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C05 – Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Tuesday, November 11th, 4:00 – 5:15

C05 – Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Tuesday, November 11th, 4:00 – 5:15. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems . Jennifer Overhulse-King, Principal Owner – St. Nick Media Services

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C05 – Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Tuesday, November 11th, 4:00 – 5:15

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  1. C05 – Using SOA to Modernize Critical SystemsTuesday, November 11th, 4:00 – 5:15

  2. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Jennifer Overhulse-King, Principal Owner – St. Nick Media Services Jennifer Overhulse-King is a writer, as well as a marketing and public relations expert, with an extensive journalism background and specific insurance industry expertise. She has over 15 years of writing and editing experience and has been published in print and web publications such as: The Stars & Stripes, The Louisville Business Courier, The Kentucky Post, The Dixie News, The Encyclopedia of Sculpture, Suite 101, Book Magazine, Insurance & Technology, Tech Decisions, Best’s Review, National Underwriter, Insurance Networking News, AT&T’s Networking Exchange, IASA’s Interpreter and the Journal of Insurance Operations. Jennifer is a member of the Insurance Marketing Communications Association (IMCA), the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association (IASA) and is editor of IASA’s Interpreter.

  3. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems • Housekeeping items • Turn off cell phones, beepers, pagers, etc. • Please fill out the survey • Moderated Q&A at the end of the session – save your questions • Topic introduction – Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems • Many insurance companies reaching critical mass • Technology implementations can mean watershed or tears shed • With that in mind…

  4. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Moderator: • Jennifer Overhulse-King, Principal Owner – St. Nick Media Services Today’s Speakers: • Adam Nordost, Director of Professional Services – Commercial Lines – Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. • Andy Scurto, President – ISCS, Inc.

  5. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Adam Nordost, Director of Professional Services – Commercial Lines – Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. Adam Nordost is the Director of Professional Services – Commercial Lines for Arrowhead Insurance Group, one of the largest general agencies in the U.S. and an independent program manager with annual premium writings in excess of $900M providing an extensive range of insurance products nationwide in a turn-key fashion. Since joining Arrowhead in 2002, he has worked with multiple business divisions, technology vendors, and over fifteen carrier partners to implement highly customized policy admin, rating and billing systems for eleven lines of business in thirty states. Currently, Nordost oversees all information systems (IS) initiatives for Arrowhead’s Commercial Divisions starting with Arrowhead Exchange, Arrowhead’s point-of-sale platform to agents and brokers, through the entire life cycle of a policy ending with data feeds to carriers and agencies. He holds a BBA in MIS from Texas A&M University

  6. Role of Technology at AGIA Viewed as a key ingredient to revenue generation and not simply a cost center. Faster time to market and ability to distribute to a broad base of producers cited as key success factors. Technology investment leads to differentiation in the marketplace. Heavy emphasis put on “ease-of-doing-business.” Examples include: online quoting/binding, e-payments, online endorsements and policy inquiry services for agents and insureds. Critical in creating operational efficiencies through standardized web-based workflows, e-document delivery and automated processes. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems

  7. AGIA’s Growing Pains Fast growth of new divisions led to technology and operational silos Softening market conditions put pressure on premium growth and increased focus on cost controls. Resources strained as more and more projects queue themselves up. Core services were not externalized and hence had limited reuse leading to redundant services in organization. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems

  8. Time for a Game Plan Overhaul governance model to ensure a better alignment of IT and business needs/expectations. There needed to be a greater emphasis on solutions with broader application throughout the organization. Buildup our toolbox with a combination of in-house solutions and vendor products. Externalize core services through an SOA architecture to facilitate greater reuse within the organization. Coincide platform consolidation (retiring non-strategic applications) with operational consolidation efforts. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems

  9. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems • Expanding Product Distribution through SOA • Arrowhead Exchange- AGIA’s secure online portal supporting 10,000+ users a day with both pre and post sale services for AGIA products.

  10. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems 2002- Tightly coupled set of services w/ limited extendibility.

