Category: Blog Posts

7 Reasons Why ECM Is the Answer for Insurers – Part 3

by podcastadmin, posted in Insurance

In this blog series, we’re looking at how enterprise content management brings modern technology to the insurance industry to streamline:

Part 3: Case Management

“I can’t find your file right now.” SAID NO CUSTOMER SERVICE REP EVER. But if your employees have to track down documents and data spread out among Excel spreadsheets, systems that don’t communicate with each other or worse, in paper files on employee desks, customer service suffers.

Insurers need on-the-spot access to claims information, case files, and documentation managed on one, easy-to-use platform.

Having a modern case management solution can make or break an insurer. It enhances claims and new business processing by giving a full view of the insured’s profile or risk in one single view. It amounts to better, more informed decision-making by improving investigations, customer service, incident management and claims handling.

Without up-to-date and automated ways to manage cases, insurers face delayed service requests, unanswered complaints, and limited visibility into work projects. Customer expectations for real-time service and responsiveness have grown exponentially in the last few years – they will leave an insurer with poor customer service in a heartbeat.

Do We Need Case Management Software?

It’s a valid question. Undoubtedly, adding software and investing in an enterprise content management solution (ECM) with integrated case management functionality is a critical decision.

  • How does your organization currently process cases?  Are there inefficiencies, error-prone manual steps, or siloed information?
  • Are current processes enabling your knowledge workers to deliver the best possible service to your clients while remaining flexible and efficient?
  • Can your employees solve problems effectively with a complete view of all the information they need to complete their work?

Your answers to these questions will suggest whether a software upgrade is what you need. 

The Benefits of Case Management

A robust case management system (CMS) coordinates the collection and sharing of information among relevant users. The benefits include faster decision-making, better customer relationships, quicker claims processing from early assessment to investigation through settlement, easier processing tasks for employees when they have a complete view of the information they need, when and where they need it.

As an insurer begins the claim process, carriers are undertaking multiple tasks including collecting, collating, filing and reviewing supporting documentation to assess the claimant’s coverage, validating statements and negotiating payment of claims. Most legacy systems (and even some modern ones) lack the capability to effectively track and manage claims. They may store claim data, particularly final decisions, but most of the business decisions and actions around a claim happen outside the core system.  

An ECM with a solution for coordinating cases gives claims examiners easy access to information, schedules tasks, highlights and processes notifications and adds time-based reminders to increase efficiency. It’s critical that such a process is integrated with financial systems to manage payment schedules, provides control over the release of funds, and streamlines track and audit claims-related activities to reduce compliance risks. 

Here are some of the strategic benefits of an integrated case management solution:

  • Increases productivity. An automated solution for managing cases reduces the need to search for information across multiple data sources – it gives a complete view of information all in one place.  No more toggling between systems or managing multiple spreadsheets – staff remain within the same intuitive interface, logging activities, adding notes and updates, delegating tasks, and scheduling events.
  • Improves visibility and control. Reporting dashboards and activity audit trails increase transparency, support compliance and help organizations identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Ensure smooth handoffs and effective collaboration. With critical information and supporting content instantly accessible to all authorized employees throughout the case, organizations gain effective collaboration – whether that’s while completing a project, resolving an issue or providing exceptional customer service.

A modern enterprise solution ensures tasks are completed in a timely manner with reminders, timers, notifications, and other communications. It also drives value with fast deployment and quick returns with a full audit trail for reporting and compliance with operational policies.

By managing data relationships, documents and processes on a single platform integrated with your core systems, an enterprise technology solution empowers employees to effectively manage cases and make better business decisions. A platform that scales to support business needs across individuals, teams and departments drives value and elevates productivity enterprise-wide.

Next Up

Our next blog in this series will highlight content management.

But for now: what kind of case management challenges are you currently facing?

ImageSoft can guide you through the selection of enterprise solutions for insurers to achieve the efficiencies and cost savings you need. Our industry-leading solutions for insurance offer automated workflows, improved speed and efficiency, reduced costs and proper compliance. ImageSoft is ready to help your company reap the benefits from integrated enterprise content management. 

Look for more information about our solutions for life and property and casualty insurance, plus workers’ comp.

Follow ImageSoft’s Insurance Solutions LinkedIn Showcase page for more details about ECM. 

