WebDAV-or Web distribution, authoring, and versioning-takes the Web past its most common role as a source for reading information (read-only), and allows for writing and updating. And it provides access to these new features via HTTP.
Gary Gershon, a Chubb consultant who is knee-deep in the company's selection and implementation of Xythos's Web File Server 3.0 solution, said Chubb looked at its internal processes and recognized the need to streamline everything not only to save money, but make information easily sharable across the board.
Gershon attributes Chubb's selection to Web File Server's enterprise scalability, its presentation as a vendor product, and a less intimidating license-by-server fee schedule. He said other WebDAV-compliant solutions were either too open in the architecture for Chubb's needs, too ambiguous about scalability, or were just not suited to Chubb's business type. (Some popular WebDAV solutions are designed specifically for the publishing industry.) The company launched a study and evaluation to find the right fit, and by the end of 2000 it had decided on Xythos. Implementation began this spring.
Jim Till, Xythos's marketing vice president, said that Web File Server tags each file with a short description of the information contained in that file. That means a claims adjuster can search through those data descriptions and then use a specific claim number to sort through results to find the right file, alleviating the need to open and visually search files that are sometimes several megabytes in size.
According to Till, XML-based metadata are quickly supplanting private network scenarios that used standards-based protocols. Using WebDAV, Xythos's solution provides Chubb a standards-based description to files across a network. “Chubb is dealing with seven terabytes of data just for claims files,” Till said. “It's much more efficient to search through metadata descriptions of what those files contain, rather than execute a lengthy search through the actual files.”
Chubb wanted to be able to share information across departments, and make file access possible through any Internet-enabled system. Gershon said Web File Server stores information in a generic way so it can be used in different applications; each Chubb department has its own way of dealing with data.
Because Web File Server takes a modular standards approach-add 'em as you need 'em-there is some guaranteed flexibility for future development. Gershon said many solutions from prominent and reputable sources did not employ a modular approach, and more importantly in the short term, did not support SQL databases. Chubb wanted something a bit short of a completely open architecture.
Until WebDAV, and even now, LAN-based protocols are the predominate means of file sharing. But the problems reside in lack of both security and trans-network extendibility. Till said using XML for connectivity and HTTP for transfer allows Chubb to keep legacy systems running smoothly in IT, and stay linked with client systems that need regular access to internal files. And users have permission to access only the files they need.
Chubb is still implementing Web File Server. Gershon said the solution is being deployed to departments in parallel-the first to taste the solution's ambrosia were Chubb's underwriting group and international insurance group, with thousands and hundreds of users, respectively. And the implementation is transparent, according to Gershon. He said the new code replaces existing “home-grown” programming, and no one can tell initially that they're working by way of WebDAV. The company's programming group is quickly learning to work with WebDAV, and Chubb is bringing in a WebDAV expert.
THE COMPANY: CHUBB
NET WRITTEN PREMIUM: $6.3 BILLION
WEB SITE: www.chubb.com
THE PRODUCT: Web File Server 3.0 by Xythos Software
WEB SITE: www.xythos.com
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