  11. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems 2004- SOA Proof-of-Concept – Externalizing Rating as a Service

  12. Realized Benefits of Rating as a Service Opened up a new distribution channel for AGIA products. Net impact was significant and the number of “e-aggregator” partners continues to grow. Eliminated discrepancies between various internal and vendor systems used for online quoting, binding, policy issuance and endorsements caused by small differences (rounding, manual errors, etc.) in rating programs. Faster time to market for programs by: Eliminating redundant development of rate changes and new rate implementations Allowing parallel development of systems and rating due to new separation of duties CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems

  13. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems SOA becomes a cornerstone for the interaction of business services.

  14. Additional and Ongoing SOA Benefits at AGIA Faster time to market (upwards of 50%) for programs by eliminating redundant services within the organization Adoption of an enterprise print solution allows for shared form libraries across divisions and platforms. Integration of Active Directory into internal applications centralizes access management, improves password security and reduces the number of logins/passwords an employee must remember. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems

  15. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems If you have questions specifically regarding this portion of the presentation, please contact: Adam Nordost Director of Professional Services – Commercial Lines Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc. 701 B Street, Ste 2100 San Diego, CA Phone: (619) 881-8414 Email: anordost@arrowheadgrp.com And now, our next speaker, Andy Scurto of ISCS, Inc.

  16. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Andy Scurto, President – ISCS, Inc. Andy Scurto is ISCS’s President, Founder and Chief Technical Officer and has been with the company since its beginning in 1994. He is the principal designer of ISCS's insurance processing solutions, and the firm's primary advisor to insurance organizations on operations improvements, MGA programs, data processing and communications. Scurto has over 20 years' experience in IT and development, which includes 18 years working specifically with insurance industry systems. He received his B.S. in Computer Engineering from San Jose State University.

  17. What Is SOA? SOA – Service Oriented Architecture (sometimes used synonymously with Web-Services) Wikipedia Defines: Architectural style for creating and using business processes, packaged as services, throughout their lifecycle. The IT infrastructure to allow different applications to exchange data and participate in business processes. New technology wrapped around an old idea Standardized methodology for modules (services) to speak Application software version of “plug-and-play” CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems

  18. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems What is a “Service?” • A “black-box” module which performs a business function with a well defined set of inputs and outputs • Performs a business process based on one input and returns through one output – no interservice interaction • Well defined results – can define/build unit tests • No user interface interaction – must validate and perform independently with no assumptions. • Same results regardless of how called

  19. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems SOA Versus Web-Services: • While SOA services are easily exposed as a web-service, web services are not a SOA • Web-services: Exposing useful business processes in a standard way to the web • SOA: An architectural design promoting module (service) plug-and-play and reuse • SOA: Easily exposed as a web-service because of service design (defined inputs/outputs and no user interface)

  20. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Why Web Services Is Just Not Enough • Exposing business processes for reuse great for 3rd party interaction • Generally, a new front end to an old methodology and technology • Does not improve internal architecture • Adds another layer to already existing complicated structures

  21. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Why a True SOA is Better • Ensures all services are ready for reuse and sharing • Promotes best practices independent service development (“black box”) • Separates the user interface and the business services • Promotes the use of plug-and-play • Enables the system for easier integration of 3rd party services • Enables integration of disparate technologies

  22. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems What is SOA Not • Not a silver bullet solving all interface problems • All interfaces are small conversions • Must still perform data mapping (XML) • Solves the How not the What

  23. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Why is SOA Important? • Increased ability for re-use, plug-and-play • Increased ability for automated testing • Separates user interface from business processes • Well defined communications • Well defined security • Strong Internet support • Much Easier B2B Communication

  24. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems How Can SOA Save My Company Money? • Component reuse – smaller more concise code base • Separate user interface from processes – can have multiple user interfaces, new technology • Reduction of system issues – easier to test • Integration of 3rd party components – Less code to develop • Integration across unlike platforms – leverage old technology while introducing new

  25. Examples: Rating engine service – (Arrowhead) Quoting service Eligibility service (rules) Billing status inquiry service Policy status inquiry service All available for system / web / 3rd parties CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems

  26. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Implementing SOA • Start by converting commonly used business functions into individual services: • Number issuance • Rating • Policy search • Address verification (3rd party?) • Continue with combining services forming service chains to perform complete processes: • Quoting • Issuance • Finally, develop new user interfaces to utilize the common service chains to form a system.

