Case Study: Florida Surplus
Lines Service Office

In 1997, the new Florida Surplus Lines Service Office (FSLSO) chose Infinity as its information technology services partner. The goal was to create the most creative and advanced surplus lines regulatory software in the industry.

Over the past fourteen years, Infinity has worked with FSLSO to turn the vision into reality. Together we created the Surplus Lines Automation Suite (SLAS) and established FSLSO as one of the most respected and emulated surplus lines offices in the country.

Beginning in 1998 with the Agent Submission Software application, FSLSO laid a foundation to become one of the first truly “paperless” stamping offices. The success of this effort led in time to the SLAS applications that deliver accurate and efficient service to regulators and brokers alike.

One of the most powerful innovations was the development of Variance Analysis. By comparing the variance between policy information submitted by brokers with similar data from insurance companies, FSLSO has been able to identify and collect premium tax revenue that would have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Another significant innovation was the ability to automatically detect when requests for refunds exceeded actual amounts remitted. Before the RAPID system began to uncover these improper requests, FSLSO estimates that it paid tens of thousands of dollars in unearned refunds. No more. This key advance in the oversight of surplus lines activity has been widely copied throughout the United States, and is one of the most immediately valuable features to states using SLAS.

The increased revenue enabled by SLAS helped FSLSO establish its value to the State of Florida. But it is not all about collecting taxes. By automating functions such as broker and insurer eligibility checks, FSLSO serves as a gatekeeper to protect consumers and taxpayers from fraudulent or underfunded coverages. Moreover, the 99% user approval rating for the SLIP application demonstrates the high level of service that FSLSO provides its broker community. By reducing the cost of compliance and making it easier for brokers to understand where they stand in the reporting process, FSLSO has allowed brokers to focus more on their own clients’ needs. And by encouraging compliance for everyone in the Florida market, FSLSO has helped maintain a level playing field where all brokers compete according to the same rules.