The 10 Best End-to-End Insurance Software Solution Providers

1. VOL: 02 ISSUE: 02 2023 Global Forecast Analyzing the value of Integrating Insurance Software Solutions with Global Businesses Industry Insider Examining the Cost- Benefit Analysis of Insurance Software Solutions Asha Kalidindi Co-founder and CEO Aggne Global, Inc.

4. Editor’s Note

5. Advancements & Transformation through InsurTech echnology from the fourth industrial revolution is participants with a new insurance 4.0 that will allow them changing the insurance industry as a whole, opening to join a new ecosystem. T up new channels for communication, information sharing, and insurance. Examples of this technology include Every participant in the insurance industry is required to cloud computing, telematics, the Internet of Things (IoT), deal with and function in a macroeconomic environment mobile phones, blockchain technology, artificial where InsurTech start-ups, or young businesses that pursue intelligence/cognitive computing, and predictive modeling. technology-driven business models, are growing quickly. In this sense, academics and industry professionals refer to These new market entrants are now concentrating on insurTech as a subset of fintech that deals with the activities that are unmistakably competitive with those of application of digital technology to the insurance industry. insurance companies and brokers rather than just simple software solutions. Although the insurance sector has been among the leisureliest to adopt digital transformation, the process is While understanding the roots of the subject, the now radically changing corporate culture, products and conclusions for such diversified provisions are through the processes, customer relations, and relationships with the latest edition of The 10 Best End-to-End Insurance sector's various competitors. Solutions Providers, forecasting the Industry leaders making an impact on socio-cultural communities and global The entire insurance value chain, from product businesses. development to pricing and underwriting, sales and distribution, policy and claims management, and asset and Have an enthralling read! risk management, will be significantly altered by the advent of digitalization. The development of connections between formerly isolated Prh D. Bombarde sectors and new rivals has also presented insurance market

6. Articles Global Forecast CO Analyzing the value of Integra?ng 22 Insurance So?ware Solu?ons with Global Businesses Industry Insider TE Examining the Cost-Benefit 28 Analysis of Insurance So?ware Solu?ons T Chris Ward The MAD Scien?st; M- making, A-a, D-difference Interview with Insights Success 1 CXO The Power of Cross-culture LEADERSHIP Coaching Gerard Ga? Transi?oning Energy into a Low-cost Sustainable Hydrogen Interview with Insights Success 6 3

7. C O V E R S T O R Y 0 Aggne Global. Inc Empowering the Insurance Industry with Technology Leadership

8. The way of business solutions Editor-in-Chief Merry D'Souza Prashik Bombarde Managing Editor Assisting Editor Shreyasi Shelke Visualiser David King Art & Design Head Sonia Raizada Co-designer Paul Belin Art & Design Assistant Rohil Shinganapurkar Business Development Manager Shruti Tikotkar Marketing Manager Joseph D'souza Business Development Executives Kelly, David Sales Executives Mark, Alice Technical Head Jacob Smile Assistant Technical Head Prachi Mokashi Technical Consultants Prashanth, Rajeshwari Alina Sege Digital Marketing Manager Assistant Digital Marketing Manager Renuka Kulkarni SME-SMO Executive Gemson Research Analyst Eric Smith Circulation Manager Tanaji Fartade sales@insightssuccess.com February, 2023 Corporate Ofce Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-859-2600 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: www.insightssuccess.com www.twitter.com/insightssuccess Follow us on : www.facebook.com/insightssuccess/ We are also available on : RNI No.: MAHENG/2018/75953 Copyright © 2023 Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd., All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Insights Success. Reprint rights remain solely with Insights Success.

9. Aggne Global Inc Company Agentero Inc AGENTSYNC INC aggne.com agentero.com agentsync.io Asha Kalidindi Featuring Luis Pino Niranjan 'Niji' Sabharwal CEO and Co-founder CEO CEO Brief Agentero helps Aggne is focused on AgentSync builds modern independent insurance delivering excep?onal insurance infrastructure agents grow their business value by developing and that connects carriers, by providing them with offering several agencies, MGAs, and access to modern carriers proprietary solu?ons for producers. and a technology pla?orm Insurtech organiza?ons. to iden?fy the needs of their customers, quote and bind. Company Pathway Sakowin SchemeServe SimpleSolve Inc pathwayport.com Gérard Ga? sakowin.com schemeserve.com simplesolve.com Featuring Adam Bishop Antony Xavier Alek Mirkovich CEO CEO CEO CEO Brief Pathway's founders have Sakowin is a French SchemeServe pla?orm Simplesolve came into been on a mission to help company at the forefront boasts unique flexibility, existence with a vision of brokerages automate and of the transi?on to alongside game-changing crea?ng an affordable yet digi?ze insurance so they sustainable hydrogen. features and unstoppable feature-rich system for can be?er serve today's Sakowin manufactures innova?on, the so?ware P&C Insurance. mobile policyholders. equipment to produce can be shaped to suit any hydrogen and solid carbon need. from methane with zero CO2 emissions. Westhill Vertafore Inc Company VCA So?ware LLC westhillglobal.com vertafore.com John Varghese vcaso?ware.com Kevin T. Reilley John Varghese Featuring CEO CEO CEO Brief VCA So?ware LLC is Westhill helps insurance Vertafore Inc exists to future-ready claims companies delight empower independent management pla?orm property owners in their agents, carriers, and that enables people to “moment of truth” MGAs, to drive their perform like rockstars, and blending a proprietary success. equips companies with digital experience with scalable, intui?ve excep?onal human touch. processes to fuel profitable growth.

