What we achieved together

The Client

This leading insurance technology organization provides business process services and software solutions to create and manage policies, file claims, and develop reporting across its business lines—health, annuity, life, and long-term care.

The Obstacles Faced

The client faced significant challenges with its document annotation tool, a critical component of its business process services. The tool was embedded in its Case360 software system as part of its sizable technology environment. The annotation tool relied on an outdated Java applet, creating multiple challenges:

• High licensing costs: Running the Java-based annotation tool required an expensive Java license for each employee who could potentially make annotations, costing the client $500,000 per year.
• Compatibility challenges: The files and formats used—Java applets, WANG annotations, and TIFFs—posed integration and compatibility challenges with modern technologies.
• Document format limitations: The Case360 system primarily used TIFF files for annotation because it was the format users were most familiar with, so the modernized solution needed to read these files.

The client required a solution that would reduce costs, allow the annotation tool to remain functional with older file formats, and enhance efficiency by improving compatibility with newer technologies.

The Journey

Modernizing the client’s annotation tool began with a proof of concept to evaluate potential solutions. Ensono’s suggestion was moving from TIFF to PDF files because using a more common file type would simplify annotation and file management.

The proposed solution included Ensono developing a back-end component in the client’s Case360 system, allowing users to burn annotations into older TIFF files on demand. Using an automated process, older documents were converted only when users opened and resaved them, reducing unnecessary overhead. For users, that meant following a similar process to what they were accustomed to, minimizing training on new workflows.

Additionally, Ensono connected the back-end with a new front-end webpage allowing users to open a file, add annotations, and burn them into the image—then taking the new burned images and replacing them in Case360.

Ensono eliminated the need for a Java applet by integrating PSPDKit, saving the client 96%—reducing their annual licensing expense from $500,000 to $20,000. For the client, the impact went beyond simplifying the annotation process and the significant cost savings—it also meant they had greater control over the process and the annotations users can make, helping streamline business operations.

In partnership with the client’s development team, Ensono delivered detailed documentation to facilitate a smooth handoff process. We also worked with the client’s Case360 developer to achieve a seamless PSPDFKit and Case360 integration.

The Outcomes Achieved

The modernization effort provided a cost-effective, iterative approach, balancing technical improvements with operational stability while phasing out Java dependencies, delivering:

• Cost savings: 96% annual savings—reducing the client’s Java licensing cost from $500,000 per year on the existing platform to $20,000 per year.
• Enhanced flexibility: Users gained the ability to work with PDF annotations, a more modern format that supports future enhancements and broader compatibility across systems—without compromising the older TIFF annotation files.
• Adaptability, transparency, and collaboration: The modernization approach was tailored to the client’s evolving needs, allowing internal developers to adjust to changes at their own pace.

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