Whether a contract request can or needs to be marked completed (or not) is determined by the distribution model used when contract requests are processed and sent to the carrier, and whether SureLC receives a data feed from the carrier that includes the contracting status and assigned agent/firm codes. There are three supported distribution models: 

1. Email
2. Electronic Submission
3. Onboard 

You can check how your carriers are set up to distribute contract requests by going to the carriers page and reviewing the information in the General Info -> Contracting section. 

Email Distribution Model - For non-integrated carriers, contract Requests are emailed to the carrier. After confirming that a contract request has been approved by a carrier and obtaining the assigned agent/firm codes, these requests can be marked as completed from the Contracting Requests page in the producer profile, or from Work Inox using the actions button at the end of the row (this is the best practice). These contract records can also be edited on the Contracts tab in the producer profile if needed (for example, when an agent or firm # was entered incorrectly). 


Electronic Submissions Distribution Model - For integrated carriers, contract requests are submitted electronically to the carrier through an integration we call "DataLink". This means that the contracting request data is sent to the carrier electronically. For some of these carriers, we receive a data feed from the carrier that informs SureLC when a contract request has been approved or declined, and, if approved, the assigned agent/firm codes. For some of these carriers, the contracting request status is provided to us by the carrier along with the assigned agent/firm codes. When this information is received from the carrier, these contract requests are automatically updated and will move from the "At Carrier" stage to "Completed" or "Declined," so manually marking the contract request "completed" is neither available nor required. Additionally, these records cannot be edited to ensure data accuracy, as the information was provided directly by the carrier. 

For a list of integrated carriers and to see which carriers provide a data feed, click here. 

Please note: Not all integrated carriers provide a data feed or the assigned agent/firm codes. For these carriers, the "Mark Completed" option is available and can be used to finalize the contract request status and record the assigned agent/firm codes.  

Onboard Distribution Model - When a carrier is configured to send contract requests directly to SureLC Onboard, it means the carrier uses Onboard (a carrier tool SuranceBay provides). All contract requests for these carriers are sent to the carrier for immediate review. After the carrier makes a decision and either approves or declines the contract request, the status will be updated (marking "completed" or "declined") along with any applicable assigned agent/firm codes. When this information is provided by the carrier, agencies won't see an option to mark the contract as completed or to edit the contract record on the contracts tab in the producer profile, which ensures data accuracy. 

FAQs

Q1: What is DataLink? 

A1: DataLink is a SureLC feature that allows contracting requests to be uploaded to the carrier electronically, rather than sent via email. DataLink can also be used by carriers to provide a data feed with status updates and assigned agent/firm codes after a contract request is approved. 

Q2: What is Onboard? 

A2: Onboard is SuranceBay's carrier platform that allows them to receive and process new contracting requests.  Requests submitted to the carrier through SureLC appear immediately in the carrier's Onboard account, allowing them to perform their due diligence, review the paperwork, obtain background reports, complete requirements, and approve or decline a contracting request.