Data Conversion: The Do’s and Don’ts

by podcastadmin, posted in Blog Posts, OnBase

Authored by Gabe Russo, Solution Architect at ImageSoft

Imagine that it is go-live Monday. Your company is scheduled to begin using OnBase, or another electronic document management system, for the first time. The level of combined excitement and nervousness is palpable. Documents and other content from the old system are scheduled to be available in the new system when team members arrive for work. Incomplete or missing content would cause serious disruption. It is in this moment you begin to ask: Did the conversion finish? Was any content missed? There are millions of documents to convert, how could I be sure? When and how will I know if anything is wrong?

I'm Fully Confident

I should have remembered – Trust but verify.

Data conversion projects are time consuming, risk-heavy, and essential. They are often conducted as an exploratory exercise wherein new challenges are born from the resolution of others. It is crucial that the outcome of processing is verified for each document. The customer should expect to know exactly what happened to his/her data during the conversion project and the responsible vendor provides it readily. Through transparency, the conversion effort is verifiable cultivating trust between customer and service provider.

Keep in mind the following points as you prepare for a data conversion. Be wary of the service provider who doesn’t.

Source of Truth

Whether using the database or the file system to dictate which content to convert, it is important to understand the differences in approach. When using the database, the service provider might miss files that aren’t represented in the database. When using the file system, the service provider may not be able to interpret important metadata contained in the database. It is better to take a hybrid approach. Use the database as the source but compare it against the file system. In favor of awareness, expose discrepancies while making a deliberate plan for content that doesn’t line up.

Determine What to Convert

Maybe the source system contains old, incomplete, or content with little value moving forward. The data conversion is great time to flush out those facts to determine what needs to be moved. Sometimes it makes the most sense to convert everything and to use retention rules to eliminate content later. At other times, it can make the conversion process more efficient to ignore unnecessary content. Regardless, be sure to define the rules for what must be converted. This will make the process of reconciliation easier to complete.

Snapshots

Ensure the conversion process is separated from the source system. Taking periodic snapshots of the source system during the life span of the conversion affords several key benefits. First, the source system is left unimpeded by the intense burden of conversion processing. Second, the conversion content is captured as a point in time representation of the source system making it easier to define exactly what content was converted and when. Third, conversion processing often requires iterative actions. Using snapshots allows iterations to occur rapidly in isolation from the source system.

Capture State

Each step of the conversion process must be ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation and durability). Avoid implementing a solution that violates these core principles. Ensure the conversion process is designed to work on chunks of data. A conversion solution should operate as a pipeline of loosely connected events as opposed to single large unit of work.

Excluded or Errored

It must be easy to distinguish documents that were deliberately ignored from those that meet an error condition. To accomplish that means that all documents recorded in the source system must be indexed by the conversion solution. Otherwise, it will be difficult or impossible to reconcile the systems while being certain that documents aren’t missed.

Verify the import

ImageSoft includes the source system document ID as a keyword in target OnBase systems. It’s a small refinement to make reconciling the systems easy. Don’t assume every import batch is successful; Prove it.

After all, the reward of a thing well done is to have done it.

Digging Deeper into Data Conversion

Interested in understanding ImageSoft’s approach to data conversion? Want a glance at our non-traditional resume of successful conversions? Trying to anticipate what your organization should expect? Answer all these questions and more by visiting our conversions webpage.

We Want to Hear From You!

If you’re anticipating a data conversion, what is your strongest apprehension?

If you’ve undergone a data conversion, what was your experience?

Tell us in the “comments” section below or on our LinkedIn page. We read and respond – promise!

What Happens in Vegas Will go to Court

by podcastadmin, posted in Blog Posts, Courts, ECM in Courts

Hosted at the Bellagio in Viva Las Vegas July 21- 25, the National Association for Court Management’s (NACM) annual conference is not something to take a gamble on missing. Showcasing today’s best-of-breed solutions for complete courtroom efficiency, the conversations and innovations are, admittedly, rigged in the judge’s favor and include everything from real-time reporting and digital workflow to the newest tools for better managing multi-media evidence and encouraging a bi-directional flow of information between the Court and its infamously disparate stakeholders.

A Judicial Jackpot 

All attendees are invited to walk away with the invaluable winnings from “Empowering Court Administrators and Judges in the Digital Age” – a co-hosted presentation by James “Dan” Wallis, McHenry County’s Trial Court Administrator for the 22ndJudicial Circuit Court, ImageSoft’s Senior Justice Consultant Brad Smith, and Mentis Technology’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing Ben Martin.

