Insurance Agent Forum

[bordnlazy]

Can you write receipts from ACT!.....?
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Originally Posted by Quomation

Quomation's Power Quote is only $85 a month or $250 a quarter.
- Free Tech support (English and Spanish Speaking) that is located in Utah. So, no over sea Tech support.
- Updates are made to the software everyday and can be downloaded free.
- The monthly or Quarter fee covers up to 10 computers in the office. So $85 for 10 computers.

What does the management software cost?

[MedMalAgent]

We use [COLOR=#0000ff]www.salesforce.com[/COLOR] and we love it. They have some low cost solutions that will allow you to grow into a more robust product down the road.

Skip ACT! and use SalesForce.

The problem with most software is the end user. Most agents just expect to work right out of the box. It takes time, effort and energy to customize any software (SalesForce, AMS 360, TAM) to your workflow. We have SalesForce really dialed in for what we want to do NOW.
In my opinion the problem with most “Agency Management Software” is the lack of sales functionality. When AMS 360 has the integration with SalesForce complete we will be the first in line to purchase AMS 360.

[OBI Texas]

Originally Posted by OCinsurance

I use ACT. It's not an insurance specific program, but you can customize it. I particularly like that you do not lease it. They release a new version each year for about $99 per computer. I have found ti to be adequate and we have several thousand customers.

I have been using their program the last couple of weeks on a trial basis, and I like it. I was wondering in what ways you use the program outside of database/recordkeeping? Do you use it for other things as well? Just trying to get an idea of the software's range from an experienced user. Thanks.

[Soaringagent]

With P&C you should look for an agency management system that works with the carriers you do business with. This will save you a lot of time, so that you can get downloads into your system directly from the carriers.

[mpeterson]

I have used TAM for years and do like it, but you have to take the time and make the investment to train and learn it well. I especially like the way it manages prospects. More affordable is The Agency Advantage --which I have heard good things about and know for a fact (from clients) that their customer support is superior and the options more flexible.

MP

[stilley]

Anybody know what the cost of the Insurance ProOnline program is?

[InsAgent007]

Quomation's management system may be desktop-based, but it's pretty solid if you're looking for something user-friendly and cost-effective.

[maleman2045]

Originally Posted by moeasadi

Is it web based? I just want a system accessible from anywhere for me and my agents. I love it there is no monthly fee.That's what I am looking for.Most other systems are not really affordable for new agencies.Thanks

Just a bit of generic advice. Most people will use the term web-based interchangeably for browser-based which is not always accurate.

When I hear people asking for a web-based solution, I assume they want to have access to their data from any computer that has access to the Internet. Most people will think that accessing their data in a browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc) provides the same type of functionality and access. There are many systems that are browser based, but require the client to purchase all of the hardware to host (run) the solution. Furthermore, if a client is hosting the solution on their own hardware, they must make sure it is accessible to the Internet, ensure the data is secure with appropriate hardware/software measures, meets any state DOI compliance (if it exists) as the data has the ability to be "exposed" to the Internet, etc.

A simple misunderstanding of the term can leave you with powerful software than can cost you several $1000 to make it accessible via the Internet. And I have not factored in if you have to have separate insurance as the data has the potential of "being exposed" on the Internet.

A simple question to ask the vendor is "Do you host this solution ?" If they say no, then you need to think if all of the effort to make the data available via the Internet is worth the added cost and added security risk.

Hope this is helpful.

Mike

[chabat124]

We use AMS. I am no longer on their support and no longer get their updates. It is a bit dated, but works okay as small as my agency is. It was originally over $2,500 in 2000. I called them to ask what it would cost to get a newer updated version of our software. This was their reply:
[COLOR=Red]"Well, your software is too old to update, so we can get you going for $2,500 plus the cost of converting the database (about $500), and if you want upload/download capability that is extra. And you have to pay our monthly support, it is mandatory and it is $140.00 per month."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=Black]I didn't go for that.[/COLOR]

[moeasadi]

Originally Posted by maleman2045

Just a bit of generic advice. Most people will use the term web-based interchangeably for browser-based which is not always accurate.