10. Empowering the Insurance Industry with Aggne Technology Leadership Global. Inc No two carriers are identical, and each requires a personalized approach to meet their specific needs. Aggne excels in this arena simply because we are nimble, focused and determined to ensure that each carrier succeeds in their goals.

11. The 10 Best End-to-End Insurance So?ware Solu?on Providers Asha Kalidindi, Co-founder and CEO Aggne Global, Inc. C o v e r Story

12. he Insurance industry has become an integral part of every home, company, and business sector. It is T the safety net that has become a necessity for individuals to feel secure. Today, insurance is an essential part of people’s lives, the competition to acquire and service customers within the insurance market is also rising. As the insurance industry is challenged by increasing Our vision is lofty; we competition, a changing regulatory landscape, and complex and unoptimized technology environments; the demand for want to transform the customer-centric, customizable technology solutions is way in which gaining momentum. insurance carriers On a mission to provide such modern-age, highly customiz- able technology solutions to ensure the success of the interact with insurance company is Aggne Global. Inc technology. We want With over a decade of success, Aggne stands ready to be an them to embrace the insurance carriers’ guide to driving their business forward by maximizing growth, product and service offerings, and power of technology. customer satisfaction through technology. The driving force behind Aggne’s innovation-driven success journey is its Co-founder and CEO, Asha Kalidindi. extensive amount of time and exorbitant cost, small to In the following story, we will be exploring the journey of medium-sized carriers find it impossible to make significant Aggne, which is on a mission to empower insurance changes to their core technology, changes that would allow carriers with innovative technology. them to adapt to their markets quickly and excel in customer service. Ensuring Insurance Carriers’ Success Aggne’s approach is to help them bridge the gap from both The heart and core of Aggne is innovation. The company is the ends; a technology perspective and the products that continuously adopting new implementation strategies and they sell. The company’s expertise enables carriers to utilize new thinking to bridge the void between insurance carriers’ technology rather than feel constrained by it. Asha adds, needs and the software that enables their business to be “We fully engage with clients to find the right solution for successful. Illustrating the factors that enable Aggne to their needs. We are not siloed into a single approach with excel in the market, Asha shares, “No two carriers are expectations that a single core system will meet every identical, and each requires a personalized approach to need.” meet their specific needs. Aggne excels in this arena simply because we are nimble, focused, and determined to ensure The Core Inspiration that each carrier succeeds in their goals.” We questioned Asha, “What was the inspiration that drove “Our investment to create proprietary tools sets us apart. you to establish Aggne?” to which she answered, “I saw the We utilize the latest technology to significantly streamline inadequacies and inefficiencies of the traditional way the entire implementation process and overcome the pitfalls conversions to new platforms and upgrades of existing that typically grind the project to a halt every time there is a platforms were being handled. I knew that if I could code review.” overcome the delays and interruptions, I could deliver conversions or upgrades in half the time, allowing carriers Asha mentions that, for far too long, the industry has to get their products to the market faster.” advanced at an almost undeterminable pace. Because of the

14. She adds, “I recognized an opportunity and saw the potential to build something great, that would benefit not only the carriers but a staff of idealists and experts, craving to show up for work every day, wanting to push the bounds of the ‘what if ?’. I wanted to empower people, around the world, to have a place where their voices could be heard, where they could innovate and find the satisfaction that they We stand out desperately deserved.” as a cohesive A Full-service Solutions Partner team, enabling Aggne started as a core systems integration partner for and mentoring insurance carriers. It has grown to be a full-service each other for the solutions partner, offering advice and expertise in selecting core platform systems and building reliable and robust success of the insurance products. To accomplish its goals, Aggne pivoted to become the creator of proprietary products, using the entire organization. latest in machine learning and AI technologies for require- ments gathering to regression testing to data conversion of a carrier’s existing books of business. The Driving Vision and Mission Discussing the vision statement of the Aggne, Asha states, “Our vision is lofty; we want to transform the way in which Utilizing the Wealth of Experience insurance carriers interact with technology. We want them to embrace the power of technology.” Knowledge is key, and Aggne has employed the best in every aspect of the organization. The company’s expertise In doing so, Asha says, carriers will be enabled to write is not only from the technological perspective but also from business quicker and more accurately with data streams that the business perspective as well. Its experts have come from give them the ability to make immediate underwriting some of the leading firms in their respective areas of decisions. Aggne’s team wants them empowered to manage responsibility. They bring a wealth of experience that the their clients appropriately, all while making a profit. company utilizes, not just for the integrations and imple- mentations that it delivers, but for the development and The succinct version of Aggne’s Vision is – “To redefine enrichment of its entire team. “We stand out as a cohesive how companies incorporate technology by developing team, enabling and mentoring each other for the success of cutting-edge digital tools that reduce costs, minimize the entire organization,” explains Asha. production delays, and eliminate errors.” Embracing Cutting-edge Technology Aggne’s mission is the centerpoint of its vision. It’s how the company will achieve it, believes Asha. Furthermore, she In Asha’s opinion, for decades, the insurance industry has says, “Our mission is to work smarter, faster, and more relied on data from limited sources. She feels that things collaboratively with insurance carriers to deliver digital like time-consuming physical inspections of properties by platforms that reduce cost and improve performance.” an underwriter; data limited to single sources for vehicle crash test ratings, or even worse, data provided by the “We measure every action, every activity, to expose ways to manufacturer are often biased for their own benefit. increase our own productivity because we believe that this is the greatest way to overcome the obstacles to the She states that the industry today has current and now realization of our vision,” adds Asha. predictive data available for virtually every aspect of the

