Security, web portals, and a paperless office are the top IT priorities in the E&S market according to a recent survey by the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices, Ltd. (NAPSLO). Among other things, the survey found that surplus lines brokers were moving toward a paperless system and looking to upgrade their existing IT capabilities. Additionally, surplus lines brokers were also focused on using laptops, cell phones, and other equipment so that individuals working in the field or at home can stay in communication with their home office.

Founded in 1975, NAPSLO is a national trade association representing the surplus lines industry and the wholesale insurance marketing system. The 2007 Technology Survey was conducted in February by the NAPSLO Communications & Technology Committee and may be found at www.napslo.org. NAPSLO has approximately 800 members, primarily wholesale brokers and managing general agents. Some 200 associates and just under 100 carriers round out the membership roster. According to NAPSLO Director of Communication and Technology Mike Ardis, the survey drew a 20 percent return rate: brokers, 42 percent; MGAs, 50 percent; carriers, nine percent. “We didn't include associate members in our survey because they can be so many different things, such as attorneys or vendors,” Ardis says.

“We modeled the new survey after a 2003 NAPSLO study so people could watch the changes and benchmark it,” Ardis said. “It's difficult to do, because with technology changing so quickly, questions that were relevant at one point fall away later. For instance, in 2003 we were asking people how many of them used dial-up for Internet access.” In contrast, the 2007 survey asked about T1 lines, web sites, and a host of techie acronyms such as XML, CPY, GIF, and XLS.