Applied Announces Vision Upgrade

University Park, Ill.-based automation provider Applied Systemshas announced the release of The Agency Manager, “Vision Series,”version 2.3.0.

The Vision management system, the software provider said, istailored to fit the needs of larger agencies, brokerages andmanaging general agents, and complements the latest Microsofttechnology.

The improved version 2.3.0 arrives shortly after the release of2.2.0 in February. This culminates an 18-month effort in improvingthe performance of Vision management, aimed at increasing customersatisfaction with the product, said Applied.

The newest version of Vision provides benefits such as ACORDform updates and policy detail scalability (the number of users ortasks the software can run simultaneously) numbers of 1,500endorsements per hour, said Applied.

“The 1,500 endorsements per-hour, without affecting UI [userinterface--how user friendly the product is] performance, is a hugesuccess for Vision,” said Dave DeGroot, Vision product manager, ina statement. “It proves the technical changes made to the productwithin version 2.3.0 are working.”

In addition to the improvements in scalability, Appliedexplained, 2.3.0 includes enhanced reports. An example, thedeveloper cited, is added summary versions of the aged receivablesand outstanding balances reports. The new version also provides newcustomer features such as support for personal umbrelladownload.

Applied said it is continuing to upgrade its product. Its VisionProduct Development Committee, comprised of existing Vision usersand software development engineers, is using customer feedback todrive further enhancements and new features.

“We will soon be back at Microsofts scalability labs tocontinually test changes in preparation for the release of version2.4.0,” said Mr. DeGroot. “We are looking forward to the changesthe new version will bring when it comes out in beta thisDecember.”

The company said all Vision customers receive free upgrades aslong as they remain current in paying support fees.

Reproduced from National Underwriter Property &Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition, December 30, 2002.Copyright 2002 by The National Underwriter Company in the serialpublication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this article as anindependent work may be held by the author.