Empresas y finanzas

Thomas Miller Extends its Value for Money Initiative with DataCert Spend Management Technology Contract



    Thomas Miller's Value for Money project took a major step forward
    today when it finalized a contract with US firm DataCert, Inc. for a
    cost management system for professional services procurement. The
    agreement, believed to be a first for the insurance industry outside
    of the United States, requires DataCert to provide electronic
    invoicing services to law firms used worldwide by Thomas Miller's
    managed mutual insurance companies ("Clubs").

    Thomas Miller will utilise DataCert's web-based technology,
    Advanced Invoice Management System (AIMSSM), and its advanced rules
    engine, Guide, to manage and control all the procurement and invoicing
    of professional services for its worldwide claims portfolio.
    DataCert's software will be integrated with Thomas Miller's
    award-winning claims management software OASIS, substantially
    extending its capabilities.

    Started five years ago, the Value for Money project aims to bring
    benefits to Thomas Miller, the Clubs managed by it, their Members and
    the professional suppliers providing these services.

    Mark Holford, Thomas Miller's newly appointed Director of Service,
    explained, "Last year clubs managed by Thomas Miller made over 100,000
    claims and fee payment transactions, of which 40,000 related to legal,
    technical and other professional services provided by more than 4,000
    suppliers. This system will enable us to introduce new management
    techniques and thereby to control our spending, both on claims and
    fees, in a radically different way."

    He continued, "Thomas Miller is the first European company in the
    insurance industry to use this software to manage claims. It will
    considerably enhance our strategic approach to professional supplier
    management as we analyse and benchmark the performance of the lawyers,
    correspondents and surveyors who provide services to the Clubs we
    manage. At the tactical level, Thomas Miller claims executives will
    have a decision-support tool to enable them to make judgements more
    effectively and ensure that work commissioned has been properly
    carried out for the appropriate fee. In general, this project will be
    an agent for change both internally and externally."

    Already many invoices from some professional suppliers are
    received electronically. DataCert's software will extend e-billing to
    all professional service providers - notably lawyers - and improve the
    analysis of all fees.

    "A key factor in Thomas Miller's choice was our physical presence
    in Europe," commented Jeff Hodge, senior director, Europe, Middle East
    and Africa (EMEA), DataCert. "In addition, we were attracted by Thomas
    Miller's long-term vision for how AIMS will evolve within their
    business environment and how they want to integrate it with their
    existing OASIS claims management system."

    About Thomas Miller

    Thomas Miller is the world's largest provider of insurance
    services to the transport industry. In shipping, its managed
    businesses have a unique portfolio of insurance contracts with the
    owners of more than 50 per cent of the world's tonnage, as well as
    insuring many of the world's leading port operators, freight
    forwarders, ship agents and ship brokers. The Thomas Miller Group
    manages insurance companies and has the underwriting, claims handling,
    loss prevention, financial, legal, risk management and investment
    skills needed to provide world-leading insurance services. For more
    information, visit www.thomasmiller.com.

    About Guide

    Guide is DataCert's powerful business rules engine that automates
    the enforcement of corporate law department billing guidelines for
    legal electronic invoicing. With Guide, the tedious and time-consuming
    task of manually validating thousands of line items on legal invoices
    is eliminated. Guide is used in conjunction with AIMS.

    About AIMS

    Advanced Invoice Management System (AIMS) is DataCert's web-based
    application that facilitates the approval and payment of electronic
    invoices between law firms and vendors and corporate law departments.
    Its primary purpose is to help managers control and manage internal
    work as well as proactively analyze corporate legal spend. Using AIMS,
    legal invoices are validated against established matter or project
    guidelines and routed, adjusted and approved for payment. Upon
    completion, invoices are posted in an internal or accounts payable
    system.

    About DataCert

    DataCert, Inc. is the largest and fastest-growing supplier of
    electronic invoicing and corporate legal spend management solutions.
    DataCert's products and services provide a substantial return on
    investment to corporations looking to better manage internal work and
    reduce outside legal spend. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with a
    European office in London, DataCert has more than 7,200 customers in
    110 countries including 43 of the Fortune(R) Global 500. DataCert
    processes in excess of USD 9 billion of electronic invoicing data on
    an annualized basis. Visit DataCert at www.datacerteurope.com for more
    information.