<%@ Page Language="VB" %> <%@ Import Namespace="System.Data" %> <%@ Import Namespace="System.Net" %> <%@ Import Namespace="System.IO" %> <%@ Import Namespace="System.Xml" %> <%@ Import Namespace="System.Xml.Xsl" %> Information technology
Skip to main content.
Cheap Insurance Quotes UK Insurance Online

Information technology

Computers are becoming a vital part of insurance companies systems. There are many reasons such as cost advantages, speed, calculation abilities, automation and the need to avoid employees having to do repetitive tasks.

To begin with computers were expensive, and whilst their potential could be seen, the capital expenditure required to set up a meaningful computer system was a large decision. Over time computer systems have reduced in cost and their speed and efficiency increased.   There are now certain jobs which would be unthinkable if they had to be performed manually.   Wages levels have also increased in the industry and therefore maximising work output in relation to the numbers employed is an important factor for life offices.

 Life offices like many other firms have been moving more and more into the use of computers to the extent that many now would find it difficult to function without them.

Equipment

Computers can be split into hardware and software.

Hardware

Hardware is the actual machinery, including the computers themselves, printers, associated terminals and other peripheral devices.

The computers themselves can be Main frame, the large computers that may operate systems for the whole company national wide.

Mini-computers developed in the 1970’s which are smaller systems.

Personal computers known as PC’s can operate either on their own, or linked together into a network.

Software

Software is split into two types.

System software, which runs the actual computer systems and controls the functioning of the hardware.

Application software which runs the process the computer is asked to do, such as word processing.

Software can be packaged software, which is brought off the shelf usually in a box. These are pre-written software programmes tried and tested and then sold to any firm that wants to buy the software.   They will normally be written to be compatible with other packaged software. They are sold with licences to use the software and the life office will need to purchase the correct number of licences in order to use the software legally. This software has the advantage of being cheap, tried and tested. If you are exchanging electronic files with other firms then the chances are that they will have similar software on their machines.   The down side is that you can only buy the software that is available. It is written for mass use, and if it does not do what you want it to do you may have to limit your operation to match the software’s capabilities.

Bespoke software is software you have either paid to be written specifically for your company, or have employed computers programmes to write for you in your own IT department.   You can have this software written to do what you want, but the cost is much more expensive, and you will need to test the software yourself which can be an expensive operation.   This software may not necessarily be compatible with software used by others.

Some software firms will design software packages for specific industries. The basic software is written and the each company can purchase additional changes to that basic software. This helps to reduce the cost whilst maintaining some of the flexibility of a bespoke system.