IVANS and Progressive Insurance Take Real-Time Technology One Step Further to Make It Easier for Agents to Do Business

Business Editors

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 3, 2008--IVANS, the leading provider of corporate connectivity solutions and services, worked with Progressive (NYSE: PGR) to implement an agent-enabled single sign-on technology through IVANS Transformation Station sm that makes it easier for agents to quote and service their policies, and streamline their workflow. Once Progressive’s agents update their real-time account via their agency management system, and register at Progressive’s website, ForAgentsOnly.com (FAO), they will no longer have to enter their user ID and password when bridging over to the FAO website. And, by utilizing this technology, Progressive now updates the agents’ credentials within Transformation Station on the agent’s behalf. As a result, any time the agent changes his password on Progressive’s FAO website, Transformation Station is automatically updated, thereby enabling a secure, single sign-on to both Transformation Station and the FAO website, and faster access to their policy data.

Single sign-on (SSO) technology enables a user to log-in once and gain access to multiple software systems without being prompted to log-in again. This technology eliminates having to manage the overwhelming number of different log-on IDs and passwords that agents are faced with when accessing multiple carrier websites on a daily basis. As a result, Progressive agents are able to take real-time technology to the next level and further accelerate the insurance transaction process for themselves and their clients. IVANS system specialists worked with Progressive to seamlessly migrate its agents using Transformation Station to the new agent workflow over three months. Future phases are planned as more agents continue to adopt real-time technology. Alvito Vaz, director of Internet agent systems at Progressive Insurance said, “We worked with IVANS to go beyond the status quo and implement this new technology, because we knew it would improve our agents’ workflows and make it easier for them to do business with us.”

Progressive also works with IVANS to give its agents the choice to use IVANS Download, which synchronizes the policy information that resides on Progressive’s system with the agency system by updating or loading data onto the agency’s system electronically. Using ACORD standards, IVANS Download enables Progressive to deliver personal lines to its agents across a variety of agency management systems. By offering this option, Progressive is helping its agents to streamline their workflow through one standard process, reduce the need for paper through electronic transmissions, save time by eliminating the re-keying of data and make it easier for them to focus on selling new business rather than policy administration.

IVANS Download solution accelerates personal lines, commercial lines, and claims download by synchronizing the information that resides on the carrier system with the agency system electronically. IVANS Real-Time solution, Transformation Station, is a managed Internet data exchange for real-time transactions, enabling agents to process policy transactions and retrieve insurance company account status information directly from within their agency systems when they need it. Together, IVANS Download and IVANS Real-Time solutions provide the complete round-trip for agency-company interface communications.

About Progressive

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, is one of the country's largest auto insurance groups, the largest seller of motorcycle and personal watercraft policies, and a market leader in commercial auto insurance based on premiums written. Progressive offers its products, including personal and commercial auto, motorcycle, boat and recreational vehicle insurance, through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the U.S. and online and by phone directly from the Company. To find an agent or to get a quote, go to http://www.progressive.com.

About IVANS

IVANS Inc. provides the property/casualty insurance and healthcare industries with fully managed network, electronic data interchange (EDI) and agency-company interface solutions to help solve complex business issues. Headquartered in Stamford, Conn. and a CMS approved vendor, IVANS serves over 600 insurance and healthcare organizations, more than 30,000 independent agents and 135,000 healthcare providers. With over 25 years of experience successfully managing networks, the company also offers its clients relentless customer service, security solutions, reliable and accessible technical helpdesk support and expert enablement. IVANS, which was formed by 21 insurance companies, also has offices in Tampa, Fla. and Cincinnati, Ohio. For information, visit www.ivans.com.