15. insurance operation. Carriers are beginning to understand the true power of data and are beginning to rethink how they do business. Using telemetrics to measure the number of miles driven and the behavior of a driver behind the wheel, was unheard of just ten years ago but is now used for underwriting and ‘pay-per-mile’ premium calculation. She points out that, “Carriers, though slow to act, want to utilize new and alternative data. Aggne is building out the tools and structures necessary to bring this data into multiple applications and processes.” “We have devoted a team of innovators to exploring new and ‘cutting edge’ data streams and applications that will enable carriers to finally move quickly and confidently through these potential new frontiers,” affirms Asha. The Driving Force Asha Kalidindi is the driving force behind Aggne. As it’s Co-founder and CEO, Asha saw the need to empower people with technology. Star?ng her career in the financial sector, Asha learned of the constraints that technology imposed and began to devise ways and enhancements to bring people and technology closer. A?er entering the world of Insurance, Asha observed the inefficiencies of the Agency systems that were hindering, rather than helping agents sell policies. Agents felt disconnected from their Carriers, and the Carriers weren’t ge?ng the produc?on and repor?ng that they expected. A passion was kindled that con?nues to grow, to bring Agents and Carriers closer. One of her earliest ventures was with a Caribbean carrier that had grown a back-office staff of two to three hundred, manually processing a backlog of policy applica?ons, crea?ng a huge delay in coverage and ul?mately profits for the company. Asha, with an IT team of six and AMS360, created the technology to turn the company around. Placing the focus on the technology to accomplish the ra?ng and the underwri?ng brought the agents closer to the carrier because they began to see their business, and ul?mately their commissions, in a reasonable ?meframe. It was this kind of experience that brought Asha to a real understanding of the business needs of insurance carriers. Asha’s passion for the insurance industry was ignited. She began fixa?ng on fresh ways to u?lize technology to overcome the inefficiencies faced by so many carriers. A?er advancing through mul?ple engagements where she worked with mul?ple carriers and so?ware providers, Asha’s focus turned to build her own implementa?on company. A company where innova?on, coupled with leading tech experts, would allow her to bridge the gap between core product implementa- ?on and enabling carriers to build and manage their unique products swi?ly and correctly. This was the catalyst for Aggne.

16. Employees Speak environment is very conducive to the processing Ra?ng: ★★★★★ of transforma?ve ideas. Aggne values its employees and provides excellent perks and benefits to them. The The company focuses on a friendly and posi?ve suppor?ve nature of the management and the work culture along with a good HR policy. I wish team members makes Aggne a place where new my organiza?on all success in its growth. ideas are welcomed and explored. For me, the Its really a blissful workplace! best thing about Aggne is the opportunity to #Posi?veWorkCulture – RAJESH KUMAR PANDA, work on the latest technologies and enhance my SOLUTION ARCHITECT personal skill sets. I am happy to be a part of an organiza?on that is growing at a fast pace while Ambi?on Box Ra?ngs (Based on employee ra?ngs and not compromising on the quality of its services or reviews): on the treatment of its employees. #valueemployess – AISHWARYA VIDIYALA, SDE • Career Growth: 4.7 ★ • Company Culture: 4.7 ★ Ra?ng:★★★★★ Good business ethics, suppor?ve management, • Job Security: 4.7 ★ trust and respect among employees – that’s what • Work Satisfaction: 4.6 ★ AGGNE is all about. I would say the working

17. Rising Above the Challenges Demonstrating Excellence Describing the challenges faced by the company during its initial days, Asha says, “when Aggne was started, its team Ra?ng: ★★★★★ was forced to challenge the ‘status quo.’ No one wanted to Cumberland Mutual Insurance upgraded its Duck believe that Aggne could deliver an integration of any kind, Creek Policy and Billing Systems from pla?orm in the timeframe that the company proposed. Until we version 6.3 to 7.2. Our partner in this project, proved them wrong.” Aggne, helped make this a reality. Just like any large-scale projects, this one had its challenges. In Asha’s assessment, the greatest challenges for Aggne’s Aggne’s technical exper?se, around-the-clock team were in getting the decision makers to think outside of availability, understanding, and flexibility make what they had always known, and unfortunately, this still this a great success. remains a challenge. Thank you, Aggne! - TIM CRIST, ASSISTANT VICE “Too often, they want to fall back on a bad experience or a PRESIDENT IT AT CUMBERLAND MUTUAL failed attempt in their past. Our challenge today is to overcome the emotional resistance to change and set proper Ra?ng: ★★★★★ expectations for the completion of their conversion or Safepoint Insurance converted their legacy upgrade needs,” explains Asha. system to the Duck Creek Technologies suite of applica?ons. Having the right partner, who has access to the latest technology and the right skill set to interact with it, is cri?cal for success. Aggne has been our partner for all of our IT engagements and ini?a?ves, aligned with our business needs. Aggne’s Swi?QA ensured our exis?ng data, for our en?re book of business remained intact. Implemen?ng exhaus?ve regression tes?ng allowed us to complete our en?re conversion in weeks vs. months. The automated and visibly streamlined process, at every step, helped Safepoint navigate the complex conversion process. – GUS FERNANDEZ, CHIEF UNDERWRITING OFFICER AT SAFEPOINT INSURANCE

