This report discusses the changing distribution dynamics in European Life and Non-Life insurance, drawing out key operational implications for insurers. It subsequently discusses changing priorities in distribution technology investments, explores implications for technology vendors in the insurance application, BPM, EAI and CRM space, and forecasts technology spend to 2009.

• Covers all major Western European markets
• Provides analysis of differences in the Life and Non-Life insurance sectors
• Forecasts distribution technology spend by channel, country, source and common distribution platform project spend
• Discusses implications for vendors playing in policy administration, BPM, EAI, CRM, ICM and other areas

The separation between manufacturing and distribution will persist, with the difference that the boundaries are still being defined in Life, whereas Non-Life is more mature in this respect. Insurance manufacturers have to be able to cost-effectively connect to a variety of distribution channels whilst minimizing extra cost.

Insurers realize that back-office transformation is increasingly inevitable, with several companies starting to define strategic target platforms in the back-office. Addressing the issue of distribution is a driving force of these efforts, with the focus shifting from front-office 'quick-fixing' towards realizing the 'one-to-many back office'.

The insurance sector is set to become the forerunner in the adoption of service-oriented architecture (SOA), with value chain fragmentation (e.g. increased outsourcing and separation of distribution and manufacturing) causing insurance to adopt an increasingly 'SOA-like' business model.

• Understand insurers' business pain points and how they will impact future technology investments
• Gain a perspective on how changing investment priorities will impact technology vendors playing in the insurance space
• Access detailed forecasts of European insurers' distribution technology investments to 2009