With the CMS typically focused on optimizing clerk-related functions and attorney-clerk communications (think eFiling), the justice technology sector has, ironically, been the worst offender of neglecting the most critical aspect of courtroom innovation – equipping the judge. 

Motivated to bring the judiciary to the front and center of all workflow and information sources, this presentation spotlights innovations, both new and solutions trusted over time, in the judicial toolbox that solve the notorious challenge of connecting disparate court stakeholders while equipping the judge with access to information beyond just the case management system. Attendees will enjoy a demonstration of how the McHenry County Circuit Court integrates with local jail information, provides attorneys with all accurate and necessary information to schedule hearings, and supports stakeholders in communicating with their specific courts. 

Come to Our Table and Forget Rolling Dice

Pulling the lever on a solution for your courtroom shouldn’t feel like a gamble – you should know for certain that your investment will be a guaranteed win. With information and experienced thought leaders on a variety of integrative solutions, visiting us at booth #210 has all your answers surrounding tools like the aiSMARTBENCHecosystem, TrueFiling,OnBase’s digital workflow and supportive tools for managing multi-media evidence, including multiple video file types, pictures and metadata. 

We Want to Hear from You!

Have you been to NACM in previous years, or are you a first-timer? What topics and/or solutions will you be taking notes on? 

Reply in the “comments” section below or on our Court Solutions LinkedIn page. We read andrespond – promise!

“What’s Your Super Power?” – A Cross Analysis to Combat Government Kryptonite

by podcastadmin, posted in Blog Posts, Government

“You can work hard, but if you don’t work smart you’ll work for the rest of your life,”

– Tony Stark, Iron Man.

Do remember being asked, “if you could have any super-power, what would you like it to be?”? Even more importantly, do you remember your answer? As kids, many of us longed to mirror the far-fetched yet undeniably “super” tools of our favorite heroes: the ability to fly, webs on-demand and car-crushing strength. We put on capes, grabbed make-shift cardboard swords and, just like that, had all the power in the world.

So isn’t it ironic that, as we mature and step into real-world positions of power, we become less confident in our abilities? Walking into any job, especially government-based roles, knowing there are countless people depending on the services we provide, yet we check our creativity and beliefs in what could-be at the door. The status quo becomes our kryptonite and we stay shackled to the enemy of routine, never questioning the power it has over us and, consequently, the public.

Realize Your Power

You may not have Superman’s ability to fly, Thor’s hammer or Spider-Man’s webs, but all government staff have an undeniable superpower: the ability to serve people. To make lives easier. To help.

And, just like our admired heroes, the first step is embracing a tool that compliments your power. How can I extend my talents to best serve my purpose? As with almost every government, it starts by doing more with less. So what tool do you want in your belt? The one with most functionality to do the most good.

OnBase is both a jack-of-all trades and easily attainable – no combat necessary. Best of all, only one belt notch is needed to embrace the aptitude of several superheroes.

Functionality United

When engaged in government settings, OnBase functionality channels the strength of several commonly sought-after super tools. And we’re no Joker – take a look at the cross analysis below:

Superhero Channeled Feature Description
Superman Ability to fly Enterprise content management (ECM) allows admins and users to oversee all records, data and workflow from a bird’s eye view. No digging for information in a variety of different places – everything you need is located in one central cloud-based system and only minimal clicks away.
Wonder Woman Lasso of truth With complete audit trails of who has made which edits to what document, the integrity of every record is kept intact while the transparency holds staff accountable for completing to do’s in a timely fashion.
Captain America Shield Compliance standards are in place for a reason, and occasionally checked up on. Shield your agency or organization from fines or denouncement by applying security steps and transparency features to prevent compliance wars.
Spider-Man Webs Swing from task to task with one-click ease thanks to OnBase’s organizational ability. With rules-based workflows and calendar reminders, staff stay on top of daily tasks and deadlines. Once completed, users simply click “send” to push the documents on to the next step and progress through their own steps.
Thor “Mjolnir” (AKA, the hammer) All the power and strength of this tool rests within your hands. With a customizable dashboard and wor kview, users wield control over their day-to-day processes and how they navigate through it all. Not to mention they perform each task in an impeccably “smash”ing manner!
Iron Man Self-made man Configurability and integration are two of OnBase’s most cherished features. Similar to Iron Man piecing himself together, as opposed to being born into power or the beneficiary of a chemical mishap, OnBase gives you control over business process management, and seamlessly integrates with other case or administrative systems. Both features allow users to plug in where needed, access necessary information and construct a system and process that works in their favor.