18. Exceptional Achievements Ÿ 150% workforce growth in the last 12 months Ÿ 95% employee reten?on rate Ÿ Built an internal learning and development pla?orm Ÿ Aggne has been featured as a leading provider in Everest Group's Duck Creek Services PEAK matrix Assessment 2022 Ÿ Presented a live session at Duck Creek Technologies premiere event, Forma?on 2022, in Orlando, FL. She adds, “Having knowledge of what insurance is, how and why it was created, and the business process flows are We are Aggne – all critical to success.” She asks them to take a temporary position with a firm in their sales department. Learn the Lighting the ‘why’ of every process, it’s the foundation for every ‘how’. Way. “Build your logical thinking skills; pay attention to the details, all the details. Learn to listen; it’s the heart of good communication,” adds Asha. What’s Next? She adds, “We overcome challenges through the presenta- tion of realities. We have the results to substantiate that we As stated in the company’s vision, Aggne desires to be at are able to keep our promises.” the very forefront of a transformation of how insurance companies utilize technology. In the coming times, Asha Words of Guidance says, “Aggne will continue to innovate, to build tools that can be licensed to other service providers. We will continue The opportunities for a career in the insurance sector are to grow and to seek out new opportunities to enhance the rising with the help of technology. Entrepreneurs are performance and reliability of the technology available to working to develop modern-day solutions that can quickly carriers.” establish these new tech Carriers in the market as innovative providers of insurance products and services. She further says, “Aggne will continue to train and mentor These new start-ups need IT teams to build and maintain Freshers, empowering young people to bring their their platforms. It’s an opportunity for experienced perspective and their vitality to strengthen and excite us to developers and freshers alike to build a great career. take on new challenges and new opportunities. And Aggne will continue and enlarge our philanthropic endeavors to Asha advises such aspirants to strengthen their base bring hope and light to our world.” knowledge as they join these ventures. She tells them to “Learn the business. Knowledge of programming in multiple languages is great, but of little value if you can’t build a product to meet the needs of a client.”

19. Global Subscrip?on Excellence, Choose Choose The way of business solutions

20. Interview with Insights Success Chris Wd The MAD Scientist; M- making, A-a, D-difference. earning something new every day is beneficial, and IBM has six patents with Chris Ward's name as an inventor the value of the continuous pursuit of knowledge on them. Though they are expired at this point, that shows L cannot be overemphasised. Instead of doing the his ability to invent new things. same thing repeatedly, being open to new experiences, and being introduced to new verticals of knowledge results in There are many new inventions to learn about, develop and effective learning processes. Every individual has their best understand further having the name of Chris Ward. So, let’s form of learning, which could be through visual, auditory, get started: reading and writing, and kinesthetic. But there are people with exceptional abilities, to combine all the VARK models; Kindly brief us about you and your professional journey who are sometimes called, Genius and others nickname since the beginning of your career. Tell us about your them, Mad Scientist. academic and professional milestones; the major achievements, accolades, and recognition you have They have developed the capacity to pick something earned in your career so far. positive, insightful, and different from each day’s event, including incidents; in most cases, they end up coming up I joined IBM in 1982 with an Engineering degree from with inventions that change the world. Some of these Cambridge University as a development engineer, when inventions may not be accepted or appreciated in their IBM was developing and marketing hard disks. In 1985, initial days, but when they do, it tends to create a permanent I was assigned from the UK to San Jose, USA to help with a impact on people’s lives. development topic and to learn more about the technology. I returned to the UK at the end of 1986. A few years after But how far can we go in creating new knowledge paths, that IBM ceased developing hard disks in the UK and I inventing new technologies, and igniting the evolution of moved to software development. creativity? While some people may get tired of trying to improve through innovations, for maybe the fear of societal In 1996, or so two research scientists came to teach us rejection, limitations due to government-set rules, or even about fingerprint matching and I was part of the team that personal health challenges –Life Is Too Short; there is Chris developed a fingerprint matcher. This led to my association Ward, a man who thinks that, indeed, anything is possible, with IBM Research; in 2001, I went with my family to as long as we are open to learning, admitting our apex Yorktown Heights to develop an application that would abilities and being willing to go the extra mile to do better. exploit the BlueGene supercomputer that IBM developed. I returned from the USA to the UK in 2003 but have Chris Ward, a Senior Programmer at IBM has 40+ years of remained part of IBM Research since then. IBM won the experience in the research industry. He is currently working contract to deliver a successor to BlueGene to the US on software development for the next generation of the Government but lost the contract to deliver the next IBM Cloud, which is the current growth business. His successor to that machine, so I am now developing software contributions have been as a development engineer in a for use in the next generation of the IBM Cloud, which is research laboratory and as a research scientist in a develop- the current growth business. ment laboratory. Tasked with lengths of ventures to manage and bring great results, Chris derives strength from his past experiences and is determinedly heads-on to achieve success in all. www.insightssuccess.com (18) February 2023

21. Chris Ward Senior Programmer IBM I am now developing software for use in next generation of the IBM cloud, which is the current growth business. www.insightssuccess.com (19) February 2023

22. Chris Ward and His Father. In short, tell us about your Role as Senior Programmer How will you describe yourself in one word or Quote? at Red Hat, and the solutions/services/products of the company. Your achievements since you started working A ‘Mad Scientist.’ in this company? Being a prominent leader in a leading company such as IBM as a Senior Programmer, what has been your I am working for IBM rather than for Red Hat, but we have significant contribution to the company’s growth, the a joint venture for the way SSDs are connected to cloud department you worked in and how has your role in systems where IBM provides the research seed and Red Hat IBM helped your growth? provides the larger engineering development effort. My contribution has been as a development engineer This gives me the ability to post open-source software for working in a research laboratory, and now working as a public download on https://people.redhat.com/chward/ , research scientist in a development laboratory. IBM has 6 where IBM only allows certain types of open-source patents with my name on them as an inventor, most so old software in places like https://github.com/IBM/BlueMatter that they have expired and anyone can use the inventions; (that is my team’s contribution to software for the but they all show that I can invent new things. IBM BlueGene supercomputer). Not all software that IBM writes provides a fantastic set of resources, some 300000 people is published as open source, but as non-open-source who are willing to follow a lead as the business is steadily software saturates its market much is. reinvented. www.insightssuccess.com (20) February 2023

