|
Home |
Software Providers |
Consultants |
Articles |
Columns |
Reviews |
Headlines
|
|
|
- |
| - |
|
- |
Entire contents Copyright © 1999 Business Insurance "RMIS vendors find their forum; Vendors pitch technology, work
comp systems at RIMS Conference"
|
|
THREE WEEKS have now elapsed since the closing of the annual Risk & Insurance Management Society's conference. Each year I try to anticipate what the vendors will be providing in the way of new functionality and/or technical gadgetry. Typically, technology, functionality and market dynamics-that is, new players entering, old players leaving and key personnel movement-are the top three issues every year. Over the last three years, it hasn't been all that difficult to predict. Anything to do with workers compensation has monopolized vendors' presentations. Most new systems or modules had something to do with workers comp claims or medical cost management. And, true enough, there were plenty of systems and vendors touting some form of workers comp management-from financing to medical management to loss control. However, this year was somewhat different. While workers compensation remained an important emphasis of the systems, there was much more of an emphasis on technology. And there were some significant changes in certain vendor's strategic direction. What does remain constant, however, is that the annual RIMS conference, more than any other, is the chance for each vendor to make a statement as to their product/service line. This essentially is a reflection of their general financial vitality and technological innovation. Therefore, most will tend to have any new services or software releases available to release at the RIMS conference. Here are some observations of the risk management information system industry based on the conference: Fine-tuning of the functional product line. The RMIS marketplace is somewhat mature in nature. There are fewer truly new products coming out. Rather, a major trend is a re-tooling and/or ``re-positioning'' of existing software allocations. Another trend is developing these applications for interactive system environments to tap into other system environments like human resources, disability, finance, underwriting, legal and executive information systems. Windows, Windows, Windows.... Perhaps the most obvious observation was that many vendors-even mainframe/timeshare stalwarts like Corporate Systems Ltd., Risk Sciences Group Inc. and Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.-have embraced Microsoft Corp.'s immensely popular operating system, Windows. Stand-alone vendors like Pyramid Services Inc. and Anistics have their versions. Windows' popularity is mostly derived from its user-friendly design because of its graphical user interface format. Of course, the degree to which each vendor's product is Windows-oriented is the question. Several vendors only had a few screens or applications ready for the RIMS conference. Others, by design, will only have selective parts available on a Windows environment. One thing is certain, however: Windows and RMIS appear to be in for a long-term relationship. More technology. In addition to the move to Windows, vendors are also increasing their investment in new technologies which have long been in existence-in information technology terms: Client-server technology. Client-server is an advanced system technology that is more or less self-explanatory. It means that the data storage and data base management facilities reside at the server level, while the application software, operating system, user interface, etc., are distributed among the users or clients. Essentially, it ties together diverse hardware platforms through a common operating system. The server can be a mainframe, midrange or a personal computer that serves as the coordinator/processor for the other computer platforms hooked into it. Most vendors in the exhibition hall did not yet have fully functional client/server products, though they are in development at many of the leading vendors. The technology is still in its infancy as to wholesale usage, especially in the risk management area. Graphical user interface. This has become a common enough term today, with the widespread usage of Microsoft's Windows and Apple's Macintosh products. The great advantage of GUI is that it makes using the system much easier to use. The ``point and click'' on icons method appeals to the non-technical user. However, remember that ease of use is only one characteristic when measuring the true value of a RMIS. I'd take a functional, somewhat more difficult-to-use program any day over an easy-to-use but functionally limited program. So don't be overly ``wowed'' by the demonstrations. Ask, instead, for the true substance of the system's analysis capability. Multi-tasking. Essentially, this is the ability to run multiple applications concurrently. Many vendors with client/server systems under design will point to this as a great feature...and it is. But do you really need to have your own system run two simultaneous programs? If you have a large self-administered claims program and you want the system to do claims administration and run financial analyses, maybe you do need the multi-tasking ability. But most risk management operations do not need that degree of computing technology and power. Dynamic data linking. This allows various applications to be linked, so as new data flows in or out of one application it is actually updated in all other applications using that data. Dynamic data linking between applications is only possible through the use of ``dynamic data exchange'' and "object linking and embedding.'' DDE provides a communications link between the server program where the data resides and client program that requests the data. OLE allows the data to be exchanged between applications and retains the link between the data and the applications program from which it came. OLE allows the user not only to link data but also applications from within its operating environments. Although Windows and OS/2 comprise the lion's share of the client/server GUI based markets, there are others to consider as well. Most notable are UNIX and International Business Machine Corp.'s version of UNIX, AIX. Indispensable management tools. These improvements are being hailed by the vendors as critical in the assessment, measurement, analysis and handling of risk. One of the most used buzzwords of the last two years in ``benchmarking.'' Most system vendors (as well as consultants) are emphasizing the importance of a well-designed RMIS sitting atop ``solid industry data'' from which to make useful comparisons and conclusions about one's own situation. While much of it is hype, I do believe that the RMIS is a great tool in conducting comparative studies. This year's conference was most informative regarding the short-term direction of RMIS. These systems, and their vendors, are positioning themselves to be an indispensable part of the risk management and insurance community by being the vital data links to multiple data sources. The net result of the re-tooling of functional applications, increased ease-of-use, and improved interactivity among diverse systems is an improved management tool which is useful up and down the corporate hierarchy. Also, these systems will be equally important to service providers like insurers, brokers, third-party administrators and specialty consultants. Copyright© 1994 Business Insurance |