Introduction #
TruStage, formerly known as the CUNA Mutual Group, has carved a niche as a principal provider of investment and insurance solutions tailored specifically for credit union members.
- Formed in 1935 in Madison, WI. as the CUNA Mutual Insurance Society
- 37M consumers protected
- $32B assets under management
- 71K+ advisors nationwide
TruStage, engaged Equisoft to implement and host Oracle’s OIPA policy administration system as a replacement for their legacy policy admin system. In order to give TruStage autonomy and greater control over OIPA, Equisoft implemented and trained internal TruStage team members on the Equisoft/design IDE. Today, TruStage act as their own configuration team, able to quickly and confidently configure OIPA to meet evolving business needs.
The Challenge #
TruStage wanted to transition seamlessly from their legacy Policy Administration System (PAS) to the more advanced Oracle Insurance Policy Administration (OIPA) system. They engaged Equisoft to implement and host the new PAS, but, ultimately, they didn’t want to be beholden to a third-party vendor for all configurations and product modifications.
TruStage’s PAS modernization project could not be deemed complete until they had the in-house capability to create their own configurations and master their product roadmap.
Why Choose Equisoft #
In order to gain independence over OIPA configuration for new products and product modifications, TruStage would need a configuration and release management software solution that would enable their internal IT and business staff to make OIPA changes driven by evolving business needs.
Not only is Equisoft the world’s leading implementer and integrator of OIPA, but, in order to enhance its own configuration and release management activities, Equisoft had created the Equisoft/design Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
This configuration solution is generations ahead of the legacy IDEs that were originally used to configure OIPA. It incorporates features and capabilities born from Equisoft’s more than ten years of OIPA implementation experience in a state-of-the-art software solution with an intuitive UI/UX.
Implementing and training TruStage team members on Equisoft/ design was seen as the best path to OIPA configuration and release management independence.
The Implementation #
The transformation started with Equisoft transitioning TruStage from their legacy PAS to OIPA. TruStage’s strategy was clear—they acquired a direct OIPA license from Oracle, while Equisoft assumed the role of a strategic hosting partner. As part of the project TruStage was equipped with the Equisoft/design configuration solution.
Equisoft experts trained TruStage teams on Equisoft/design and provided configuration expertise that could be drawn upon if TruStage needed extra resources beyond their in-house teams.
This strategic move provided TruStage with real autonomy but still provided contingency resources in cases where project demands exceeded internal availability. Whether it was about introducing new products, tweaking existing systems, or even comprehensive system overhauls, TruStage had the tools and knowledge to execute it in-house, as a result of Equisoft’s tools and training
Benefits to TruStage #
- Autonomy and Efficiency: Reduce the time required to perform Oracle Insurance Policy Administration (OIPA) configuration tasks by 50%.
- Accelerated Development: Equisoft/design is replete with cutting-edge features akin to those seen in modern languages’ advanced editors. With inbuilt XML Templates and Code Snippets, development times have been greatly reduced. From IntelliSense & Auto-Complete to XML Templates, the tool was built to facilitate faster and smarter work.
- Integration Capabilities: The tool integrates seamlessly with popular version control systems like IVS or GiT, enhancing workflow and change management.
- Complete Control: One of the standout features of Equisoft/design is its release management component. TruStage can now handle releases in-house, without any external dependencies.
- User-Friendly Interface: Features like the built-In Interpreter and easily readable errors ensure that development is not just faster, but also more efficient.
- Collaboration and Integration: Equisoft/design facilitates collaboration on XML submitted by peers and offers integrative capabilities with market-leading tools like AzureDevOps, TeamCity, or Octopus Deploy.
- Rich Experience: Equisoft’s extensive experience, combined with its ongoing support and monthly feature updates, support future TruStage digital transformations.
Results #
Equisoft/design enables them to manage their own releases rather than having to rely on the vendor to release something to production. Because the tool assists the configures in performing changes better, faster, quicker it is a true accelerator of innovation within the company.
- Autonomy Realized: TruStage has achieved a level of configuration and release management self-sufficiency. They are not just managing routine tasks but are able to handle complex configurations and product launches in-house.
- Efficiency Boost: Equisoft/design has drastically reduced configurator ramp-up time. This has translated into tangible time and cost savings.
- Quality Enhancement: The built-in unit testing feature ensures that configurations are of the highest quality before they move into the testing phase TruStage has achieved a level of configuration and release management self-sufficiency.
- Efficiency Boost: Equisoft/design has drastically reduced configurator ramp-up time. This has translated into tangible time and cost savings.
- Quality Enhancement: The built-in unit testing feature ensures that configurations are of the highest quality before they move into the testing phase
New features in Equisoft/design are regularly developed and implemented. For instance, in early 2024 new features became available to the business side to do peripheral changes in which the chassis of the product doesn’t change (e.g. An interest rate from 6% to 5% can be made by a business resource without having to consult with IT or Equisoft).
These features have security built-in, which ensures staff have enough access to make very specific business requirement changes, without having the ability to make global changes. This feature minimizes dependencies and streamlines processes.
Download the case study #
Find out more about TruStage’s collaboration with Equisoft and how the implementation of the Equisoft/design IDE solution has set a benchmark for autonomy in digital transformation within the life insurance industry.
