Mitsui Direct Selects Guidewire System for Claims Management

Guidewire Software, Inc., a provider of software products to general (Property/Casualty) insurers, announced that Mitsui Direct General Insurance Company, a Japanese direct general insurance company under the MS&AD Insurance Group, has now fully deployed Guidewire ClaimCenter as its new auto insurance claims management system as of February 25.

According to a release, ClaimCenter is being used to process new claims at 14 Mitsui Direct sites in Japan and MSK Anshin Stations K.K., an intragroup call center, who accept accident claims nationwide.

Guidewire Software said that in 2012, Mitsui Direct decided to select a new auto insurance claims management system for improved cost efficiencies and to provide insurance services against a backdrop of a changing general insurance market and increased competition. After comparing and considering multiple claims systems including ClaimCenter, a self-developed system, as well as exploring the option of making a significant upgrade to its existing system, the decision was made in April 2012 to select Guidewire ClaimCenter, due to the substantial benefits it would bring.

Further, in order to develop its "JTS System", as ClaimCenter is known internally at the company, Mitsui Direct used Agile for the first time enabling it to customize ClaimCenter to suit its business requirements. A development room was established adjacent to the claims management (adjudication) department right from the outset of the implementation project, for staff from both the claims management (adjudication) and IT planning departments, allowing for a more collaborative and flexible system development process.

Yojiro Sakai, manager of the claims management (adjudication) department, said: "Adopting Agile methodology was an innovative approach for our company. In particular, we discussed the various functionality and prerequisites needed for our business while actually looking at the screen and we were able to make adjustments along the way as needed."

ClaimCenter is enabling Mitsui Direct to:

-Better communicate with customers based on their preferences, and in turn, more meet customer expectations by providing access to Mitsui Direct's online customer support platform;

-More quickly handle claims due to centrally managed claims data;

-Gain better insight into auto accident claim operations to drive process and service improvements;

-Enjoy a more efficient claims intake process, specifically accident reports, through direct data input; and

-Leverage an enhanced search feature that helps to find auto repair shops in the event of an accident, for example.

"We congratulate Mitsui Direct on their successful implementation of Guidewire ClaimCenter," said Ian Tavener, vice president, Asia Pacific, Guidewire Software. "We admire Mitsui Direct's dedication to improving their customer service offerings and reducing operational costs and are proud to have played a role in this project."

More information:

www.mitsui-direct.co.jp/.

www.guidewire.com.

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