“What’s your favorite Super Power?”

Remember: a superhero isn’t defined by a movie – it’s determined by a mindset. So let’s revisit that very first question. Think about your day-to-day activities: who do you support? How? What bigger-picture difference are you contributing to?

More importantly, in the spirit of Iron Man, how could you work smarter – not harder? A helpful read when considering these things is Hyland’s “Superhero clerks and why public records are their kryptonite.”

We Want to Hear From You!

Who’s your favorite superhero? What OnBase functionality do you think he/she would like best?

Respond in the “comments” below or on our Government Solutions LinkedIn Showcase page. We read and respond – promise!

7 Reasons Why ECM Is the Answer for Insurers – Part 2

by podcastadmin, posted in Blog Posts, Insurance

We’re diving deep into the question of why insurers should consider enterprise content management or ECM. Mostly the answer is because existing legacy systems are outdated and inefficient, are vulnerable to security breaches and because a modern ECM system streamlines insurance processes while saving costs. Even modern core systems sometimes lack the business process and document management functions needed for today’s sophisticated operations.

We’ve got a whole bunch of other reasons, just ask us, but you get the picture.

In this blog series, we’re looking at how enterprise content management brings modern technology to the insurance industry to streamline:

  • Content capture
  • Business process management (BPM) or workflow engine
  • Case management
  • Content management
  • Integration with existing systems
  • Enterprise file sync and share (EFSS)
  • Mobile access

Part 2: Business Process Management (BPM)

Instead of trying to get by with outdated scan-store-retrieve systems that have outlived their usefulness, leaders in the insurance industry are embracing new solutions that fundamentally change the way they do business. Business process management (BPM) tools are delivering the optimal streamlined operations.

Business process management tools make up the workflow engine that manages complex insurance processes in a simplified way. Think of it as the internal combustion engine that is designed specifically for you that makes everything else run smoothly.

Because all insurers have unique processes and workflows, it’s essential that BPM technology is scalable and flexible to meet unique individual requirements. But to be truly useful, you need to be able to rapidly deploy your business automation solution. A two-year development cycle for a workflow automation process might find itself outdated at launch since the industry itself, legislation, marketing and product development do not stand still. Low-code solutions have the moving advantage of not only being faster to deploy but can typically be modified quicker and easier to keep up with changing conditions. Process automation optimizes your business processes by adding in much-needed visibility and transparency to further refine and lower the burden of compliance.

The best technology solutions include these business process management tools:

  • Workflow automation: You set the rules and actions, we’ll automate your business processes, presenting the right content to the right person, where it is needed. Work is shared efficiently among workers, with no one spending too much time doing low-value tasks such as searching for documents, waiting for or manually transferring files, losing critical documents, or duplicating work. By automating workflow, your business is well balanced among staff, without the issue of some staff overburdened while others are idled. More than one staff person can work on a file at a time.
  • Dynamic approval processes: Business process management tools simplify document approval processes with customized rules for evaluating documents and dynamically assigning approvers. Your business rules define decision-making steps and expedite the approval process. For example, Claims Managers assign authority levels and approval requirements so that the internal controls automatically route claims to adjusters with the appropriate authority.
  • Electronic forms: Expedite your processes and improve accuracy with required fields, data validation, instant calculations, and ways to customize all forms, even official ones, to fit your unique requirements with little to no coding. BPM tools validate the entries on electronic forms and make them accessible to all who need them. Completed forms trigger the next step in the process.
  • Dashboards and Activity Monitors: Point-and-click dashboard configuration and monitors give users instant visibility into business processes, from real-time status reports to task ownership. Identify opportunities for improvement and quickly respond to changes in process performance.
  • Automated Notifications: Let users know immediately when an action is required and expedite triggered email notifications. Streamline the entire notification process.
  • Reporting: Gain extensive reporting capabilities, detailed audit trails and visibility into your processes to provide consistency and avoid compliance risks.

Next Up

Our next blog in this series will highlight how ECM brings efficiency with case management.