When I hear people asking for a web-based solution, I assume they want to have access to their data from any computer that has access to the Internet. Most people will think that accessing their data in a browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc) provides the same type of functionality and access. There are many systems that are browser based, but require the client to purchase all of the hardware to host (run) the solution. Furthermore, if a client is hosting the solution on their own hardware, they must make sure it is accessible to the Internet, ensure the data is secure with appropriate hardware/software measures, meets any state DOI compliance (if it exists) as the data has the ability to be "exposed" to the Internet, etc.

A simple misunderstanding of the term can leave you with powerful software than can cost you several $1000 to make it accessible via the Internet. And I have not factored in if you have to have separate insurance as the data has the potential of "being exposed" on the Internet.

A simple question to ask the vendor is "Do you host this solution ?" If they say no, then you need to think if all of the effort to make the data available via the Internet is worth the added cost and added security risk.

Hope this is helpful.

Mike

Than you Mark, very helpfull, What do you use at your agency?

[danielddye]

I've noticed a few plugs from Quomation, including from their own staff. I have to say that their products, PowerQuote & PowerManage are a great value. Our agency has been using them for 5+ years and are getting along fine.

The agency is predominantly a personal lines agency and so having the majority of our carriers download to the ams is a big help. I wish Quomation would spend some time, however, updating the way PowerManage handles commissions. It's very painful to say the least. I have found that our agents simply use the ams to keep track of basic client info and a place for transactional notes. They aren't very open to the idea of using the marketing and reporting capabilities built in to PowerManage.

Their comparative rater, PowerQuote, is similar to EZLynx in that you can get RealTime rates from the major carriers. The difference is that it runs locally and is not web/browser based.

I've researched other systems because some of the functionality demonstrated to me is impressive, e.g. marketing, forms, document mgt, and accounting. The price, however, is so outrageous that it cannot be justified. Their setup fees are, imho, a load of crap that should just be thrown out the window. I can understand a training fee for a few hours or days worth of training but paying $10K + for the initial setup so that a tech can direct me to the link and tell me to hit 'run' or 'open' is crap! As if these companies aren't raking it in on the back end with the monthly subscription/lease fees. Give us a break up front!

[maleman2045]

Originally Posted by moeasadi

Than you Mark, very helpfull, What do you use at your agency?

I currently do not use any software as I am an independent agent, but have been a systems/business analyst for software companies for 16 years.

All the best in your research.

Mike, not Mark.
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Originally Posted by danielddye

I've researched other systems because some of the functionality demonstrated to me is impressive, e.g. marketing, forms, document mgt, and accounting. The price, however, is so outrageous that it cannot be justified. Their setup fees are, imho, a load of crap that should just be thrown out the window. I can understand a training fee for a few hours or days worth of training but paying $10K + for the initial setup so that a tech can direct me to the link and tell me to hit 'run' or 'open' is crap! As if these companies aren't raking it in on the back end with the monthly subscription/lease fees. Give us a break up front!

I will respond objectively here, even though this dagger comes a little close to my heart...

When a vendor provides you with a quote for software sales, hardware sales and professional services sales, each of these items should be detailed and not summarized.

This way you can see what you are "getting" for your dollar.

Furthermore, "hitting run" or "open" should never be lumped in the initial setup as that falls under training UNLESS the purpose of that cursory introduction on how to begin using the software was to allow you to use it and generate questions that will be discussed and answered when you are trained. BTW, I have never agreed with this model as how can one expect the customer to truly know what questions to ask as they are just "fumbling around" in the software and usually causes more work for the trainer to unravel the self taught, self inflicted misunderstanding of the features of the product.

You should be able to express your dissatisfaction on the services you've rec'd with your sales rep and get some type of a credit/refund, assuming it was not clearly detailed in the contract.

My two cents...

[IndyGreg]

InsurancePro is like $120 per month. Download available with most of my companies.

[saferoadinsurance.com]

IndyGreg how many users is that for $120

[IndyGreg]

I think I can use 4, currently only have 2 active.