12th annual user conference promotes new
Data and Digital enhancements to Guidewire InsurancePlatform™
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 2016--
Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE: GWRE), a provider of software products
to Property/Casualty (P/C) insurers, recently hosted its 12th
annual user conference, Connections 2016, in San Francisco,
California. Connections 2016 provided a forum for the Guidewire
community – customers, partners, and Guidewire employees – to come
together to learn, collaborate, network and receive the latest
information about Guidewire’s products.
Connections 2016 kicked off with Chief Executive Officer Marcus Ryu,
sharing Guidewire’s perspective on the disruptive forces facing P/C
insurers and commitment to shoulder more of the technology burden in the
years ahead. He also discussed the company’s aspiration to provide an
industry standard platform for P/C insurance, recapping its progress in
that direction and sharing its high-level plans for the future. Marcus
was followed by Guidewire’s Chief Product Officer Ali Kheirolomoom, and
Product Marketing Director for InsuranceSuite Daniele Groves, who shared
the company’s product-related accomplishments over the past year,
including the launch of InsurancePlatform in June and the just-announced
2016.2 InsurancePlatform release with Data and Digital enhancements.
They also highlighted Guidewire’s two acquisitions, as well as shared
general product direction for the years ahead.
This year’s guest keynote speaker was Sir Ken Robinson, the most-watched
TED Talk speaker on TED.com of all time. His TED2006 presentation, “Do
Schools Kill Creativity?” has been watched more than 41 million times.
In his keynote, Ken identified the three myths of innovation that hold
many organizations back, and the basic practices that drive the most
innovative organizations ahead of the pack, then presented a three-tier
strategy to generate “systemic innovation” across the whole
organization. He concluded by identifying the three core roles of
creative leaders to make this happen.
Three Guidewire customers presented keynotes. Bob DiMuccio, President
and CEO of Amica, described Amica’s success with the Guidewire
InsuranceSuite™ in meeting the trends and challenges facing the
insurance industry – as well as the expectations of its customers. David
Stevens, CEO of Admiral UK, explained why flexibility is critical for
the future of insurance delivery, and predicted which industry changes
are most likely to be game changers and which will prove to be hype and
hot air. Scott Wollney, President and CEO of Atlas Financial Holdings,
talked about the possibilities realized and lessons learned along the
way to improved pricing precision and claims-reserving decisions,
customer satisfaction gains, and expense reductions, through the use of
Guidewire Predictive Analytics™. On the final day of Connections, AXA
Global, Endurance, and IAG participated in a customer panel discussion
moderated by American Family, where they discussed their perspectives on
aspects of their customer journeys, and how they are adapting and
succeeding with innovative projects.
Over 150 hands-on workshops, roundtable discussions, expert panels,
chalk talks, and educational breakout sessions were held during
Connections, many involving or led by Guidewire customers. These
sessions provided the opportunity for customers such as Aviva, Basler,
Beazley Group, CNA, Endurance, Erie Insurance, Hartford Steam Boiler,
Nationwide, QBE Australia, and Zurich Insurance plc to share their
experiences, lessons learned, and best practices.
Connections 2016 was sponsored by the following Guidewire
PartnerConnect™ Consulting and Solution partners: Blackcomb
Consultants; Capgemini*; The CastleBay Companies; Centric Consulting;
CGI; Cognizant; Cynosure; Deloitte; DocuSign; Enterprise Rent A Car;
EY*; GMC Software Technology; HCL; IBM; IVANS Insurance Solutions;
LexisNexis; Loss Control 360; Mitchell; OnBase by Hyland*; OpenText
Exstream; PwC*; Smart Communications; Vertafore; and V-NEO – who were on
hand to discuss their services/solutions with attendees. Platinum
sponsors (indicated by *) participated with customers in presentations,
and other sponsors moderated roundtable discussions.
For the 10th consecutive year, Guidewire honored the
winners of its customer Innovation Awards program, and also introduced a
new ‘Hero’ award to recognize individuals from customer project teams.
“We were honored this year to recognize our 10th annual
Innovation Award winners, and for the first time, individual project
heroes who were nominated by their companies for their extraordinary
work above and beyond the call of duty,” said Brian Desmond, Chief
Marketing Officer, Guidewire Software.
Desmond concluded, “Our customers continue to inspire us with stories of
how they are using Guidewire InsurancePlatform™ to increase speed to
market, improve engagement with policyholders and agents and lower
operating costs in a rapidly changing marketplace. We thank our
customers and partners for helping to make Connections such an enjoyable
and useful experience.”
About Guidewire Software
Guidewire delivers the software that Property/Casualty (P/C) insurers
need to adapt and succeed in a time of rapid industry change. We combine
three elements – core operations, data and analytics, and digital
engagement – into a technology platform that enhances insurers’ ability
to engage and empower their customers and employees. 260 P/C insurers
around the world have selected Guidewire. For more information, please
visit www.guidewire.com.
Follow us on twitter: @Guidewire_PandC.
NOTE: Guidewire, Guidewire Software, Guidewire ClaimCenter, Guidewire
PolicyCenter, and Guidewire BillingCenter are registered trademarks of
Guidewire Software, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161102006555/en/
Source: Guidewire Software, Inc.
Guidewire Software, Inc.
Diana Stott, +1-650-356-4941
Director,
Communications
dstott@guidewire.com