How could an automated workflow improve your business processes?

ImageSoft can guide you through the selection of enterprise content management for insurers to achieve the efficiencies and cost savings you need. Our industry-leading solutions for insurance offer automated workflows, improved speed and efficiency, reduced costs and proper compliance. ImageSoft is ready to help your company reap the benefits from integrated enterprise content management. 

Look for more information about our solutions for life and property and casualty insurance, plus workers’ comp.

Follow ImageSoft’s Insurance Solutions LinkedIn Showcase page for more details about ECM. 

A Glimpse in the Rear-View Mirror: Velocity 2019 Recap

by podcastadmin, posted in Blog Posts, ImageSoft News

With the dust finally settling from Velocity 2019, we’re giving our OnBase-enthused engines a breather as we shift into park until 2020. But before we officially turn back the key, let’s take one last glimpse in the rear-view mirror at all the innovation, collaboration and pure fun that fueled such an accelerating event for courts, governments, insurance organizations, back offices and others across the nation.

Day One: Fine-Tuning

Velocity Training 2019

Rubber immediately met the road for the 30 OnBase admins who attended Tuesday’s all-day training sessions. Divided into general and advanced classes and instructed by two ImageSoft sales engineers, the sessions blueprinted many traditional and new OnBase tools that serve admins across every industry.

Some Traded in Cars for Carts

A few attendees decided to spend the day driving their momentum across the course during a round of golf and networking with ImageSoft account executives at The Inn at St. Johns.

A Dine No One Dashed On

Whether attendees opted for taking swings or stroking keys, everyone reconvened under one roof for a complimentary dinner, cocktails and catching up at the Novi Suburban Collection Showplace. On the menu? Something for everyone! With stations serving up Mexican fare, Mediterranean-Greek style dishes and good ol’ BBQ, it was easy to indulge in conversation with new and familiar faces while visiting and enjoying each spread.

Day Two: Showtime!

With vibrant teal lanyards and a personalized schedule in front of them, the roughly 100 “day two” attendees enjoyed session after session (with trail mix and nacho bars refueling them in between!), hearing first-hand customer stories about the opportunities afforded from the electronic workflow, case management and overall streamlined communications that OnBase provides. While sessions were organized on industry-specific tracks, participants were free to attend any session that peaked their interest. After all, it’s not uncommon for the prosecutor’s office to be inspired by seeing OnBase at work in the courtroom.

Before the busy day ahead, however, all attendees were invited to join us for breakfast and a brief general session, featuring a guest speaker who is the “apple” of many technology-inspired eyes.

Will the Real Steve Jobs Please Stand Up?

A complete 180° from Emcee Adam Rose’s cowboy getup during last year’s Velocity, attendees were unexpectedly greeted by Steve Jobs. Well, kind of. It was ImageSoft CEO Dave Hawkins channeling his inner Jobs, complete with a black mock turtle-neck sweater, casual blue jeans, white New Balance sneakers and all the appropriate iconic quotes and mannerisms.

All entertainment aside, Dave opened the day by spelling out the “why” of technology innovators in the context of encouraging sentiments. Building on quotes such as “Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat” and “Think Different,” Dave’s contagious excitement about the paperless future energized the room and opened everyone’s minds to the possibility of their ideas, the inspiration of what’s been done and the opportunity of what’s to come.

“I wanted to draw on the wisdom of a universally admired master innovator to convey a few key principles of success: the willingness to try crazy ideas, the discipline to focus and the need to persevere,” said Dave. “These traits can make or break IT projects.”

Survey Says…

We’re not just bragging. We swapped completed surveys for swag bags on the way out and are humbled to share that, out of a four-star possibility, attendees gave us an average of 3.8. Our most common, free-handed response? “Loved seeing how other organizations used the products!”

Catch all the social engagement, “tweet” moments and pictures on the #Velocity2019 feed!

We Want to Hear From You!

2019 Velocity attendees: what was your most memorable Velocity moment? How about your new favorite OnBase feature?

Future Velocity attendees: what session topic would be a “must-see” for you?

Answer below or on our LinkedIn page. We read and respond – promise!

