Safix prolongs active life

Software specialist Safix has launched a complete business survival tool, 'Life Goes On', that will help brokers maintain good relationships with their customers.

The system provides full records of every asset and every insurance transaction, and links materials to policy schedules, monitoring sums insured and overall coverage. The program's asset registry includes written-down asset values, supplier details, maintenance and warranty information, and full insurance data. One of its important features is the maintenance of comprehensive claims records and analyses of previous losses. These and other program facilities provide detailed information to assist accurate underwriting.

System users can make accurate self-assessments of their risk exposure by means of the expertly worded intelligent questionnaires and surveys built into the program. These are question-and-answer sessions designed by industry experts. The system judges an individual firm's risk and can offer suggestions to reduce business risk exposure. Owners and managers can build a real and wide-ranging picture of the risks facing their businesses.

Mohammed Zulfiquar, chief executive of Safix, says that this is the first such software to address the needs of small and medium sized businesses. "The only complete existing systems are priced far beyond the reach of those businesses that need them most, while the lower priced packages are really little more than on-line self help books."

The Safix software sells normally for £499 (although there is a special launch offer of £299), compared with equivalent semi-bespoke systems that cost more than £3,000. "We wanted to develop a complete survival management system that will give the sort of results that you might expect from a £10,000 package."

One of the driving forces behind the development of the new program is the increasing attention being paid to business continuity planning, both by auditors and by insurers.

Safix has acquired considerable hands-on business survival management expertise, says Mr Zulfiquar, and understands the real issues involved in getting a business back on track as quickly as possible. "We've worked with emergency services, recovery teams and salvage specialists in genuine disasters. We've cooperated with major insurance companies and loss adjusters, as well as the victims of flood, fire, theft and explosion, and those affected by everyday IT risks and mishaps, in rebuilding and restoring major assets."

This broad range of practical experience lays at the heart of the software program. In addition to the prioritised recovery plan presented by the program, based on the results of the risk assessment surveys, and the structured risk reduction and control procedures, derived from the firm-specific data entered into the program, users can tap into an expert bank of relevant information.

Safix has developed a web-based knowledge resource, 'Life Support', accessible to registered users of the 'Life Goes On' program and providing up-to-the-minute information and guidance across the whole spectrum of business activity, from corporate law to insurance, from the impact of the euro to contact details for insurers' preferred suppliers.

Mr Zulfiquar believes that there is considerable scope for brokers to endorse 'Life Goes On' and promote it to their customers. "The program simplifies claims procedures, making settlement quicker and improving customer goodwill. 'Life Goes On' protects a broker's customer's business, making it more profitable when everything's running smoothly and helping it to recover speedily if something goes wrong."

This is business survival software that conforms to industry standards and eliminates all the jargon, he says, and brokers and their clients do not need to call in expensive consultants. The system has its own inbuilt information resources and allows brokers to use the latest technology. Among the several facilities of the 'Life Goes On' system is a built-in claims generator , capable of assembling all the necessary data to create a complete insurance claim at the first attempt. The generator produces a claim form that fits well with most insurers' and brokers' requirements, but a tailor made system, geared to individual procedures and information needs, can be included.

Use of the system will bring lower claims ratios, as a result of heightened business risk awareness among brokers' customers, and better-prepared claims, using up-to date information and specifications from the system's itemised records. If necessary, there can be direct links to an insurer's own systems, and 'Life Goes On' will provide a complete and powerful policy handling mechanism. "If a broker's customers provide accurate and complete claims at the first attempt," says Mr Zulfiquar, "just think how much faster those claims can be processed. There will be significant savings in time and administration, and increased satisfaction and loyalty among the customers."

Safix will work with broker partners in a variety of ways. The program can be bought for resale to customers, for instance, creating a valuable cash stream. Alternatively, branded versions can be produced, reinforcing the broker's own identity.

Mr Zulfiquar points out that 'Life Goes On' will prove a valuable ally to the broker at renewal time. Its record bases and analyses provide up-to-date risk assessments, together with comprehensive information on asset values, replacement costs and claims experiences. Customers need no longer create lengthy reports or gather together historic business data. The program will generate all necessary information in an easily manageable format.

Large companies dedicate hundreds of thousands of pounds each year to business survival and continuity plans and protection strategies. With 'Life Goes On', every business, of every size, can achieve the same level of assurance, but at a greatly reduced cost.

For insurers and brokers, the encouragement of business continuity planning among insured businesses is a definite boon. Not only does it keep those customers in business, but it means that they'll be around to pay premiums in the future.

David Fanning
Commercial Lines (Supplement of Professional Broking)