Applied Systems has announced what it says is the insurance industry's first download of claims data into an automated agency management system. In a pilot process begun in early August, Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance has been daily downloading claims information into TAM (The Agency Manager), the Applied Systems agency management system used by Top O'Michigan Insurance Agency based in Alpena.

Claims download is available at no added cost for carriers and agencies using TAM and its interface services. Available with the newest TAM general release, claims download allows a carrier to transmit all daily claim activities within nightly download communications to an agency. Similar to existing policy and direct bill download processes, claims download automatically locates corresponding accounts and policies within TAM and creates new records based on the carrier's claim activity. The claims download process complements existing real-time claims inquiry, which allows agencies on-demand views of carrier claims information and loss runs.

"We are really excited that this functionality will truly benefit agencies at every level of servicing their customers," says James P. Kellner, Applied Systems chairman and CEO. "With the implementation of claims download, CSRs and producers now have automatically updated views of complete and accurate customer data."