The Gist of IJIS

by podcastadmin, posted in Blog Posts, Courts

Like all industries, the court space is no stranger to organizations marked by confusing acronyms that most people don’t recognize or are even sure how to pronounce. Because so many readers found nuggets (or should we say “cookies”) of wisdom from our “C is for CJIS” deconstruction, we thought we would spell out another version of letter soup that, while not widely understood, is vital to the health and integrity of justice and court collaboration.

“I JIS” Don’t Get It

But did you get that? Our dry humor, that is.

Anyways, back to the letter of the day.

Founded as the Integrated Justice Information Systems Institute, the heartbeat of IJIS lives to assist state, local and federal courts and overall public-sector communities in leveraging secure, standards-based information sharing technologies. IJIS work is important in that they partner stakeholders in the justice community with technology partners to promote workable solutions that enhance public safety. Especially in the context of courts, ascending appeal cases to upper courts, sharing cross-jurisdictional information or working with other justice organizations, user confidence in a secure, compliant and efficient case and document management system is key to safer and overall healthier justice communities.

With law enforcement, prosecutors, attorneys, court personnel from several courts and other parties simultaneously working on the same case, there is no room for the antiquated paper-based process of file sharing. Thanks to the experience-based standards and thought leadership of IJIS committees, information interoperability between all necessary parties is possible and trusted.

Can You Provide an Example?

Can Superman fly?

A significant part of IJIS work is establishing exchanges of reporting information, such as for sex offenders, crime statistics and FBI national data exchange. When this touches courts, it’s critical that courts be able to not only provide access to data but also reporting on a timely basis.

This is one of the reasons why courts and prosecutors are digitally transforming using OnBase by Hyland, as ImageSoft delivers it. This enterprise content management system is like a DMS on (legal) steroids. It enables standards-based exchange of documents and metadata, including the NIEM (National Information Exchange Model) standard as new state and federal agencies require access. But access to documents and metadata is not enough. Key information in a criminal case, such as a crime pattern, often does not exist in a case management system. This is the reason why text-searching capabilities of imaged documents is so important for active and forensic investigations.

Comparable to your annoyingly-talented friend who excels at everything, OnBase equips courts with all the functionality needed for a completely electronic case flow. With cloud-based storage, full-text, meta-data searches, color-coded files and highly configurable reporting dashboards, OnBase allows your court to achieve and honor an unparalleled level of transparency and efficiency that publics notice and respect.

In addition to real-time access to documents and metadata, the reporting tools available makes it far easier for courts to generate detailed summary reports by a user that, in the past, may have required a custom development effort. As courts and/or prosecution offices continue to leverage the electronic workflow function for managing processes, the more integrable their data becomes.

In addition to users quickly generating reports, a mouse click also allows them to break it down by judge or disposition along with the underlying data. Such flexibility and real-time data sharing are critical to law enforcement and public safety.Further recommendations from IJIS and other standards have enabled cloud-based applications and storage that facilitates even greater flexibility for data exchange. Due to industry standards and the vast expertise of cloud service providers, the security of these hosted solutions often exceed what courts can leverage with tight resources. One such application is CaseShare by ImageSoft, which enables a lower court to electronically prepare and deliver transcripts and case files to appellate or supreme courts. As a case management neutral application, there are numerous functionalities, such as image to text conversion, bookmarking and table of content generation, that all occur in the cloud and eliminate the need for a court to maintain a complex stack of hardware and software.

While that’s only and nothing but the truth, we also have this Circuit Court case study as testimony.  

I Still Have Questions

We won’t make you take it up with the judge. For more information on court solutions that can support IJIS initiatives, simply contact your ImageSoft representative or fill out this quick form.

We Want to Hear From You!

Is your court mindful about following IJIS guidelines? If not previously, will you recommend it is?

Respond in the comments section below or on our Court Solutions LinkedIn page. We read and respond – promise!

Two for One Click

by podcastadmin, posted in Blog Posts, ImageSoft News

“Let’s take a look at the BlogCast page!” said Lisa, our Marketing Operations Specialist, during an, obviously, very serious website meeting. The team busted into laughter at the unintentional mash-up title of what would be our blog and podcast webpage, but we haven’t since been able to shake the term of endearment.

So today, we’d like to introduce you to what we affectionately refer to as our new “BlogCast” page! Upon arrival, readers come to a fork in the road – “What would you like to do?”

Let’s explore your options.

