Union Mutual of Vermont Successfully Deploys ISCS's SurePower Innovation(R) to Modernize Policy Administration and Core Business Processes

Use of Agile Project Methodologies Assists in Meeting Key Milestone


SAN JOSE, CA and MONTPELIER, VT--(Marketwire - Jan 17, 2012) - ISCS is pleased to announce that Union Mutual of Vermont Companies (UMVT) completed an on-time, on-budget, full-suite implementation of ISCS's flagship product, SurePower Innovation®, for its Connecticut business owners policies, with other lines of insurance and states to follow in 2012. The new system provides UMVT a flexible, fully Web-based platform to deliver market-leading service to its policyholders and increased ease of doing business to independent agents.

John H. Fitzhugh, president and CEO of UMVT, told the joint UMVT and ISCS team at a celebratory breakfast, "Large technology projects too rarely lead to celebrations. Achieving this initial milestone speaks to the exceptional performance of this team and deserves applause." Fitzhugh was joined by UMVT Board Member James H. Douglas, executive in residence at Middlebury College and Governor of Vermont, 2003-2011, in congratulating the team.

The project included deployment of state-of-the-art software modules for real-time rating and quoting insurance coverage, issuing and managing policies, print and electronic correspondence, billing, and Web access for policy holders and independent agents. Use of agile project management methodology was a key success factor in meeting an aggressive implementation timeline, according to Leslie Holden-Mikesell, ISCS's vice president of Professional Services. "The agile approach gets business and IT people working together directly and forming a common team. It's different from traditional project management, and UMVT's internal project managers deserve high praise for how quickly and effectively they brought their people onto the agile team," said Holden-Mikesell.

Gary H. Ouellette, vice president of Operations, Technology and Enterprise Risk, for UMVT, agreed that agile methodology had provided the framework for a productive partnership, adding, "The daily meetings and regular testing during the project that are integral parts of the agile approach kept us on track toward our goal. I look forward to continuing use of the agile approach as we bring all our lines of business and all our states onto ISCS's SurePower Innovation suite."

UMVT intends to extend Sure Power Innovation for new and renewal business owners policies in the other New England states in February, and then begin to bring its personal lines policies on board by early summer.

About ISCS
P&C carriers and MGAs rely on the modular, Web and SOA-based SurePower Innovation Policy Administration Suite to perform critical business processes for commercial, personal and specialty lines of business. These include underwriting automation, policy and claims management, integrated reinsurance, integrated billing and much more. The system provides integrated document management, a rules-based data warehouse, and document imaging client tool for bulk indexing and LDAP-standards security. With modern highly scalable, extensible, and configurable technology, SurePower Innovation enables insurers of all sizes to meet today's market requirement for business agility. SurePower Innovation Policy Administration Suite is a company-wide, strategic choice for carriers to both retain customers and increase their book of business. For more information contact Phil Kiekhaefer, Ph.D., Director of Marketing & Usability for ISCS, at 1-888-901-ISCS, phil.kiekhaefer@iscs.com, or visit www.iscs.com

About Union Mutual of Vermont Companies (UMVT)
Union Mutual of Vermont is comprised of three companies, Union Mutual Fire Insurance Co, New England Guaranty Insurance Co, and Eastern Mutual Insurance Co, which write property and casualty insurance via independent agents throughout New England and New York (except New York City). Union Mutual began business in 1874. For more information about UMVT, please visit the company website at www.umfic.com.

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