23. What are the major challenges you faced in your Please provide a few testimonials of your friends, careers; academic, and professional, and how has it colleagues, or clients who you have helped or worked helped you to become who you are today? with in the past and in the organizations where you have worked. At university I worked hard, resulting in a first-class honors degree. Throughout my IBM career, I have found managers Ÿ Pick a few items from my patents, articles, and papers in who supported what I wanted to do. The major challenges my portfolio at http://tjcw.freeshell.org/ . were probably the two international assignments which Ÿ Also this were quite an upheaval to my personal life, especially the http://tjcw.freeshell.org/Portfolio/Testemonials/1994090 second one which was an upheaval for my wife and three 8-DB-IS.pdf children as well. As a side project, back in 2005, I figured out how to run The international assignments led to promotions and were Linux as a screensaver for Microsoft Windows. That was financially worthwhile; the first paid off the mortgage on published as an article in IBM Developerworks the same the house I owned at the time, and the second paid much of week that IBM OS/2 was withdrawn from marketing; OS/2 the school fees for 2 of my children who went to private had saturated its market and was sold off (with some parts, school. such as the journalling file system and the REXX interpreter, being published as open source.) How do you keep yourself motivated and inspired during the long hours of coding, and extra work hours Microsoft recommended switching to Windows and IBM in IBM and Red Hat? recommended switching to Linux, and it is still the same today. Currently, Microsoft Windows does not run on any brand of IBM server, whereas Linux can run on all of them; I tend to burn out if I work extra hours, and IBM pays you would have to ask Microsoft if you want to know why senior people only 10% of their base hourly salary for this should be. IBM never published the screensavers working overtime; so extra work hours are only for themselves, and no one else took up the mantle to publish engineers in the first few years of their careers where they them. are paid 150% of salary for overtime. I am motivated by seeing the tasks I work on become the base for something that customer businesses can use. Now that I am part of Red Hat I can publish them myself; I updated the screensavers in respect of developments between 2005 and 2021, there is a getting-started guide As a leading figure in the computer programming published by the Linux Foundation here world, what would be your message to students world- wide, aspiring programmers, and entrepreneurs in the https://www.linux.com/featured/linux-as-a-screensaver-for- technology sector? windows-the-gift-of-open-source-games-and-sboms-for- the-holidays/ and the screensavers are available from Red Hat at no Find a growth market and deliver products or services to it. charge here High growth tends to mean high prices, and high prices https://people.redhat.com/chward/QemuSaverOpen/ mean stable employment and high wages. What are your next steps, moves, or ventures in 2023 and the coming years? I have been with IBM for 40 years, and it seems likely that I will be with IBM Research until I retire. The venture of interest for my part of Research at the moment is improving Kubernetes for deployment in the IBM Cloud; as we complete the research on that and it transitions to Red Hat for development, I will pick or be assigned another project from the list of business imperatives that IBM Research keeps so that I continue to do valuable work. www.insightssuccess.com (21) February 2023

24. Analyzing the value of Integrating Insurance Software Solutions with Global Businesses nsurance businesses worldwide are reengineering their Exploring scenarios will be required to recognize and company models to ensure quick turnaround time emphasize where and when disruption may occur and what I while providing quality services, operational this means for specific business lines. Insurers, for example, efficiency, and throughput. Insurance companies' top are unlikely to gain much insight from small-scale IoT pilot priorities include addressing regulatory issues, cutting costs, projects in discrete parts of the business. They must instead and developing customer-centric products and services. proceed with reason and an understanding of how their They are taking every possible step toward this goal, organization can participate in the IoT ecosystem at scale. including deploying innovative technologies to enhance business processes and streamline legacy applications. Data Strategy So many (if not thousands) of insurance software options Data is rapidly becoming one of, if not the most valuable are available today, making it difficult to determine which assets for any organization. The insurance industry is no programs best fit your needs. The key is to find solutions exception in how carriers identify, quantify, place, and that allow you to quickly expand the capabilities of your manage risk, depending on the amount and quality of data insurance core systems while not disrupting your current they collect throughout the life cycle of a policy. Most AI operations. Fortunately, there are numerous platforms technologies perform best when fed a large amount of data from various sources. As a result, carriers must create a available that allow for seamless integration with any carrier. Here are the top insurance software solutions for well-structured and actionable strategy for internal and 2023 to help you sort through the seemingly endless external data. Internal data must be organized to facilitate possibilities. and support the rapid development of new analytics insights and capabilities. Let us explore them and learn more about them: When dealing with external data, carriers must focus on AI Trends securing data access that enriches and complements their internal data sets. The real challenge will be gaining Although the industry's tectonic shifts will be technological, entrance at a reasonable cost. As the external data addressing them is not the responsibility of the IT team. ecosystem grows, it will likely remain highly fragmented, Instead, board members and customer-experience teams making it difficult to find high-quality data at an affordable should devote time and resources to developing a thorough price. understanding of these AI-related technologies. www.insightssuccess.com (22) February 2023