Talk Nerdy to Me

From the new “BlogCast” home page, you can also choose to “Listen to Podcasts.” That’s right – we’re starting to actually talk the tech walk by recording commute-length episodes on trending topics related to paperless productivity. Hence, “The Paperless Productivity Podcast.”

With short descriptions accompanying each podcast episode, you can quickly choose the one that best interests you while you drive, enjoy lunch, go for a walk, or whenever you work in your podcast fix. Let’s say you’re super revved about Velocity 2019 and click on Episode 12. You’ll be taken to a screen that looks like this:

You can play this episode straight from your desktop, and/or follow along with the full transcript. Not only does it save you the hassle of needing to take notes, but it will help you fast-forward or replay to a certain timeframe of interest.

Have feedback on what you’ve heard? Want to join the conversation? Scroll down just a bit and you can leave a reply. As always, we read and respond!

Not “A Post” to Blogs

For those of you who regularly enjoy the dry-humored, yet fairly informative, blogs about all things paperless in the realm of courts, government, and insurance – thank you. As you know, we’ll never tire of typing tech-savvy text and hope you’ll continue weekly reads of the Paperless Process Blog on this new webpage.

Have eyes for a particular interest? Cast your gaze toward the navigation bar and click the drop-down on “Blog Posts.” From there, you can continue to seek something industry-specific for your specs!

I Have an App for That

Same. If it’s more convenient for you to listen through your favorite podcast platform, such as Google Podcasts, iTunes, or Spotify, simply search “The Paperless Productivity Podcast” and subscribe. You’ll stay up to date with the latest episodes and never miss a guest speaker!

Enough About Us – We Want to Hear From You!

Will you be eyeing up our blogs, tuning in for podcasts, or mixing it up with a little of both?

7 Reasons Why ECM Is the Answer for Insurers – Part 1

by podcastadmin, posted in Blog Posts, Insurance

Insurers may be asking, why should we consider Enterprise Content Management (ECM) when we already have an (albeit old and patched and inefficient and unsecured and siloed, and, and, and) imaging system or a document management system (from the 90s)? We’ll answer that question in our 7-part series: 7 Reasons Why ECM is the Answer for Insurers.

The insurance industry is facing rapid-fire changes as technology continues to automate repeatable and manual processes. Robotic Process Automation is taking hold in the marketplace as we see chat bots taking on underwriting tasks, providing web services, conducting lookups – it amounts to “no-touch” claims processing. The legacy systems from 20 years ago or more cannot match up with today’s customer and employee expectations. Security issues in legacy systems make insurers vulnerable to attacks that can cost millions. Compliance issues abound as insurers strive to meet stringent data security rules. Insuretechs are bringing well-received disruption by shaking up processes and shaking out time-consuming, manual processes.

Enterprise content management brings modern technology to the insurance industry to streamline:

  • Content capture 
  • Business process management (BPM) or workflow engine
  • Case management
  • Content management
  • Integration with existing systems
  • Enterprise file sync and share (EFSS)
  • Mobile access

Part 1: Streamline Content Capture Activities

I don’t know about you but there is so much stuff out there I want to watch and listen to and share and learn about: new podcasts, original programming on services like Netflix and Hulu, funny and educational YouTube videos, news and analysis from my favorite commentators and late night hosts, not to mention all of the Star Wars, Marvel and DC Comics movies – so many choices, so little time.

New networks and streaming services are coming online all the time: Chip and Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame are going to have their own network soon, Apple’s new streaming service is about to launch, and the new Disney streaming service is coming later this year – juggling my family, work and viewing schedule is enough of a Herculean balancing act.

It’s similar for insurers – they must manage, coordinate, file and secure a growing number of categories of inputs of incoming documents, files, cases, applications, videos, emails, photos, and communication records. The capture of content often siloed in legacy document management systems becomes a nightmare because systems don’t talk to each other, there’s no central platform integrating and coordinating each system, and the automated workflow solution is MIA.

Here’s where enterprise content management comes in.

Enterprise content management solutions streamline the content capture of inbound documents and information for insurance carriers, saving time, resources and revenue. They reduce the time between receive and process.  Whether the content comes in from the mail room, MFP, email, fax, desktop, data stream, import processors or legacy systems, an ECM solution improves the content capture process.

World class content capture technologies help insurers serve existing customers faster and more efficiently while helping secure new customers. It all adds up to a better revenue picture.

