AMS Services, a software solutions company for the insurance industry, announced a strategic alliance agreement with ChoicePoint, a provider of insurance-related quoting and underwriting data. AMS also announced the acquisition of PRIORITY Data Systems, Inc., which offers comparative rating solutions to the independent insurance agency market. These two moves expand the presence of AMS to 48 states. "ChoicePoint is very confident this partnership with AMS Services will be beneficial for both agents and carriers," says Jeffrey Glazer, senior vice president of ChoicePoint's insurance services group. AMS and ChoicePoint are forming a partnership to supply insurance agents with more efficient processes for quoting, rating, and submission of new business. As part of the partnership, AMS Services will deliver integrated access to ChoicePoint data products including credit, CLUE, and motor vehicle reports to streamline the quoting process and enable agents to respond to new business opportunities. As a result of the strategic alliance, AMS customers will have access to comprehensive data through simplified workflows and will benefit from more accurate quoting. This will allow agents to respond to their customers quickly and capture new business opportunities.

"The combination of the ChoicePoint alliance and the acquisition of PRIORITY Data Systems will increase productivity and provide broad, real-time carrier connectivity for AMS Services' customers and prospects," says Euan Menzies, president and CEO of AMS Services. "The work we are doing is proof of our strong belief multiple-carrier rating is an essential ingredient in the success of the independent insurance agent."