25. Global Forecast www.insightssuccess.com (23) February 2023

26. Overall, data strategy must include a variety of methods for obtaining and securing access to external data, as well as methods for combining this data with internal sources. Infrastructure of Technology In augmented chess, average players with AI tend to outperform expert players with the same AI. The underlying cause of this counterintuitive outcome is determined by whether the person interacting with AI embraces, trusts, and comprehends the supporting technology. Carriers are made measured but sustained investments in people to ensure that advanced analytics is viewed as a must-have capability throughout the organization. To generate value from future AI use cases, carriers must integrate skills, technology, and insights across the organization to deliver unique, holistic customer experiences. Most carriers must make a conscious cultural shift, relying on executive buy-in and leadership. An aggressive strategy for attracting, cultivating, and retaining a diverse workforce with critical skill sets will be required to keep up. As an ultimate step in developing the new workforce, organizations will seek external resources and partners to supplement in-house capabilities, enabling carriers to secure the requisite support for business evolution and execution. The architecture of the future will also be very different from today. Carriers should begin making targeted investments to transition to a more forward-thinking technology stackable to accommodate a two-speed IT architecture. The next era of successful frontline insurance workers will be in high demand. They would need to be a unique blend of technologically adaptable, creative, and instead a mix of semiautomated and machine-supported tasks that will constantly evolve. To sum up, Rapid technological advancements in the next decade will result in disruptive changes in the insurance industry. Carriers that use new technologies to develop innovative products, help cognitive learning insights from new data sources, improve efficiencies and lower costs, and meet consumer demands for individualization and dynamic adaptation will win AI-based insurance. - Shreyasi Shelke www.insightssuccess.com (24) February 2023

28. The Power of eadership refers to the ability of an individual Leaders who possess intercultural competence are or group to influence, inspire and guide others better equipped to lead diverse teams, overcome L toward a common goal. Cross-cultural cultural differences, and drive positive outcomes in a leadership involves leading people from diverse global business environment. cultural backgrounds and considering their unique values, beliefs, and behaviors. Effective cross-cultural Yes, culture refers to the shared values, norms, beliefs, leaders are able to understand and appreciate cultural and behaviors of a particular group of people, which differences, communicate effectively, and adapt their shape their experiences and perspectives. Culture is leadership style to different cultural contexts. By often learned from childhood and can be influenced by doing so, they can create a positive and inclusive work a variety of factors, including family, community, environment, foster teamwork and collaboration, and education, and media. As individuals interact with achieve better business outcomes. different cultures throughout their lives, they may internalize and incorporate elements of those cultures Cultural competence requires knowledge of one’s own into their own. Thus, individuals can have multiple culture, an understanding of other cultures, and the cultural identities, each shaped by their unique ability to adapt one’s communication and behavior to experiences and interactions with different cultures. different cultural norms. Leaders with intercultural competence can build bridges between cultures, raise As a global executive coach, I partner with my clients diversity and inclusiveness, and create an environment to enhance their cross-cultural leadership for creating where all employees feel valued and respected. and managing successful cross-cultural teams. The leader of a cross-cultural team must be able to The globalization of business and the advancement of understand the cultural differences among team technology has made it possible for organizations to members, communicate effectively, and build trust and have employees and teams located all over the world. respect among team members. This has led to an increased need for intercultural competence, as Executives and leaders must navigate Effective cross-cultural leaders have a strong sense and effectively manage cross-cultural interactions and to: relationships. In today’s work environment, intercultural competence is essential for building Promote cultural awareness and understanding: strong, effective teams, promoting collaboration and Encourage team members to learn about and cooperation, and driving business success. The understand each other’s cultures. pandemic has further emphasized the importance of intercultural competence, as remote work and virtual Encourage open communication: Ensure that team collaboration have become the norm. members feel comfortable sharing their opinions and ideas, regardless of their cultural background. www.insightssuccess.com (26) February 2023

29. Adapt their leadership style: Lead in a way that is appropriate for the cultural context and encourages the full participation of all team members. Foster teamwork: Create a positive, inclusive work environment that promotes collaboration and cooperation among team members. Manage conflicts effectively: Handle conflicts that may arise between team members from different cultural backgrounds in a respectful and professional manner. By following these practices, an effective cross- cultural leader can lead a successful cross-cultural team, achieve common goals, and drive business success. During the last three years, we have worked as an exceptive and team coach, working closely with leaders and teams to develop their vision, cohesion, and performance with a key success factor: Building up a strong and wide inclusive cultural context. No two teams are alike, and cultural differences can greatly impact team dynamics and communication. Jihane Labib CEO @CoachinglabAcademy For Leaders, Executives who are expanding Master Cer?fied Team Coach, MCC & ACTC globally, it is important to: Global Board Director Ÿ Do cultural research-Assessment: Understand the cultural norms, values, and communication styles of each team’s members. About the Leader Ÿ Adapt their leadership approach: Adjust your styles and strategies to meet the needs of each team. As a global execu?ve and team coach, Ms. Jihane Ÿ Encourage cultural understanding: Foster a sense Labib empowers corporate leaders and teams to of cultural awareness and understanding among enhance their collabora?on, strategic impact, and team members. Ÿ Be flexible: Be open to new approaches and be performance, while nurturing their well-being and willing to adapt as needed to effectively lead each inspira?on, since 2009. team. Ÿ Maintain open communication: Encourage open, Ms. Labib works in Europe, Africa and the Middle honest communication between team members and East and her clients list includes global and Middle between the leader/Manager and the team. Ÿ By being culturally sensitive and adaptable, you Eastern companies - Interna?onal banks, Hi-tech can effectively manage diverse teams, promote industries, FMCG and ‘big 4’ consultancies. teamwork and collaboration, and drive positive She is fluent in Arabic, French and English. outcomes for the team and the organization. www.insightssuccess.com (27) February 2023

