| The PilotFish XCS Toolset components:
1) The XCS Database Generator - automatically creates a complete ACORD compliant database in virtually any relational database technology including Oracle, DB2, SQL/Server and ACCESS. The database is compliant with the most current ACORD data model, incorporates the entire model and supports business processes from prospecting to claims for Life, Health and Annuity products.
2) XCS Database Upgrader - New in XCS Release 3, the Database Upgrader facilitates the maintenance of ACORD-compliant databases by enabling in-place database upgrades as the standards evolve. New releases of the ACORD standard can be accommodated with just a few mouse-clicks. The Upgrader can report changes between schema versions, permitting informed management of extensions to the model.
3) The XCS Parser - allows the automatic parsing of incoming ACORD compliant XML transmissions and update of a database without the need to write custom interfaces. Using the parser, XMLife can be received and processed as a file, an e-mail attachment or as a post to an HTTP server.
4) The XCS Exporter - produces ACORD compliant XML output. XMLife can be output as a file, an e-mail attachment or as a post to an HTTP server.
5) XOSR Editor - New in XCS Release 3 , the XOSR Editor is a companion tool to the XCS Exporter. The XOSR Editor (XCS Output Structure Reference Editor) is a tree-based graphical user interface used to rapidly define TXLife and XMLife output profiles. TXLife and XMLife output can be defined in minutes as opposed to the weeks or months required to "hand code" ACORD standards compliant XML.
6) The XCS API (Application Programmer's Interface) - is a set of Java classes that allow developers to write custom applications that interact directly with the parsing, exporting, and TXLife transaction handling capabilities of the XMLife Communications Suite. Java developers can use this library to build remarkably powerful, ACORD-compliant applications for the insurance industry. The XCS API comes with complete technical documentation in standard JavaDoc format. Features of the XCS API include the:
- Ability to parse and export TXLife/XMLifE documents from within any Java application
- Ability to define custom authentication methods for incoming TXLife transactions
- Ability to write custom data/transaction handlers and configure their invocation when a transaction of a specific type is loaded into the database
Also included with XCS:
1) ACORD XMLife/TXLife/XtbML - ACORD Life Object Reference Model Version 2.7.01 and above includes the addition of the XtbML object and children as a new top level object. XCS supports this new addition.
2) A Full-featured Requirement Ordering sample application, including code - a simple example of requirements ordering and receipt, an integral part of the new business underwriting process. In traditional systems, the ordering and receipt of requirements is a time-intensive task. By performing this process electronically using ACORD TXLife/XMLife and XCS, insurance carriers and third-party providers will see significant gains in operational efficiency. Code samples are provided to allow developers to build company specific applications.
When the components of the PilotFish XMLife Communications Suite are used in combination with rapid application development technology, any application in the insurance process can be configured and deployed quickly at a fraction of previous costs. Companies will have everything they need to quickly establish themselves as e-Commerce trading partners within the financial services industry. Business entities including distributors, manufacturers, administrators, third party providers and reinsurers can finally all be linked together via the Internet into a seamless business process.
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