Farmers Alliance Companies Selects PipelineClaims 3.0 as Part of a Technology Modernization Initiative
New Web-Based System Customizes and Consolidates Claims Processing Environment
Honolulu, HI – August 26, 2008 — BlueWave Technology™, Inc., a provider of property and casualty insurance solutions, today announced that the Farmers Alliance Companies (FAMI) have selected BlueWave Technology’s PipelineClaims® 3.0 claims application as one of the solutions in its technology modernization initiative. FAMI’s goal is to deploy systems that will enable the company to be more responsive to policy holders, reduce claims turn-around time and establish a more flexible and nimble environment. FAMI expects implementation of PipelineClaims by November 2008.
Farmers Alliance started in 1888 as a fire insurance company focused on the mutual exposures of local farmers – and has grown to an organization that writes more than $125 million of premiums across a nine-state region. FAMI is represented by more than 650 independent insurance agencies in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Oklahoma. The three regional companies that comprise FAMI, and provide property and casualty insurance for homes, autos, businesses and farms, include Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance Company, Alliance Insurance Company, Inc. and Alliance Indemnity Company.
With legacy systems currently handling various aspects of claims transactions, FAMI wanted to identify, and then select, a system that would consolidate IT processes and create a more fluid claims processing system. FAMI wanted its new system to be web-based, support J2EE and improve claims turn-around time. Over the course of several months FAMI’s IT department reviewed product offerings from 20 vendors, narrowed that list to twelve and then shortlisted four, working closely with their internal claims department, executives and key stakeholders. “Over the course of four months, and using a high level requirements definition, we did a deep dive,” said Andy Edwardson, VP of IT for FAMI. “We wanted a cost-effective, best-of-breed claims system that was developed with integration and configuration as key priorities. BlueWave demonstrated that it understands claims processing from our perspective. As a result of our evaluation, we selected BlueWave’s PipelineClaims – and are now in the process of rolling out the technology. PipelineClaims will help us to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and better address our compliance requirements.”
PipelineClaims 3.0 provides FAMI with the tools its adjusters need to process claims more effectively and efficiently including options for system and workflow configuration, as well as user-defined data fields and business rules.
“We are happy to have succeeded in this competitive RFP with FAMI, as they represent the kind of companies with whom we want to partner,” commented Keith Inouye, COO of BlueWave Technology. “With PipelineClaims, FAMI will be building an infrastructure that enables the company to meet its goals of improving customer service and operations.”
About BlueWave Technology
BlueWave Technology™ is an IT solutions and services company with expertise in providing secure, flexible applications that address the needs of property and casualty insurers. Founded in 2001, the company develops and markets the PipelineClaims® product line. Through partnerships with industry leaders including EMC Documentum, BEA, Sun, IBM, Cisco Systems, Kofax, Dell and Oracle, BlueWave Technology™ helps its clients to focus on their core business needs. The company is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii. For more information, please visit www.bluewave-technology.com
Media Contact:
Marti Colwell
CMG Delivers
marti@cmgdelivers.com
760 438 3399