Mergers have long been a part of ACORD's growth. In 2001, ACORD and European standards body WISe merged, with ACORD assuming responsibility for reinsurance standards and increasing its global footprint. Today's DISA merger follows in the same tradition.

DISA serves as the secretariat for ASC X12, the Accredited Standards Committee that develops and maintains cross-industry e-commerce standards that improve global business process interoperability. Current ACORD Standards initiatives in long-term care, employee benefits, and workers' compensation will benefit from the synergy with DISA and ASC X12, whose members represent insurance including healthcare, as well as the transportation, finance, government, supply chain, and communication/controls sectors.

"This union will build on DISA's longtime support of ASC X12 and enable us to serve their community better than ever," says Connors. "In addition, relationships between the insurance industry and the other sectors ASC X12 supports will become more efficient."

"Standards organizations around the globe are already collaborating in areas like architecture, translation tools, message certification, and other utilities," says Maciag. "This merger will mean we can make progress faster and increase standards implementation across the board."

ASC X12 and ACORD are also developing a plan for partnership, with ASC X12 members to become subscriber members of ACORD while retaining membership in ASC X12.