HARLEYSVILLE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Harleysville Insurance has been named to the InformationWeek 500, the publication's annual listing of the most innovative information technology organizations in the United States. In the 23rd place, Harleysville Insurance was the highest-ranked property/casualty insurance company on the 2007 list. This marks Harleysville's second consecutive year on the list. In 2006, the company was ranked 183.

"At Harleysville Insurance, we have made tremendous progress the past two years on the technology front as we've focused on the needs of our agency partners with respect to their ease of doing business with us," commented Akhil Tripathi, senior vice president and chief information officer. "We're pleased that we've been recognized for the efforts of our talented professionals. Our ranking near the top of the InformationWeek 500 validates the course we've taken to implement innovative technology that will best serve our employees, agents and policyholders."

Harleysville's technology strategy included introducing a new agent portal in early 2006 that provides frequently needed information regarding agents' accounts, policies and billing information, as well as access to rating, quoting and policy issue systems for commercial lines, personal lines and life insurance business. The company also recently has begun rolling out new rating, quoting and policy management systems for its personal and commercial lines business.

In August, Harleysville launched its new personal lines policy administration system, which enables real-time rating and quoting for personal auto and homeowners business. This new system, which is entered through the company's newly branded accessHarleysville(SM) agency portal, allows agents to rate, quote and issue new personal auto and homeowners policies, and to issue endorsements. The system was introduced in two states and will be rolled out during 2008 to other states in which the company does business.

The new commercial lines system--also accessible through the accessHarleysville portal--is scheduled to start rolling out to agents on a state-by-state basis in late 2007 and throughout 2008. The new platform delivers new and improved products, standard company structure, and facilitates rating, quoting and policy issue processes in a real-time mode. This new platform also integrates predictive modeling for risk assessment, and incorporates an underwriting rules engine. This solution will give Harleysville's agents significant flexibility in doing business with the company, while improving the insurer's underwriting consistency and productivity.

Harleysville Insurance is a leading regional provider of insurance products and services for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for individuals, and ranks among the top 60 U.S. property/casualty insurance groups based on net written premiums. Harleysville Mutual Insurance Company owns 53 percent of Harleysville Group Inc. (NASDAQ:HGIC - News), a publicly traded holding company for nine regional property/casualty insurance companies collectively rated A- (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Harleysville Group is a member of the NASDAQ Global Select Market, which represents the top third of all NASDAQ-listed companies and has the highest initial listing standards of any exchange in the world based on financial and liquidity requirements. Harleysville Insurance--which distributes its products exclusively through independent insurance agencies and reflects that commitment to its agency force by being a Trusted Choice® company partner--currently operates in 32 eastern and midwestern states. Further information can be found on the company's Web site at www.harleysvillegroup.com.

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Source: Harleysville Insurance

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