Page 136 - The UnCaptive Agent

TOOLS YOU’LL NEED AND WHEN YOU’LL NEED THEM 109

seamlessly with their management systems. So, part of
your management system decision should revolve around
which of the two major rating systems (EZLynx™ or
PL Rater™) you want to use.
Another consideration, particularly if you are inter-
ested in a system by a different company, is how easily
their management system integrates with one of the
leading rating programs. You will want to see a demon-
stration of this capability and note carefully the steps
required for that integration (as you and your employees
will be performing it many times every day).
The last important point of consideration in select-
ing your management system is the length of contract
required. You don’t want to make a long-term com-
mitment to a system at this point in the development
of your agency. Because, despite having a business
plan, you can’t be certain of your needs three years
after founding. You’ll want the capability to easily
terminate your relationship with your management
system provider, so I recommend a month-to-month,
or no longer than a twelve-month, contract. As you
begin, part of that contract should be a disclosure of
how the management system provider charges for data
export. You’ll want to have a very clear idea from the
beginning of what it will cost should you decide to
change providers at some point.
Agencies tend to stay with the same management
system provider for as long as the agency is in business.
It’s quite rare for people to change management systems.
This is because the workflows change, and the way
data is entered and manipulated changes from system
to system. There is a significant training commitment
required to change from one system to the other. Still,
if you need or want to do it, you’ll want to know what
your financial commitments will be at termination.