30. Industry Insider EXAMINING the Cost-Benefit A N A LYS I Sof Insurance Software S O L U T I O N S ost-benefit analysis compares the estimated costs Let's know more about cost-benefit and its advantages: and benefits of a project decision to determine if it C makes business sense. In general, cost-benefit Cost Benefit Analysis analysis entails totaling all costs associated with a project or decision and subtracting that total from the projected Companies and businesses frequently use a cost-benefit benefits. analysis to determine and evaluate the costs and profits a project may generate. The study assists businesses in There are significant economic benefits to conducting these determining a project's financial and other feasibility, such analyses before making major organizational decisions. as opportunity costs. Studies allow you to extract critical information, such as your organization's value chain or the ROI of a project. There are numerous reasons to conduct a cost-benefit analysis. The technique is based on data-driven decision- Cost-benefit analysis is a type of data-driven decision- making; any recommended outcome is based on making commonly used in business at established firms and quantifiable information explicitly gathered for a single startups. The fundamental principles and framework can be problem. applied to almost any decision-making process, whether business-related or not. www.insightssuccess.com (28) February 2023

31. www.insightssuccess.com (29) February 2023

32. A cost-benefit analysis necessitates extensive research into Making decisions easier all types of costs. This entails taking into account unforeseeable costs and comprehending expense types and Though some decisions based on cost-benefit analysis characteristics. This level of analysis only strengthens the require careful consideration, the process frequently findings as more research is conducted on the project's state simplifies many choices for companies and businesses of the outcome, providing better support for strategic because they can see the correlation between expenses and planning endeavors. project results. If you know that a project will cost more than it will benefit, you can quickly determine whether it is Once the company realizes the high costs of a project or worth your company's time and resources. Alternatively, if decision, it can compare those costs to the project's benefits. the benefits outweigh the costs, you can more effectively The benefits of a project are frequently similar to the determine how those benefits will affect your company in charges. They can include direct benefits, such as increased the long run. profit, and intangible benefits, such as increased customer or employee satisfaction. After weighing the benefits and Provides competitive advantage costs, the business can decide whether the benefits outweigh the costs and whether the project or decision will Cost-benefit analysis can help businesses gain a competitive benefit the company. advantage by quickly generating innovative ideas and determining how to remain relevant in the current market. The benefits the company may forego if the project or Continuously developing new ideas and conducting cost- project decision is carried out are considered in the benefit analyses on them can assist businesses in remaining opportunity costs. Once the company has identified its high competitive and creating products and services that are costs and benefits, it will be better able to weigh the more appealing to potential customers. Using cost-benefit decision's pros and cons. However, occasionally it fails to analysis can also help them avoid projects that may present them with various challenges or issues, resulting in a loss of make the judgment crystal clear. profit or competitiveness. Importance of data-driven decision-making In summary, Cost-benefit analysis frequently focuses on facts and data to assist companies and businesses in making more informed When examining the cost-benefit analysis of insurance decisions that are free of personal biases or preferences. software solutions, it is essential to consider the costs Examining the actual expenses that the business will incur associated with implementation, the potential efficiency and whether those expenses will result in beneficial results gains, improved customer experience, risk management can assist companies in determining whether the choice is capabilities, and the possible ROI. By carefully evaluating good for them. It can also provide fact-based evidence to these factors, organizations can decide whether investing in project managers to support their new project ideas and insurance software solutions is worthwhile. effectively present them to company executives. Characterizing hidden costs - Shreyasi Shelke Analyzing the total cost of a project can help businesses identify any hidden fees or expenses they were previously unaware of. These costs can include opportunity costs, such as the potential loss of profit from choosing one project over another, and intangible fees, such as the temporary loss of customer satisfaction caused by devoting more resources to the project. However, the cost-benefit analysis can help businesses uncover hidden benefits like increased employee satisfaction, productivity, and work quality. www.insightssuccess.com (30) February 2023

34. Gérard Gatt CEO Sakowin We stay realistic by accounting for production costs and by acknowledging the short, medium, and long-term strategy to reach decarbonization goals at a large scale while considering the infrastructure already at our disposal. www.insightssuccess.com (32) February 2023

35. Interview with Insights Success Transitioning Energy into a Low-cost Sustainable Hydrogen ith the ever-increasing population resulted in energy transition that other contacts had made me discover: more usage of natural resources. Our Earth is the role of gas. W depleting its natural resources, and it has been providing us ever since the existence of humans on earth. It As a substitute for coal and oil, natural gas has proven to be has been experiencing a major crisis, and the need to effective and has been qualified as a type of green energy by develop our natural resources has come forth. the European Union. While the most modern coal-fired power plants emit around 800 grams of CO per kWh, gas- 2 The thought of transforming energy into renewable fired power plants’ emissions range between 350 and 400 resources does sound like an enchanting theory. The grams. concept struck Gerard Gatt, CEO of Sakowin Green If one had to choose between these types of fossil fuels, gas Energy. It stands at the forefront of Sustainable Hydrogen. is a cleaner alternative transitioning to greener energy. Gas, Initially, it began with making H2 with water electrolysis therefore, offers an effective solution to produce hydrogen and later preceded producing sustainable hydrogen. The while making use of existing infrastructure if the method of sustainable hydrogen produced is not only cost competitive treatment is modified and decomposition is favored over but also energetically efficient. All credits go to the use of combustion. biomethane or natural gas as the feedstock. This is how he discovered plasma technology, which allows This pioneering technology is accompanied by numerous them to decompose methane into hydrogen and solid carbon grants that are CO2 emissions and the ability to H2 on-site with no CO emissions. After meeting with several 2 and fostering towards the demand. Sakowin produces specialists, he created Sakowin. equipment to produce hydrogen and solid carbon with zero CO2 emissions from gas. Enroute Journey So Far Let’s dive into the revolutionary journey of Sakowin and Gerard had over thirty years of experience in business learn more about it: development, with major successes in diverse sectors. He has worked in the digital sector as product manager of Beginning of Sakowin Citrix in the USA during my first five years, where he launched Citrix’s blockbuster product line Metaframe. While beginning to talk about the inception of the Sakowin. Then, Gerard had the opportunity to develop and implement Gerard states it began with electrolysis! His old colleague, the Citrix international strategy as Senior Marketing whom he met in the United States and who invested in Director, where he contributed to the revenue increase of hydrogen, contacted him to kickstart an electrolysis the company outside the USA, from $1M to $150M in four technology using water molecule resonance. years. Back then, this technology offered remarkable results. As is Gerard mentions working in essential oils as CEO of Albert common in industrial innovation, his company ran into Vieille, purchased in 2019 by Givaudan– taking part in some obstacles during the industrialization of the process tripling the company’s revenue in five years. Since 2017, he and had to pause the development of this first company. has been fully committed to the clean energy industry and This is how he started focusing on another aspect of the the production of decarbonated hydrogen, wanting to invest www.insightssuccess.com (33) February 2023

