Applied Systems Pioneers Microsoft's Windows DNAfs Architecture

N/A Systems, Inc. says it is moving forward with the Windows DNAfs architecture, beginning with a pilot program in cooperation with Travelers Property Casualty. Applied, Microsoft Corp., Travelers, <%=company%> and Symmetry recently showcased this technology with a real-time demonstration of a policy submission undergoing rating, edits and issuance right at the point of sale. This groundbreaking development will revolutionize the way insurance transactions are conducted and change the perception of SEMCI.

Through the deployment of Windows DNAfs and ACORD ObjX standards, Applied and Travelers Property Casualty will work together to develop an integrated business solution with best-of-breed technologies. John Higginson, executive vice president of Technology for Applied states, "Applied's vision for future technologies, such as Windows DNAfs, draws strong parallels to Microsoft's in that we foresee the need for interoperability across all levels of the insurance industry. Not only will Windows DNAfs accomplish this, it will facilitate the exchange and processing of information in a more accurate, timely and cost effective manner. Travelers will be instrumental in molding this new business model."

"At Travelers we recognize the need to move toward the vision of integrated systems. With this pilot, Travelers is taking a lead role in providing its agents with the technology necessary to build their business and better serve their customers," said Diana E. Beecher, senior vice president and chief information officer for Travelers Property Casualty Corp.

"Travelers is committed to being the partner of choice for its independent agents and their customers by providing excellent products, services and technology," said Douglas Elliot, senior vice president of the Select Accounts department of Travelers Property Casualty that serves small businesses. "The project is one component of this commitment and moves us toward our goal of providing agents with a fully integrated, total business system."

Windows DNAfs, short for Windows Distributed interNet Applications architecture for Financial Services, was conceived by Microsoft as an industry framework that will allow different insurance software applications to talk to each other and legacy mainframe systems. It was the foresight of Applied and Travelers to recognize the potential of this framework and how it would benefit their mutual customers, the independent insurance agent and broker.

"The work that Microsoft partners like Applied Systems are doing is absolutely essential to the success and industry adoption of Windows DNAfs," said Bill Hartnett, Microsoft's worldwide financial services industry manager. "Applied's application, plus Windows DNAfs clearly equals a better, faster and more efficient business environment for Travelers and its independent agents." N/A Systems will integrate this framework with its future technologies, most notably, The Agency Manager Vision Series. Working with these technology standards in conjunction with more than 130 interface partners will allow Applied to enhance and extend the capabilities of EDI for years to come.