  27. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems How Do I Ensure Success? • Business services not technical services • Adopt an accepted framework / standard (SOAP) • Implement a test harness (JUnit) • Adopt a common dictionary / model • Ensure well defined inputs and outputs for all services • Ensure no cross service execution • Expect a huge paradigm shift

  28. Summary SOA and Web-Services are not the same SOA is more powerful and an architectural style SOA is not a silver bullet – defines how not what SOA ensures better code reuse and plug-and-play SOA separates the user interface and the business processes SOA enhances integration capability SOA can save money, make applications more robust and “future-proof” systems CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems

  29. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems What’s Next for SOA? Cloud Computing!

  30. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems What is Cloud Computing? • SOA on Steroids (Services at a hardware level) • Wikipedia Defines: A new label for (…) the use of shared computing resources. - The gigantic data center in the sky! • Often referred to as HaaS (Hardware as a Service) Hardware, software and services on a pay as use basis

  31. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Why is Cloud Computing Important? • Solves issues of: • Disaster Recovery • Scalability • Equipment/Software Obsolencence • Cost of Idle Equipment • Power Consumption / Cooling / Space • Required Expertise • Allows smaller companies to provide enterprise services and components (low startup costs) • More innovative • Many services available – more competition • Many Open Source or Free services available

  32. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Where is Cloud Computing Used? • SaaS providers • Internet service company startups • Small companies needing quick expansion • Companies concerntrating on business wanting to outsource infrastructure • Examples: • SmugMug.com (400 Terabytes, 750 instances) • MileMeter, Inc. (Texas Auto Insurance)

  33. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Current Computing Clouds: • Amazon Web Services • Microsoft • Force.com • IBM – Blue Cloud • Google • Many Others

  34. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Current Cloud Computing Services • Gmail / Yahoo Mail / Hotmail • Salesforce.com • Quicken Online • Google Docs (Microsoft office competition) • SmugMug • Adobe – Photoshop Express • Many More!!!

  35. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems What Do Clouds Provide? • Infinitely scalable technical infrastructure • Completely managed, backed up, etc. • Disaster Recovery • Application building tools (some – Force, Google) • Amazon • S3 – Simple Storage Service • EC – Elastic Compute • SimpleDB – Relational DB • Others: SimpleQueue, FlexiblePayments, Mechanical Turk, Alexa • Force • SalesForce.com • AppExchange • Force.com Sites

  36. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Today’s Practical Insurance Uses • Partial/Complete Data Center Replacement - (Primary and/or Backup) • Point Business Services (SaaS Options) • Rating • Output generation • Data Services • Electronic Payments • Data Reporting

  37. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Tomorrow’s Potential Insurance Uses • Completely hosted systems • Completely out-sourced Business Solutions • Billing • Stat Reporting • BPO Services: • Printing • Loss Notice Processing • Claims Adjustment • Complete solutions from combining many SaaS offerings

  38. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Summary • Cloud computing is the future • New technology on an old concept • Entrepreneur magazine -> top 10 business influences • You hear a lot about it • Need to understand it and start to use it – April Insurance & Technology: 35% or more of CEO’s admit to not knowing what SOA or Web 2.0 is! • Look into how it can save money

  39. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems If you have questions specifically regarding this portion of the presentation, please contact: Andy Scurto President ISCS, Inc. 100 Great Oaks Blvd. Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95119 Phone: 408-362-3000 ex: 101 Email: andy.scurto@iscs.com And now, back to our moderator, Jennifer King, for the Q&A portion of our program.

  40. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Q&A with Today’s Presenters Moderator: • Jennifer Overhulse-King, Principal Owner – St. Nick Media Services Speaker: • Adam Nordost, Director of Professional Services – Commercial Lines – Arrowhead General Insurance Agency, Inc • Andy Scurto, President – ISCS, Inc.

  41. CO5: Using SOA to Modernize Critical Systems Thank you for your time. If you have questions or comments, or if you would like a copy of this presentation sent to you via email, please contact: Jennifer Overhulse-King, Principal Owner St. Nick Media Services 15695 Glencoe-Verona Road Verona, KY 41092 (859) 803-6597 Email: jen@stnickmedia.com

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