The ECM content capture process is scalable and easily configurable. It offers encryption, compliance and records management. For example, ECM streamlines capture for:

  • New business applications 
  • Agent submissions
  • ACORD forms 
  • Claims
  • FNOL and more

ECM solutions are available on premise or in the Cloud and offer applications for iOS, Android and Windows to extend your solutions to the field for Claim Field Adjusters, Loss Control Representatives, Legal Counsel, Sales Representatives and more.

Next Up

Our next blog in this series will highlight how ECM brings efficiency with its business process management (BPM) or workflow engine.

What kind of content capture challenges are you facing?

ImageSoft can guide you through the selection of enterprise content management for insurers to achieve the efficiencies and cost savings you need. Our industry-leading solutions for insurance offer automated workflows, improved speed and efficiency, reduced costs and proper compliance. ImageSoft is ready to help your company reap the benefits from integrated enterprise content management. 

Look for more information about our solutions for life and property and casualty insurance, plus workers’ comp.

Follow ImageSoft’s Insurance Solutions LinkedIn Showcase page for more details about ECM. 

Don’t Build Your Highway Without an On-Ramp: Electronic Forms and Process Automation

by ImageSoft, posted in Blog Posts, OnBase

Authored by Carolyn Kane, Product Evangelist at Hyland

Imagine designing a super-highway that moves vehicles at top speed through rough terrain, eliminates bottlenecks and traffic jams, and improves the day-to-day efficiency of residents and businesses.

187_freewayonrampNow imagine that you designed this super-speed highway, but you didn’t include a way for people to access it. Your highway might be fast and efficient, but many travelers have to go around it in order to get to their destination.

In my industry, we call this a workaround.

This frequently happens to processes that still rely on paper forms or an unintegrated electronic form (like a fillable PDF that has to be printed or emailed). It’s like having a highway without an access ramp. People have to try to kick off that process in some other way (like scanning the form, emailing the form, or processing manually), instead of just hitting “submit” and knowing that their form is saved and the process is moving forward.

Creating on-ramps

Because OnBase forms are processed by Workflow immediately upon submission, they are the ultimate on-ramp to an automated process. No scanning or manual import is required, and thebest part is that they index themselves!

Fortunately, designing forms can be the easy part of automating your process, with a point-and-click designer for Unity Forms and Image Forms to make form creation intuitive, simple, and fast.

Thinking about access

Not everyone on the highway started in the same place. This seems obvious when talking about roadways, but with process automation you have similar considerations. Where should your users access the form to kick off a process? Allowing them to access forms in a convenient manner means less delays overall.

Depending on your industry, you may need to have “external” users fill out forms in addition to your own internal users. If you’re in government, education, insurance, finance or healthcare – really, any industry that works with the public – extending form access to users outside your organization will be very important to streamlining your processes. Fortunately, OnBase Forms can be accessed from a browser on a desktop or mobile device, so that they can be easily filled out and submitted anytime, anywhere.

Accommodating different types

Think about the different vehicles you see on the highway—trucks, busses, private cars, ride-sharing vehicles—they all have different purposes and slightly different needs. If you want to move the contents of your house, you want to use a moving truck, but if you are just taking your family to see grandma your hatchback will do just fine.

In the same way, OnBase Forms offer different tools for different needs. Unity Forms are the configurable option, offering no-code electronic forms with endless flexibility and dynamic behavior. Image Forms are designed to replicate a paper form, with users filling it out by typing instead of writing—with many of the advantages of Unity Forms built-in to improve the experience over paper. And HTML-based E-Forms offer the endless possibilities of a fully custom form.

A process isn’t automated unless your forms are electronic and integrated

Even if your forms aren’t paper, you may not be automating your processes as much as you would like. Downloadable forms and forms received by e-mail still require manual steps and unnecessary workarounds. For a fully automated process, you want to be sure that forms are integrated with your workflow so that processing can begin the moment the user hits the submit button.

Your On-Ramp to Complete Process Automation

Ready to pave your on-ramp to a super highway of streamlined data collection, workflow and overall optimized efficiency? Check out this forms management webpage detailing all things eForms, courtesy of my friends at ImageSoft!

We Want to Hear From You!

Are you building your on-ramp alongside your super highway (i.e., in the process of implementing various automation tactics), or will eForms clear the path to optimized efficiency for your organization?

Answer in the comments section below or on our LinkedIn page. We read and respond – promise!