Norwich Union has been promoting IBM’s SAA ImagePlus MVS/ESA operational image processing system (CI No 1,526), which it is testing for processing, integrating, archiving, and retrieving insurance claims and general correspondance. Roger Stenson, assistant general manager at the Norwich, which was inspired to invest in image processing on seeing a paperless bank in operation in the US, says the insurance company is currently piloting ImagePlus in its microfilm library of claims files with a view to implementing the system company-wide eventually. Stenson hopes such an investment will improve profitability by improving customer service. Image processing, he says, could transform the way the company handles emergencies, like the storms that devastated the South West coast in 1987 and submerged insurance staff in a deluge of damage claims – instead of moving extra staff to the over-burdened location, the work could be distributed on optical disk to other branches. Said Tim Coleman, IBM’s product manager, in addition to the transfer of documents within the company, allowing multiple people to view the original document at the same time, other benefits of ImagePlus for Norwich Union include the prioritisation of documents and information so that forms can’t repeatedly be pushed to the bottom of the in-tray, and the easier access to customer information for telephone enquiries. Norwich Union already has an SNA Token Ring network and 2,500 IBM personal computers in place, and is looking to run ImagePlus on several thousand terminals. The insurance company is testing ImagePlus on its PS/2 Model 70 machines, which it gets at discount for UKP3,500 from IBM – UKP5,000 with image capabilities – and has budgeted to spend UKP1m on mainframe equipment; UKP180,000 on an optical disk jukebox – the main document storage; UKP500,000 on disk equipment; plus the cost of extra terminals and scanners testing is being done with a Bell & Howell scanner, priced at UKP5,000; and around UKP50,000 per year for softwabe rental. Next year, the Norwich Union is hoping to invest in a digital microfilm scanner, which will scan the library’s microfilm directly – this will be supplied OEM.
