Travelers Delivers SEMCI Live in Real-Time -- Company Announces First Live Agency Transaction

Travelers Insurance has announced the successful use - live in an agency setting - of real-time SEMCI (single-entry, multiple-company interface) technology based on the ACORD XML standards to quote commercial lines policies for small business.

The Durland Agencies was able to process the first business owners store policy in September using the new SEMCI process via a 56k IP Leased Line. Travelers is in the process of enabling SEMCI for about 20 more agencies and will work with additional agencies in the coming months. Travelers is also the first carrier capable of implementing real-time SEMCI for workers compensation insurance quotes.

Travelers demonstrated this capability yesterday at the Independent Insurance Agents of America (IIAA) Annual Convention & InfoXchange being held at the Orlando World Center Marriott.

"This achievement signifies our on-going commitment to developing individual strategies that bring agents an integrated approach to meeting their agencies' service, profitability, and quality objectives," said Brian MacLean, senior vice president of Select Accounts, the division of Travelers Insurance that provides small business insurance. "Travelers Select Accounts is leading the industry by delivering the tools agents need to accomplish their goals."

This first live transaction was completed through Applied Systems' WARP WinTAM agency management system. Travelers Select Accounts and Applied Systems have been working together diligently to bring real-time SEMCI to commercial lines agents.

"From an agent's perspective, the overall process of being able to enter data once into our agency management system, and then get a rate via WARP, will be a huge time-saver for the industry," said Stuart S. Durland, vice president, The Durland Agencies. "Travelers has been extremely helpful, working with our agency to build the best interface in the industry."

SEMCI brings agents many benefits, such as eliminating redundant data entry, synchronizing information between agent and carrier, and reducing agency training and processing costs. Agents then are able to focus their time and energy on new business sales and growth rather than processing.

This marks the first time independent agents have been able to use an agency management system in a live environment through Applied's WARP Central to request and receive a quote in real-time. Once the policy is quoted within the agency management system environment, it can be issued in real-time through Travelers Select Account's Issue Express Net. The agency does not have to rekey the information since the two systems are linked to allow data exchange.

"Travelers' achievement is a very exciting step in the implementation of the real-time SEMCI vision using ACORD XML standards," said William M. Houston, president of the IIAA.

"The benefits of real-time insurance are far reaching and limitless, and every level of the independent insurance distribution system will be the beneficiaries of this technology," said James P. Kellner, chairman and CEO of Applied Systems.

"In the world of small commercial insurance, efficiency is key to profitability," said Mr. MacLean. "Travelers Select Accounts is clearly committed to bringing SEMCI to agents and joins its agency force in celebrating the arrival of this long-awaited automation capability."

Background on Travelers' integrated small business system:

Travelers' SEMCI capability is one component of an integrated small business system for independent agents that helps them connect all aspects of sales and service through a complete electronic platform. The other major components of the system include:

• Issue Express Net, a browser-based real-time quote, rate and issuance system that integrates with the SEMCI capability. Over 3,000 agents are implementing the system since it became available in June.
  
• Public Web access, allowing agents to transact business over the Internet to speed the entire process.
  
• A state-of-the-industry service center that functions as an extension of an agency's servicing operations, offering a wide variety of options providing different levels of customer service. Agents can also interface with the Service Center through Issue Express Net.

About Travelers Insurance

Travelers' Select Accounts, designed to understand and meet the insurance needs of the small business owner, provides commercial property and casualty coverages for mainstreet and other small businesses. Travelers Insurance, a member of Citigroup (NYSE: C), is a leading provider of a full range of insurance products. Travelers is a principal source of homeowners and auto insurance for consumers, while also providing a broad range of insurance for commercial markets, including workers' compensation integrated disability, property, liability, specialty lines, surety bonds, inland/ocean marine, and boiler and machinery. Travelers also offers financial products focusing on solving consumers' asset-accumulation and income-protection needs through such vehicles as annuities, group annuities and life insurance. For more information on Travelers insurance products, see www.travelers.com.

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Kris Hammond, 860-277-7458

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