Insurance is a volatile industry, and insurance organizations need the capability to automate processes and respond quickly to market trends. Business rules are extremely useful in situations where organizations need to make frequent changes, as in underwriting, or with complex compliance issues, such as claims or policy renewals. Previously, these policies and procedures were hard-coded into systems and required significant recoding to modify. iVOS' superior rules capabilities now enable clients to configure and modify rules on their own without being held hostage by the traditional software development lifecycle.

Today, there’s a tremendous demand for business rules that embody a sophisticated level of logic to automate complex, multi-variable business decisions. To meet this need, iVOS incorporates a Java Rule Engine API (application program interface) that supports the JSR-94 specification standard, enabling the system to accept and execute business rules from an independent third-party engine. The flexible design allows organizations to leverage a rules engine they may already have in-house, maximizing their investments in existing products and staff training.

"Both types of rules engines—the iVOS embedded rules engine and the independent third-party engine—provide unique benefits and advantages, yet together they serve complementary roles and provide a comprehensive rules solution," said Randy Wheeler, founder and CEO of Valley Oak Systems. "Organizations can maximize control over critical business decisions, contributing to operational efficiency as well as revenue."

In the past, when selecting an appropriate rules solution, organizations had to balance a trade-off between configurability and ease-of-use; now with the iVOS hybrid solution, organizations reap comprehensive benefits. The iVOS embedded engine is tightly integrated into the claims "one-system" solution and provides simpler configuration capabilities, while the independent third-party engine provides more flexibility and robust customization to essentially create any rule from scratch. Combined capabilities enable organizations to achieve market responsiveness, competitive advantage, and a high level of automation in business processes and decisions.

About Valley Oak Systems, Inc.
Valley Oak Systems, Inc. is a privately held corporation with headquarters in San Ramon, California. Founded in 1994, Valley Oak Systems is dedicated to providing the highest quality software, services and support to enable clients to meet their goals. The company’s flagship product iVOS is the leading browser-based claims management software that integrates core insurance processes, system features, and claims functions into a “one-system” solution. Recognized for its business impact, iVOS earned the 2006 IASA Technology Achievement Award. For more information, go to www.valleyoak.com or call (925) 242-4600.