ACORD Partners with CLIEDIS to Manage Canadian Life Insurers Adoption of XML Standards

The Canadian Life Insurance Electronic Data Interchange Standards Association (CLIEDIS) has joined ACORD to act as the Regional Management Association for Canada for ACORD's life insurance standards, announced Gregory A. Maciag, the organization's president and chief executive officer.

Founded in 1995 as a not-for-profit association by a group of Canadian life insurance companies, CLIEDIS coordinates Canadian interests in the development of public electronic data interchange (EDI) standards.

"As the global marketplace becomes a reality, the need for standards that cross borders increases in importance. We are very pleased to have CLIEDIS helping to define the needs of the life insurance community in Canada. Its management will help ensure that ACORD XML standards development will successfully serve business on both sides of the border," said Maciag.

Effective this month, CLIEDIS will be establishing processes so that its members have the opportunity to review the ACORD life insurance standards to ensure they meet their requirements. In addition, CLIEDIS will be looking at educational opportunities for XML and ACORD standards for its members.

"There is a great momentum in the marketplace to move to XML in general and ACORD XML standards specifically. CLIEDIS believes that this new partnership with ACORD will accelerate the implementation of EDI and related standards, based on the ACORD model, and be a benefit to all in the Canadian life insurance industry," said Earl Trotter, CLIEDIS co-chair.

ACORD (www.acord.org) is a nonprofit insurance association whose mission is to facilitate the development and use of standards for the insurance and related financial services industries. ACORD accomplishes its mission by remaining an objective, independent advocate for sharing information among diverse platforms. ACORD Standards and services improve efficiency and expand market reach. Affiliated with ACORD are tens of thousands of insurance agencies and brokers, insurance companies, related financial services organizations, software providers, and industry organizations worldwide.

Affiliated with ACORD are tens of thousands of insurance agencies and brokers, insurance companies, related financial services organizations, software providers, and industry organizations worldwide.