Product: ClaimCenterCompany: Guidewire SoftwareWeb site: www.guidewire.com

Guidewire Software, Inc., a developer of claims solutions for property/casualty insurers, has released Guidewire ClaimCenter, a comprehensive claims system designed to help insurers eliminate avoidable claims costs and improve customer service.Hastings Mutual Insurance is in the process of implementing ClaimCenter as it leaves behind an old DOS-based system that claims manager Ray Rose says had run the course of its lifespan. Our goal was to look at newer technology, newer architecture, Rose says. Something to build on for the future. Having current technology was one important concern for the insurer, agrees Bob Eshelbrenner, vice president information technology for Hast-ings. The other key factor in the decision was the people who work for Guidewire. We had to make our decision based on the people who visited us and the people we talked to when we went to San Mateo [Guidewires California home] to their office, says Eshelbrenner. We developed a high level of confidence they could deliver what they said they were developing.

Rose believes Hastings will see improved performances from its field staff now that better remote access for claims adjusters will be available. Plus, we also had to think long range, he says. Were going to have a lot more flexibility going forward.Adjusters arent the only group that will have improved connectivity. We needed to take advantage of opportunities to interface with other outside vendors, third-party providers, and independent adjusters, says Eshelbrenner. We were not going to be able to do that effectively [with the old system]. All of these things are directions we felt would give us a product that has a reasonably good life to it as well as one that could take advantage of flexibility.