Brighton-based software house Insure-com is launching an online system that allows insurance companies to update quotes in real time.
Insur-e.office, which is currently being tested by insurers and brokers, will be launched next month, with around six to ten insurance companies initially involved.
Brokers will be able to use the system either by integrating it with their existing back office system, or separately by logging on to the internet portal.
Chris Newman, Insure-com's business development manager, said he anticipated brokers initially running their existing systems and the Insur-e.office in parallel.
Insur-e.office will offer motor and household insurance first, with commercial lines and other personal lines such as travel and pet insurance being added later this year.
Ian Carter, marketing manager at Insure.com said Insur–e.office lets intermediaries compete with newer entrants. “It puts brokers on a level playing field with the direct writers,” he said.
Newman said: “We give the insurers and the brokers a tool and let them communicate.”
Brokers who only offer potential customers contact by email will be able to use a variant of the system. It captures the data necessary to generate a quote on email and then sends the available quotes back from the Insure-com portal.
Newman acknowledges some similarities to the Misys I2i portal and said his company supported the I2i initiative and has been in talks with I2i.
Insur-e.office is free to brokers and intermediaries. Insure-com makes its money by taking a cut of the insurance companies' positive gross written premium.
