XL Group Streamlines Big Data with SAS® Business Visualization

Business Wire, Inc.

SAS^® Visual Analytics is in-memory cornerstone of (re)insurer’s high-performance analytics strategy

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Harnessing in-memory technology from SAS, XL Group plc’s global insurance and reinsurance operations (“XL Group”) (NYSE:XL) will dig deep into enhanced data analysis with SASVisual Analytics.

XL Group will use SAS Visual Analytics to help quickly visualize business data from internal and external sources to explore new ways of analyzing risk. The resulting proprietary insights will enhance decision making and profitable growth. With data visualizations tailored specifically for a business team, XL Group also expects to broaden adoption of advanced analytical modeling within the company.

“Our business success rests in making superior decisions,” said Kimberly Holmes, Head of Strategic Analytics for XL Group. “With SAS Visual Analytics, we intend to delve into more data in ways that were once unimaginable, to glean unique insights we can use to drive profitable growth.

“Data visualization will enable us to clearly communicate complex statistical insights to our colleagues and encourage more widespread use of analytics in business planning and decision making across XL,” she said.

Initially, XL Group will use SAS Visual Analytics to support its underwriters’ risk selection and strategic decision making. Holmes sees future opportunities to better understand the key factors influencing mission-critical decisions in all areas of XL Group.

More insight, better decisions

“With SAS Visual Analytics’ cutting edge data analysis, we hope to boost our learning curve and encourage more analytical thinking in every corner of our organization,” said Holmes. “By inspiring more analytical questions, we expect to uncover more insights. Our ability to analyze more data – quickly and in unique ways – with SAS Visual Analytics will lead to more informed decisions.”

XL Group’s goal is to embed analytic decision management process and application systems across the organization. Holmes believes “the potential is vast.”

SAS Visual Analytics combines the industry's leading analytics with unique in-memory architecture, intuitive data exploration, and information-delivery options – including the iPad^®. SAS offers the only in-memory engine designed specifically for business visualization of big data on general-purpose, nonproprietary hardware.

For more information, see SAS Visual Analytics on the SAS website.

About XL Group plc

XL Group plc, through its subsidiaries, is a global insurance and reinsurance company providing property, casualty and specialty products to industrial, commercial and professional firms, insurance companies, and other enterprises throughout the world. XL is the company clients look to for answers to their most complex risks and to help move their world forward. Its principal offices are located at No.1 Hatch Street Upper, 4th Floor, Dublin 2, Ireland. To learn more, visit www.xlgroup.com.

About SAS

SAS is the leader in business analytics software and services, and the largest independent vendor in the business intelligence market. Through innovative solutions, SAS helps customers at more than 60,000 sites improve performance and deliver value by making better decisions faster. Since 1976 SAS has been giving customers around the world THE POWER TO KNOW^®.

SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies.Copyright © 2012 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved.