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Kemper Auto and Home and ActivePhoto Discuss the Role of Instant Imaging Technology in the Claims Review Process at Visual Communication Executive SummitNEW YORK, NY - (October 2, 2002) - Key representatives from Kemper Auto and Home, a premier provider of personal automobile and homeowner’s insurance, and ActivePhoto, the leading technology provider of automated imaging and workflow solutions, will present a business application of digital photography and wireless imaging technology on October 2 at “Visual Communication: Infoimaging at Work,” an executive summit in New York City sponsored by Forbes magazine and Future Image, Inc. Mark Burnam, Claims Systems & Operations Manager at Kemper Auto and Home, and Tom Riley, President and CEO of ActivePhoto, will explain the integration of digital photography and wireless imaging technology into Kemper Auto and Home’s claims review process, the return on investment that was realized and the ongoing benefit of increased customer satisfaction. When Kemper Auto and Home, a provider of personal automobile and homeowner’s insurance, first started to consider integrating digital photography and wireless imaging technology into their claims review process, management knew it would result in a cost savings. It soon became clear, however, there were a plethora of benefits to be realized. Perhaps the most important of which has been an increase in customer satisfaction with the company’s claims response. ActivePhoto’s digital photography and wireless imaging technology allows the Kemper Auto and Home Claims Department to share information at lightning speed. Field representatives transmit images and data directly from the field, allowing everyone on the team to review them instantly, significantly reducing claims processing time. The wireless communications system involves taking photos with a digital camera, tagging them with text information like policy and claim number, and then sending them back to the network server instantly. Once the server confirms receipt of the image, the connection is terminated and the field agent goes on to the next case. Meanwhile, the photos have been catalogued in the company database by camera ID, policy, and claim number, and they’re immediately available to authorized personnel for retrieval and viewing with no data entry errors along the way. "Kemper Auto and Home is demonstrating that intelligent use of visual communication technologies by business can simultaneously save money and improve customer satisfaction" said Alexis Gerard, president of Future Image. "Kemper's solution is an excellent example of the creative and profitable use of imaging to take business systems and communication to the next level of performance. That is exactly the focus of our ‘Visual Communication: Infoimaging at Work’ summit, and of our Visual Communication initiative." The transition to a wireless imaging system dramatically increased productivity in the claims department; a cost savings was realized for each claim processed. Sending data wirelessly to a commercial Web account allows all parties to review images and process a claim in a fraction of the time it once took. Moreover, Kemper Auto and Home has been able to decrease traditional film and film processing costs by more than 70% and gain higher quality photography. Perhaps most importantly, faster review times mean shorter response times which translates into increased customer satisfaction, a priceless benefit for any company. Customer service is also positively impacted by our ability to understand the nature of the damage for each claim more immediately.” Steve Robinson, Vice President of Claims for Kemper Auto and Home, explains, “Sharing claims documentation in real time among all the necessary personnel has resulted in dramatic improvements in our workflow and substantial cost savings. Efficiency and cost improvements aside, we’ve even been more pleased with the by-product of being able to respond that much faster to our customers’ claims. That’s why we’ve taken the system nationwide.” # # # About Kemper Auto and HomeKemper Auto and Home, formerly Kemper Individual Family and Group (IFG), specializes in the sale of personal automobile and homeowner’s insurance through a network of independent agents. The business unit was recently acquired by Unitrin, Inc. (NYSE: UTR) through its subsidiary, Trinity Universal Insurance Company. Trinity and its property and casualty insurance affiliates have an “A+” rating from A.M. Best Company. Kemper Auto and Home’s net written premiums were approximately $700 million last year. About Unitrin, Inc.Unitrin's subsidiaries are engaged in three businesses: property and casualty insurance, life and health insurance and consumer finance. Unitrin (NYSE: UTR) has in excess of $7 billion in assets, nearly 7,700 employees and had consolidated revenues in 2001of more than $2.5 billion. For more information about Unitrin, visit www.unitrin.com. About ActivePhotoActivePhoto is a leading provider of automated mobile imaging and documentation solutions for businesses. Founded in 1999, ActivePhoto has achieved success in the mobile solutions sector by helping major corporations to enable efficient and immediate communication between mobile professionals and management. ActivePhoto's easy-to-use system increases efficiency and facilitates photo-intensive mobile imaging and documentation processes. Commercial field imaging and workflow solutions are available to industries including insurance, e-commerce, real estate, media, construction, and government. For more information on ActivePhoto, visit www.activephoto.com or call (650) 694-2820. About Future ImageFuture Image (www.futureimage.com) is the leading independent center of expertise focused on the convergence of imaging, technology and business. It publishes two continuous information services: The Future Image Executive Information Service, and the Future Image WIRE, focused on the intersection of imaging and wireless technology. In addition, Future Image underwrites and publishes numerous research studies on the impact of emerging imaging-focused technologies or business trends. Future Image is the official information and research partner of the international Imaging Industry Association (I3A) and the managing partner of the Visual Communication initiative (www.visualcommunication.info ).
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