36. his experience in business development into technology that Solid carbon, also generated by the solution, can also be is useful for the energy transition. used in construction and agriculture, with a positive impact on the environment. Our technology, when using Prime Products of Sakowin biomethane, even allows users to be negative in terms of CO production. 2 At Sakowin, they have developed methane plasmolysis technology that allows us to produce decarbonated Principles of Sakowin hydrogen and solid carbon. “Commitment and excellence.” It’s a technological brick that can be integrated into the The firm has eight scientists who all have their expertise. At existing industrial chains of production at the end of gas Sakowin, they are conscious of the importance of lines. It allows them to produce hydrogen onsite and avoid contributing effectively to the energy transition with an two major obstacles to a competitive and sustainable approach that is both realistic and ambitious. hydrogen industry. First, the issue of transporting and stocking hydrogen when Gerard states, “We stay realistic by accounting for its production is decentralized disappears no need to liquify production costs and by acknowledging the short, medium, hydrogen to transport it, which is a very energy-consuming and long-term strategy to reach decarbonization goals at a process. large scale while taking into account the infrastructure already at our disposal.” High-pressure compression makes the operation more complex and does not resolve the issues linked to stock. In parallel, their decarbonization objectives are ambitious, The technologies being developed to solve these issues are intending to limit the effects of climate change. promising but are not mature enough yet. Guiding Through the Trails of Leadership The solution allows clients to capitalize on existing gas infrastructure and limit the cost of hydrogen use, both in “Vision is key” terms of installing units of production and in terms of transport. www.insightssuccess.com (34) February 2023

37. The energy transition requires much more than just That’s why Gerard strongly believes in their methane technology, and only a broad understanding of what is at plasmalysis as it is much more energy efficient and, stake here can help a team to envision success and make therefore, cost-effective than electrolysis. sense of daily work, even when times are hard. Words of Wisdom The European Union currently consumes 786.432 Mtoe in petroleum, gas, and coal. The RePowerEU initiative Gerard states, “First, know your topic: read about it and predicts the use of 14 Mt of renewable hydrogen by 2030, talk to people who are knowledgeable about it.” of which 9.6 Mt would be produced within the European Union. Those 9.6 Mt represent 11 Mtoe, which is slightly He would not have been able to create Sakowin without more than 1 % of the current consumption of fossil fuels in numerous conversations with people from different fields Europe! and with the same awareness of issues and difficulties linked to the energy transition, exclaimed Gerard. And yet, with the electrolysis technology currently being promoted on the continent, this 1% would represent a Furthermore, he adds, “Second: know why you’re doing it. considerable cost. Being aware of the role I can play in the energy transition is what drives me every day!” The production of 1 kg of green hydrogen by electrolysis requires 59 kWh of renewable energy. In 2021, renewable Vision towards the Future energy capacity in Europe was 15,5Gtoe. Sakowin is aiming for an industrial pilot by 2024 and Therefore, the firm needs to devote more than all our commercialization by 2025. They would be building a 6- capacity of renewables to reach our goal! In the short term, kW prototype in 2022, which is also an active period of we urgently need to deploy more efficient solutions to research for partnerships with industrial actors committed produce hydrogen where we need it most: in the industry to the decarbonization of their activities and interested in first. new uses for solid carbon. Numerous industries are involved: material manufacturing, construction, agriculture, Source: BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022 automotive, etc. (https://www.connaissancedesenergies.org/bp-statistical- review-world-energy-2022-les-chiffres-cles-de-lenergie- Recognitions dans-le-monde-220629): Primary energy: Consumption by fuel (p. 9) et Electricity generation by fuel (p. 50) Sakowin currently has partnerships with Ponticelli, Saint- Gobain, the ADF group, and AES Dana. Bpifrance (a public + 1 kg H2 = 33 kWh et convertisseur investment bank in France), awarded Sakowin its Deeptech https://www.onlineconversion.com/energy.htm label in March of 2022 and allocated to Sakowin €2.5M financing. Supervision through the Adversities The firm also benefits from the support of the European While addressing the challenges, Gerard mentions Innovation Council (EIC Accelerator), with a €6.5M “Emergency, Capacity, Cost.” financing (€2.5M grant and €4M in equity.) Emergency because climate change has become a highly pressing issue, as we can now see almost every day. Capacity, because the challenge is as big as the problem, and we need to act at a scale never seen before. Lastly, cost, because hydrogen is a market, and competitiveness is key in global competition. www.insightssuccess.com (35) February 2023

40. The way of business solutions Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-859-2600 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscrip?on: www.insightssuccess.com Follow us on: www.facebook.com/insightssuccess/ www.twi?er.com/insightssuccess We are also available on: