Applied Systems Awards Carriers For Leading Interface Advancement.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Nineteen insurance carriers today received 2004 Interface Best Practices Awards from Applied Systems and ASCnet, the Applied Systems Client Network, at the ASCnet annual conference in Orlando, FL. In addition, Applied Systems recognized one company as 2004 Innovator of the Year.

The annual awards acknowledge companies that lead the way in advancing interface, providing agents and brokers with standardized workflows for managing multi-company insurance sales, service, and renewals directly from within their agency management systems. Awards were presented at ASCnet's 19th annual Technology, Education & Networking Conference.

Interface Best Practices award winners for 2004 are ACUITY, Allstate Insurance Company, Auto Club Group, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Donegal Insurance Group, Encompass Insurance, First Insurance Group of Hawaii, Frankenmuth Financial Group.

Other award winners are Grange Insurance, The Hartford, Liberty RAM, Main Street America Group, New York Central Mutual, Ohio Casualty Group, Drive Insurance from Progressive, Safeco Insurance Company, St. Paul Travelers, Unigard Insurance Group, and West Bend Mutual Insurance.

Encompass Insurance was named 2004 Innovator of the Year for assisting Applied Systems and IVANS in developing the Alerts/Company Messaging transaction for Transformation Station(TM).

"Interface is a key component of every agent's insurance business," said Robby Dunn, incoming ASCnet president. "ASCnet board members applaud those carriers who have earned this year's awards for best practices and Innovator. It is these efforts that allow independent insurance agents to increase efficiencies and maximize profitability by using what is already built into TAM and Vision."

Applied Systems is the leading provider of automation solutions for the property and casualty insurance industry. Since 1983, the company has developed software for independent insurance agents, brokers, managing general agents, and insurance companies as well as banks and other financial institutions with insurance operations. Applied Systems has helped more than 10,000 insurance organizations achieve new levels of success using its industry-leading agency management systems, The Agency Manager(R) (TAM) and The Agency Manager(R) Vision Series(TM).

Developments in electronic data interchange also contribute to Applied Systems' position as the industry's technology frontrunner. Incorporating consulting services and third-party integration, Applied Systems automates insurance transactions at every distribution level from consumer through carrier. For information, visit www.appliedsystems.com.