Monday 3 November 2014

eDocs - Take the SNAIL out of your Mail!

By Sheldon Williams
Sales & Account Executive and Trainer
Keal Technology


Recently I watched a movie with my son about a snail that gained super powers as a result of a freak accident.  The snail mutated and became capable of moving at super fast speeds – he was a Turbo Snail.  While watching this movie, I could not help but see a similarity between snail mail and eDocs.
eDocs provides us all with the ability to download policy documents from the insurance carriers and eliminate the following actions:
·         opening mail
·         sorting mail
·         stamping mail
·         distributing mail
·         scanning
·         & hopefully shredding
Without this super power, we are subject to operating at a snail’s pace.
So, why are some reluctant to adopt this functionality? Is it the fear of change, or maybe that safe feeling that paper gives you? Or maybe many are unsure of whether Turbo is a pace that you are comfortable with. On the other hand, many are gearing up with eDocs while others are full speed ahead and benefiting by saving time, money and increasing efficiencies.  Of course, the proof is in the pudding and to validate the cost saving, CSIO has released an online eDocs Savings Calculator, as well as a number of testimonials of the savings. Here is a hyperlink to their website: http://www.csio.com/edocs-savings-calculator
 
Automatic Suspense (Abeyance) for eDocs/EDI
If moving at a turbo pace is not fast enough, hold on to your seats as we blow passed eDoc reports and automate the abeyance set-up process for eDocs & EDI. Currently, Keal brokers benefit from a zero-touch eDoc experience which allows documents to download directly into the client file with no manual intervention. This means no need to trigger the process by initiating a daily eDocs download into the client files. How do you know what documents have arrived? Historically eDoc reports are pulled showing what has downloaded for the day and then abeyances are set to advise the broker that their eDocs have arrived and to take necessary action. Keal brokers can fly passed this step so now when an eDoc or EDI download comes into your BMS, a suspense (or open abeyance) is created automatically. These can be created for a specific individual or workgroup and can also be colour coded if desired.
 
Suspense (Abeyance) Workgroups
Central processing has become more common as of late. Whether by transaction, alpha split, company etc. workgroups help to share the work amongst many and allow for a team approach to tackling workloads. This shared abeyance list can be linked to automated eDocs & EDI abeyances to streamline the process of distributing work providing a little nitro in your processing department. Suspenses will be displayed in a separate panel for workgroups and it clearly indicates which workgroup this suspense belongs to.
So, at the end of the movie, the snail ended up losing his super powers, however, he determined that all along he had the heart that it took to win the race. The same can be said for our broker partners. With all the technology available, the success of a brokerage is based on having heart. However, you have to admit, having heart and turbo can definitely put you ahead of the pack – with a few less paper cuts as well.