Basler Deploys Guidewire Solution for Underwriting, Policy, Commission and Billing Administration

Out-of box software underpins Basler business transformation project

BASEL Switzerland and LONDON UK , September 09, 2015

Basler Versicherung AG Schweiz (Basler), a Swiss insurer and member company of Baloise Group, and Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE: GWRE), a provider of software products to general insurers, today announced the successful implementation of Guidewire PolicyCenter® as Basler’s new underwriting and policy administration system and Guidewire BillingCenter® to support its commission and billing operations for their property line of business. Basler has also deployed Guidewire Client Data Management and Rating Management.

Basler chose Guidewire software to rationalise and transform its core system technology in response to changing customer and broker demand, with a view to offering more flexible and wider insurance products and services. PolicyCenter and BillingCenter are being rolled out over a multi-year phased project across its non-life business, starting with property, then personal motor, and followed by other lines of business.

“Our choice of PolicyCenter and BillingCenter has been validated, over the course of this 12 month project, in how easy this software is to handle as we have configured it to our particular needs. We are also gratified to see that the first phase of the project was completed on time, in scope, under budget and met our quality specifications,” commented Urs Bienz, chief operating officer, Basler.

PolicyCenter and BillingCenter are now enabling Basler Insurance to:

  • React more responsively to customer need by bringing new and innovative products to market fast and easily;

  • Offer its agent community more comprehensive choice of insurance and related service opportunities;

  • Work towards reduced training time for staff and agents with simpler, more intuitive core systems; and

  • Provide full policy management in French, German, or Italian, according to customer preference.

“After a brief training, more than 1,000 users of PolicyCenter and BillingCenter are able to sell a new property product for private and commercial customers and to deliver an optimal customer service in sales and administration processes,” said Urs Bienz.

“Basler’s implementation is a significant achievement in the DACH region and in Europe as a whole,” said Keith Stonell, managing director, EMEA, Guidewire Software. “We congratulate Basler, and are impressed by how effectively their IT and Business team have worked together to achieve success in the first phase of their business transformation.”

Guidewire PolicyCenter® is a flexible underwriting and policy administration system that enables general insurers to grow business profitably by improving efficiency, while responding with agility to market opportunities and enhancing relationships with agents and customers. Designed to support both commercial and personal lines, PolicyCenter helps insurers streamline front and back office processes, from new business submission and quoting through to policy renewals. PolicyCenter is available as a standalone system or as part of Guidewire InsuranceSuite™, and can be integrated to an insurer’s legacy systems or third party applications.

Guidewire BillingCenter® is a comprehensive billing and receivables management system built on the core de­sign principles of automation, control and flexibility. BillingCenter allows you to deliver insurance your way by making it easier to automate the billing lifecycle; design flexible billing, payment and delinquency plans; manage agent commissions; and enable rapid integration with external payment systems. BillingCenter is available as a standalone system or as part of Guidewire InsuranceSuite™, and can be integrated to a general insurer’s legacy systems or third party applications.

About Basler Versicherung AG Switzerland

Basler Versicherungen provide insurance and pension solutions as well as banking services. The company’s non-life insurance products include property, household, general liability, motor, accident, health and miscellaneous insurance. Its customers include individuals, small and medium-sized firms, and selected industrial enterprises. For more information, please visit www.baloise.com.