Canal Insurance Enhances Claims and Document Management with ImageRight and Guidewire; Integrated solution reduces Canal's overall claim processing costs while improving customer response time.

CONYERS, Ga. & SAN MATEO, Calif. -- ImageRight, a leading provider of document management and workflow solutions for insurers, and Guidewire Software, Inc., a leading provider of solutions to property and casualty and workers' compensation insurers, today announced that their mutual client, Canal Insurance, has successfully integrated the claims and document management processes using Guidewire ClaimCenter(R) and ImageRight Document Management.

Previously, a Canal Insurance claim handler would receive emails, with or without attachments, from attorneys or adjusters with information specific to a claim. The email would sometimes be sent to the wrong person, and would have to be re-routed, causing delays. Once the correct claim handler received the email, he or she had to read, print, and file it. To overcome this highly manual, error-prone and ineffective process, Canal Insurance chose ImageRight and Guidewire Software. With the new process, all claim-related emails are sent to one central email box and are processed by ImageRight. Then through Guidewire ClaimCenter, the appropriate claim handler is automatically notified when new documents are available. Claim handlers can then simply click on the document from their ClaimCenter desktop to view the text of the email, or link to their ImageRight application to view all related documents and attachments. These emails and attachments become part of the electronic claim file and can be accessed anytime by the appropriate claim handler.

"The integration between ImageRight and ClaimCenter has dramatically improved and automated our claims process. Instead of taking hours to receive or to hunt down the needed information, new documents will hit our claim handlers' desktops in a matter of seconds," said Adrian Brown, chief information officer, Canal Insurance. "As a result, we are able to respond to customers more quickly, while simultaneously reducing our overall claim processing costs."

"By integrating with the ImageRight system, we offer our customers, including Canal Insurance, an even more efficient way of managing documents throughout the entire claim process," said Alex Naddaff, vice president of professional services, Guidewire Software. "Continuing our effort with ImageRight, we are working to make the traditional paper claim file a thing of the past."

This ImageRight/Guidewire combination leverages the existing capabilities of insurance industry leading solutions for document and claims management. ImageRight provides robust document management, rendering, and storage capabilities; enabling insurers to manage documents in any format, from any source. Guidewire ClaimCenter is an advanced web-based claims process management system that uses flexible business rules to manage the end-to-end claim process and improve claim outcomes.

"From the very first days of working with Adrian Brown and Dan Walker, VP of Claims, we knew that Canal Insurance would be a great company to work with because they are excited about improving their business with technology," said Ken Elias, Director of Sales at ImageRight. "When you put the right tools into the hands of a great company you end up with success."

About ImageRight

We built the ImageRight document management system specifically for insurance -- working with our clients' IT executives, adjusters, claims managers, and underwriters. ImageRight installs with minimal customization and uses no proprietary interfaces. Our Web services provide global access to the system's functionality and content, improving portability, efficiency, and customer service.

About Guidewire Software

Guidewire Software is a leading provider of modern technology solutions to property and casualty and workers' compensation insurers. Guidewire delivers proven software to run mission-critical insurance operations, including underwriting, policy, and claim management. Guidewire ClaimCenter and Guidewire PolicyCenter provide a modern, web-based platform for all lines of insurance. For more information, please visit www.guidewire.com.

NOTE: Guidewire Software and Guidewire ClaimCenter are registered trademarks and Guidewire PolicyCenter is a trademark of Guidewire Software, Inc.