Tool Shopping at Applied.net

by P. Andersen, 9/17/14

We talk a lot about insuring your home and business, and how Levitt-Fuirst is your advocate when you have a claim. We talk about the coverages you need, the risks you face, and how we are your advisors in the insurance marketplace. This is all essential for you to know and trust us with your insurance business.

Today, I am flying down to Orlando to attend a conference held by Applied Systems, the software vendor that Levitt Fuirst works with to manage the accounts of our clients like you. As I sit on my flight at 40 thousand feet, I realized that the tools we employ to manage your account might interest you too, because having the right tool is essential to a job well done.

The Software

Levitt Fuirst utilizes one of the largest agent specific software packages in the industry. Yours truly worked for Applied Systems a lifetime ago (15 years now?) as a trainer, and after 5 years, moved to the agency side to make a living. The program has evolved in my time in the industry – I joined Applied 20 years ago just as the windows version was developed to replace the dos system – to the point today that that we have a robust communication and information tracking tool whose sole purpose is to make sure you have the coverage you need. The program manages every aspect of your account, from inception and quoting, to carrier communication and industry forms creation, to billing, to claims handling. It is amazing all the software does, and amazing the training and expertise your account executives need to possess to handle your account as well as they do.

Insurance is complex, and managing your account requires a great deal of skill. These tools we employ make that process faster, more efficient, more secure, and more accurate every day. For you!

The Conference

So, about the conference… Each year, Applied Systems and the agency users group that works with them put on an educational conference. This year, it is in Orlando, FL. Having worked for Applied, it is a homecoming of sorts, with old friends I was trained by and trained with many years ago, still friends 20 years later. The classes offered include a wide array of selections, from hardware to software to integrated technologies that are all designed to make Levitt Fuirst run smoother, and to make your experience better.

The classes are great, taught by Applied employees, end users, and ancillary company employees that work with Applied. A second benefit is in the relationships you build. Just last week, a good friend from a New Jersey agency helped me with some word integration problems I was having, and another friend I met at conference 5-6 years ago is an Applied expert on the newest version of their software – she is invaluable as Levitt Fuirst charts its technology course over the next 5 years.

What To Learn This Week?

So what do I plan to learn this week? I have a short list that I feel will benefit my co-workers in Westchester, and all of our clients like you. First, Levitt Fuirst utilizes CSR24, a web based program that allows our clients to print their own certificates and auto id’s. CSR24 was bought by Applied Systems, and I am looking to see what new integrations are available in the latest release, which went live last week. Do you want to print your own certs and auto id’s? Call us, we will set you up!

Applied Systems also has a new cloud based software solution. Levitt Fuirst is considering the upgrade, for a myriad of good reasons, and I plan to begin the process of planning the many steps to upgrade. Both the classes explaining the process and the old and new friends that have or are currently going through the process, add up to a wealth of valuable information.

There are classes on carrier communications (software to software), and proposal design and mobile client management – each filling a need for Levitt Fuirst, so that we can be a better partner to you.

So that is my weeks plan. Learn, reminisce, learn some more. We at Levitt Fuirst feel that you have to have the right tool for the job, and this week, I am tool shopping. All for you.