October 1 - 3, 2000, The Westin Providence, Providence, R.I.

Survey: Progressive, Allstate the Most ‘E-Savvy’ Insurance Companies
By David Hilgen

Progressive and Allstate topped a list of insurance companies deemed the most "e-savvy" by insurance conference attendees.

Progressive garnered 28% of the votes, and Allstate got 22%, according to the results released Tuesday. Rounding out the top five are American International Group, 12%; Hartford, 10%; and Geico, 7%.

The survey was conducted at "E-Fusion: Where Insurance and Technology Converge," a conference sponsored by A.M. Best Co. held Oct. 1-3 in Providence, R.I.

About 350 people registered for the conference and 99 participated in the survey.

Respondents answered 15 questions about insurance and e-commerce. Other survey results:

— 42% said the chief executive officer and/or president of their company lead the company's e-commerce vision; 23% said the management team leads the e-commerce vision; 14% said the sales/marketing team; 13% said the chief information officer or information technology department; 4% said the board of directors.

— In response to the question, "Aside from personal auto and term insurance, what insurance product is most ripe for electronic distribution," 21% said renters or homeowners; 8% said small business; 8% said business owners; 7% said workers' compensation; and 6% said health/medical.

The fourth annual A.M. Best Insurance and Technology conference is scheduled for Oct. 21-23, 2001, in Washington, D.C.