A subscription to Standards allows your organisation to be represented at the Personal and/or Commercial Lines Electronic Trading Practices Group (ETPGs) (depending on the subscription purchased).
ETPGs are a forum of insurers, software houses, intermediaries and industry bodies such as BIBA, Thatcham and MIB that meet on a regular basis to resolve industry-wide issues impacting digital trading. Due to their wide coverage and excellent participation it has become common practice for industry bodies to seek feedback from the Groups on digital trading issues.
Any subscriber may attend the meetings (either in person or remotely by video conference), or ask to be added to our mailing list so that they receive agendas and minutes of meetings.
For commercial lines, we always recommend using the latest version. However, please contact the broker system provider or insurer with whom you intend to trade to check the version they support as this can vary.
For personal lines, all market participants now use version 5 of motor messages and version 3 of household. However, the sub-version being used may vary and again we would suggest that you confirm with your trading partners which version they support.
Industry specific code lists have been developed to support the data standards for both personal and commercial lines.
Whilst the use of international and pan-industry code lists have been considered in the past, they introduce issues around lack of control and jurisdiction. Therefore a list tailored to the insurance industry has proved to be the most appropriate for our customers.
The change request process for all standards (both new and existing) is as follows:
1. Please raise a change request by using the contact us
2. Polaris will analyse the request and work with you to fully understand your business requirements
3. Where necessary, further business input will be sought from relevant market participants including insurers, brokers, software houses, third-party data sources and other solution providers
4. The requirements will be documented, verified and agreed with relevant stakeholders and
5. Polaris will then publish the new or updated business process model or data standard – and offer support with its implementation.
Please note where a consensus is not reached, the relevant Electronic Trading Practices Group (ETPG) will provide direction.
Personal Lines UK – Standards Timeline
This timeline displays the progress of a change submitted on the 1st January through to publication within the data dictionary on the 8th March.
Personal Lines Irish – Standards Timeline
This timeline displays the progress of a change submitted on the 1st January through to publication within the data dictionary on the 15th March.
Commercial Lines – Standards Timeline
This timeline displays the progress of a change submitted on the 1st January through to publication within the data dictionary on the 8th November.
Our commercial lines business process model is an industry agreed approach to the processing of commercial lines insurance.
The model identifies where processes can be transacted electronically and is supported by data standards for processes where the market has agreed there is value in their electronic transmission.
Where information is common across different processes or business classes, the definitions will be identical – with the intention of maximising re-use.
The following underwriting processes are included within the model:
* New business acquisitions (quote and placement)
* Mid-term adjustments
* Renewals
* Referrals
* Cancellations
* Policy status changes
We also support a single premium reconciliation business process model for both personal and commercial lines, as well as supporting data standards in EDI and XML formats.
The following are not supported:
* Claims processes
* London market business
* Co-insurance business
* Re-insurance contracts
* Business where the insurer has delegated authority to a broker to act on its behalf (e.g. when overriding premiums and/or terms within agreed limits)
The Commercial Lines Standards are updated upon request. However, Polaris ensures that they are kept up to date to support any regulatory changes or industry initiatives.
Please contact us for further information.
The Polaris Commercial Lines Standards are available as a paid subscription service. If you are interested in subscribing, please contact us for further information.
The Polaris Personal Lines Standards are available as a paid subscription service.
The Polaris Online Database is used to publish the Personal Lines EDI messages and Polaris industry code lists.
More details are available here.
If you are interested in subscribing, please contact us for further information.
Our personal lines business process model is an industry agreed approach to the processing of personal lines insurance. The model identifies where processes can be supported electronically – and is supported by data standards where the market has agreed there is value in their electronic transmission. Where information is common across different processes or business classes, the definitions will be identical – with the intention of maximising re-use.
The following underwriting processes are included within the model:
It also supports collection of DVLA driver data and in future will cover Flood Re.
The POD is a browser based service that will provide you with access to Polaris industry code lists and Personal Lines EDI messages.
Access to the POD is provided on a paid subscription basis, please contact us for further information.
The POD has the following functionality:
The POD is updated and published every month.
When you subscribe, Polaris will add your email address to our mailing list and notify you via email.
