and casualty insurance, life reinsurance, actuarial consulting and asset management. Optimum Group operates mainly in Canada, the United States and France and has more than 500 employees worldwide.