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Press release:

Ref: OGI0211
14th May 2010

Open GI Broker Technology Supports New eCertificate Legislation

Open GI document fulfilment solutions are set to support brokers through the recent changes in UK motor insurance legislation, saving them thousands of pounds.

On 30th April 2010 new legislative changes permitting the electronic delivery of motor insurance certificates became law. The significance to the insurance industry is that the changes now remove the need for brokers or insurers to send hard copy documents unless specifically requested by the customer.

Various industry bodies believe that the changes in legislation could save the industry as much as £11m a year. According to calculations by leading software house Open GI, brokers could save an estimated £36,000 per year by installing document fulfilment solutions such as Open Print Manager and Open Document Centre.

These solutions were launched in 2009 in preparation for the legislative changes. They enable brokers to automatically PDF insurance documents before organising them into a pre-defined print queue ready for e-mailing to the client.

Simon Hughes, Sales and Marketing Director, Open GI, believes the savings will prompt many brokers to review how they communicate with clients. He said: “The passing of the eCertificate bill is one of the rare occasions when a change in legislation has actually benefited brokers. With Open Print Manager and Open Document Centre we already have proven solutions that allow brokers to capitalise on the massive savings available.

“That said, it’s important that however a broker chooses to deliver motor certificates, the process must be carried out in line with FSA requirements. Concerns over document tampering and data protection are the reasons why this change in legislation did not come about sooner and I expect the FSA to take a hard line with any brokers who do not have sufficient measures in place to combat these threats. My advice would always be to consult your software house.”

For More Information contact:
Stacy Prosser
Marketing Team Leader
Open GI
Tel: 01905 754455
email: stacy.prosser@opengi.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

Open GI supplies market leading IT solutions to insurance brokers across the UK & Ireland. With 25,000 users in around 2,000 firms, the company has a 40% share of the UK broker market and is committed to technological innovation. Open GI technology enables personal and commercial lines brokers trading in standard and niche markets to streamline business activity and become more profitable. With a workforce of 300 people and a 30 year heritage, the company enjoys a strong financial performance. For the year ended 31 st May 2007 Open GI reported revenues of £27.3 million and an operating profit of £13.6 million.