The Independent Agents’ Opportunity to Take Back Personal Lines
In this article, Jeff Yates discusses how independent agents can provide the online auto insurance shopper with a better value proposition than the direct carriers and thereby take personal lines business from them. Independent agents now have the technology tools available to write personal lines profitably and to increase their visibility online so that they can be found by online shoppers. Recent consumer research also bolsters the opportunity independent agents have to attract and keep online shoppers.

2011 Consumer & Technology Trends
ACT Members identified this a series of trends that will change how we work in a series of break outs at the February 2011 ACT meeting.

Key Technology & Consumer Trends Driving Change and the Recommended Industry Response ("Must Do" Issues)
This is the latest report on trends and industry "must do" issues produced by ACT's Strategic Future Issues Work Group (September 2009).  It updates the WG's 2006 report found below.  The WG's latest report, endorsed by the full ACT group, identifies four key "hard" trends that will impact our distribution system and industry, as well as the three industry "Must Do" issues that ACT believes are most important for the industry to unite behind and accomplish.  ACT invites your comments and feedback on this draft report.  Please forward your input to jeff.yates@iiaba.net. 

Podcast on ACT's identification of key trends & industry "must do" issues
Recorded at the ACORD LOMA Conference on May 17, 2009, this brief panel discussion provides an overview of the progress ACT's Strategic Future Issues Work Group has made in identifying four key trends most likely to affect the insurance industry along with the identification of three "Must Do" issues ACT hopes the industry will unite behind.  ACT is currently in the process of building out the action plans for these industry "Must Do" issues.  The session features Brian Bartosh (Top 'O Michigan Insurance), Peter van Aartrijk (The van Aartrijk Group), Rick Morgan (Rick Morgan Consulting) and is moderated by Jeff Yates (ACT Executive Director). Click here and then go to ACT podcast B

The Breakthrough in Agency Automation A Brief History
Agency automation has moved over the last decade from being a source of frustration for many agencies to a major contributor to increased agency productivity. Whether you are talking about agent-carrier interfaces, download, or the emergence of agency management systems, the history of agency automation is an interesting one characterized by independent agent, carrier, and vendor leaders who articulated a clear vision and made a real difference in the efficiencies that independent agencies enjoy today.

Positioning Your Agency to Prosper in a Tough Market
While it is easy to fixate on the tough market independent agents are currently facing, many agencies are looking beyond the problems to take advantage of some unprecedented opportunities that exist to greatly enhance their productivity. This article discusses opportunities such as full use of agency management systems, Real Time, Download, going paperless, and social networking, as well as how agencies are using these tools to transform their businesses.

Young Agents Speak out on Generation Differences and Technology Needs
Young agents talk about the generational differences among agency employees and consumers and point to ways in which the generations can work better together and how they can help their agencies attract more young customers. They speak to the inefficiencies in current agency technology and the need to have improved automation to meet their customers’ expectations for a real-time response. The young agents also discuss additional value added services their agencies could provide their customers, as well as urge carriers to provide readily available underwriters.Full Story

Independent Agencies Making a Paradigm Shift A Conversation with Young Agents
The strategic future issues work group probed the young agents on how they see their customers’ expectations changing and how they believe their agencies will need to respond.  Most interestingly, these agents agreed that their agencies should make a paradigm shift to remain competitive in the future and made several recommendations as to how the carriers could help them in this transition.

Act Agenda 2007
ACT's April article discusses ACT's 2007 agenda, and how it flows from the planning work ACT and the industry did over the last two years (identification of "hard" trends, their implications, and the issues the industry agreed upon as "must do" issues).

Important Technology & Consumer Trends Driving Change in the Independent Agency System (2006 Report of the ACT Strategic Future Issue WG)
This report endeavors to identify the most significant technology and consumer trends that will impact how our distribution system does business over the next five to 10 years, along with some of the implications for agencies, carriers, and vendors.

 Identifying Key Trends that Drive Real Opportunity 
Provides methodology for agents to identify key trends that create real opportunity for their agencies, as well as discusses some of the key trends upon which ACT has been focused. 

AUGIE Survey: Agency Technology Having Big Payback for Many Agencies  
This article discusses how many agencies are deriving a big payback from staying current with technology, while others are not. It suggests reasons for the dichotomy, all based on the agent responses to the AUGIE Survey. The article provides insights as to how all agencies can improve their bottom-line using technology.

Vision of the Future for Agency Technology Including Essential Next Steps for Independent Agents
A major ACT product that was six months in the making. It is a collaborative effort involving agent, insurance company, technology provider, and industry association participants. ACT went beyond its membership to seek input on the report from numerous opinion leaders in the technology area including independent agents and brokers, agent user groups, young agents, the IIABA Executive Committee, the Commission to Enhance Agency Value (which produces the Best Practices studies), IIABA and state association staff, other producer trade associations, ACORD, agency automation vendors and consultants, and insurance company executives. This report is the product of an extensive review process by all of the ACT participants, and we believe it will provide a very useful framework for agencies, companies, and technology providers as they address technology issues.