Industry Trends and Agile Methodology are focus for Sollers
Consulting and Guidewire conference
Sollers Consulting, a specialist in consulting and implementation
services for the insurance industry, and Guidewire Software, Inc.
(NYSE:GWRE), a provider of software products to general insurers,
co-hosted the fourth annual international Innovation in Insurance
conference in Warsaw, Poland. This event offers a forum for insurance
professionals to share their own experiences and discuss best practices
regarding insurance technology. The theme of the conference was, “How
new industry trends and Agile Methodology support innovation in
insurance.”
This year’s conference brought together more than 220 European
attendees. Speakers from leading European insurers included Aviva UK,
Basler Versicherungen, P&V, Zurich Germany and UK. Each provided insight
into their respective core system transformation projects as well as
contributed to a detailed discussion on industry trends and the use of
Agile Methodology within the insurance industry.
The conference began with keynotes from Michal Trochimczuk, managing
partner, Sollers Consulting and Marcus Ryu, chief executive officer,
Guidewire Software. Mr. Ryu spoke about Guidewire’s outlook on key
trends within the general insurance sector. Among them he included the
growth in digital expectations, the decline in personal motor risk, the
rise of non-traditional insurance, the arrival of new insurance-relevant
technologies, and the emergence of new risk categories. At a time of
rapid change throughout the insurance market, the stakes are high for
insurers who do not respond and prepare. He confirmed Guidewire’s
commitment to general insurers to build and evolve enabling technology
platforms while insurers set their strategy in these complex and
demanding times.
Mr. Trochimczuk followed with a perspective on market trends that are
impacting the insurance sector. Socio-economic, demographic, political
and technological influences have a strong bearing on the environment in
which insurers operate. Mr. Trochimczuk offered an assessment of the
challenges and innovation opportunities afforded to insurers by those
trends.
“Only 2% of the world’s economy is insured. This is a huge potential for
those insurers who can take advantage of it. To do this, insurers need
the flexibility and agility provided by modern core systems for
customer, policy and claims administration. This enables them to enter
new markets, create products more quickly or effectively and cooperate
with new partners, like Amazon®, Google®, or affinity groups,” said
Michał Trochimczuk.
Four of the insurers presented case studies about the particular
experiences of their companies.
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Anna Fleming, programme director, Zurich UK, talked about how to
harness the opportunity for business transformation, the importance of
the team dynamic and how to make use of lessons learned.
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Chris Hone, senior platform manager, Commercial, Creditor & Guidewire
Development Centre of Excellence, Aviva UK and consultants from
Sollers Consulting, Michał Piotrowicz and Sebastian Łubnicki, took the
stage to explain how Agile methodology and technological
innovations can be applied in the connected world in a distributed
manner.
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Rolf Schiltknecht and Tristan Schuler, executive directors of Basler
Versicherungen, described their implementation experience, the
significance of out-of-the-box functionality, quick decision-making
processes and the need for clarity of requirements.
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Finally, Marc Beaujean, board member, P&V and Luc Van Dessel,
programme manager, P&V described their company’s drive to establish a
distinctive market positioning, the benefits they already see from
their transformation project, the significance of using a “hybrid”
Agile Methodology and the importance of getting the team right.
“We have enjoyed spending time with this varied audience of European
insurers, to hear about the practical challenges they have overcome and
the benefits they have gained,” commented Keith Stonell, managing
director EMEA, Guidewire. “With the increasing expectations of
customers, influenced by the trends of digitalization and emerging
technology, insurers must take heed and deliver responsive solutions.
Guidewire is here to support them in addressing these challenges.”
“It is important to have this platform for exchanging experiences,
especially as we all agree that insurance is currently facing disruptive
changes. New players and new technologies threaten the sources of
revenue and insurers need to get ready,” said Marcin Pluta, managing
partner at Sollers Consulting. “We are proud that several of our
customers have been able to share their experience of the transformation
journey that enables them to better prepare for the challenges of the
future.”
About Sollers Consulting
Sollers Consulting is an international company specialized in advisory
and implementation services for the financial sector. The company was
established in 2000 in Warsaw by experts in operational consulting and
IT. The company cooperates with a number of partners all over the world
including Guidewire, Moody’s Analytics, Microsoft, Oracle and TIA
Technology. Sollers Consulting is distinguished by an ability to combine
business knowledge with competence in new technologies. Sollers
Consulting team has completed various projects for over 50 financial
groups from all over the world such as Santander, PZU, Millennium,
Raiffeisen, Talanx (Warta), Santander, Inter, Generali, ING and Proama.
On a day to day basis the company uses modern project management methods
such as Agile methodology. The core value of Sollers Consulting is a
strong team of professionals – the company employs over 260 highly
qualified consultants and developers in Warsaw, Lublin and Cologne. More
information can be found at: www.sollers.eu
About Guidewire Software
Guidewire delivers the software that general insurers need to adapt and
succeed in a time of rapid industry change. We combine three elements –
core processing, data and analytics, and digital engagement – into a
technology platform that enhances insurers’ ability to engage and
empower their customers and employees. More than 200 general insurers
around the world have selected Guidewire. For more information, please
visit www.guidewire.com.
Follow us on twitter: @Guidewire_PandC.
NOTE: Guidewire, Guidewire Software, Guidewire ClaimCenter, Guidewire
PolicyCenter, and Guidewire BillingCenter are registered trademarks of
Guidewire Software, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
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