What’s New
Accounting General
SE-2241 - Remittance to capture breakdown value for two classification - China Re
Aim of function
When you have registered a single remittance, you have the possibility to transform it into a Remittance Classification Group. You can maintain the created Remittance Classification Group and later do balance pairing between the group members and the technical/claim balance.
System Parameters Affected
New system parameter under Accounting/ Remittance “Is Classification Group Remittance In Use”
Existing functionality affected
Remittance Worksheets
- Start from a single paid/received remittance of payment type Wire or Check that is not closed for update, i.e. in a pending status select the option Transfrom to a Classification Group from the menu
- The system opens a new dialogue window with a table contains of columns: Rem Class 1, Rem Class 2, Rem Class 3, Amount. You can select the wanted value from the drop-down list of Rem Class 1, Rem Class 2, Rem Class 3 if needed. Then, enter the amount after the classifications are selected.
-
On saving this dialogue box, the system transforms the Single Remittance into a Classification Group Remittance, the following takes place:
- The Payment Type Wire/Check is transformed to Group Wire or Group Check. This is the Group Owner.
- Group members: Group Reversal, Internal Group Members (The system lets you enter as many Group Internal members as necessary) are created.
Changed documentation
SE-2669 - Period Closing - Accumulated Profit Commission/Stepped-/Sliding Scale Commission - DXC
Aim of function
Period Closing - Accumulated Profit Commission/Stepped-/Sliding Scale Commission
Request Scheduled Job Template
Create Job Template from Group Order by selecting field ‘Batch Template’ to calculate Accumulated Profit Commission or Accumulated Stepped-/Sliding Scale Commission;
- Retrocession Calculation Order Group - deselect ‘Profit Commission’ or ‘Sliding Scale’ and select ‘Batch Template’. This order must have the highest priority e.g. priority ‘2’ in the Scheduler
- Retrocession Calculation Order Group - select ‘Acc. Profit Comm’ or ‘Acc Sliding Scale’ and select ‘Batch Template’. This order must e.g. have priority ‘1’ in the Scheduler
- Retrocession Account Order Group - select field ‘Batch Template’. This order must have have the lowest priority e.g. ‘0’ in the Scheduler
If orders should be started at the same time, it is important that the ‘Close Worksheet’ is selected on the group orders marked ‘Batch Template’ and that the priority in the scheduler is set according to above to have the orders run in the correct sequence.
Copy template to Actual Job (from Accounting Order Monitor OR from Scheduler)
- A new Group Order (with individual orders) is created from Order template
- Create link (FK) from Order Template to the new Group Order. This FK will always point to the newest Group Order.
- Update Accounting Period and Booking Period on template according to rules
Step 2 will be repeated according to selected schedule (same as for any other template)
System parameters affected
N/A
Existing functionality affected
Prop Retro Accounting;
Running Retrocession Calculation Order Group
- Running Retrocession Calculation Order
Running Retrocession Account Order Group
- Running Retrocession Account Order
SE-2100 - Retrocession on Cash Basis - Qianhai Re
Aim of function
- Client use “Cash Based Premium” as premium basis for retrocession, now they would like to check How much they should pay and how much they actual pay. How much they are planning to pay means the amount which is calculated based on ‘Proportional basis’ and How much they should pay which is calculated based on ‘ Cash Based Premium’. Currently, In SICS, we can check the business ledger to see the actual payment details ‘As booking’. In this enhancement to generate ‘As Informational’ details for user checking how much they are planning to pay.
- When they generate SOAs to retrocessionaire, Client sends two kinds of SOAs to retrocessionaires. One is actual payment SOA and the other one is should be paid SOA in specific accounting period.
- In ‘Retrocession Calculation (Group) Order’ to add a new parameter ‘Generate As Informational’, if the parameter is selected, then generate ‘As Informational’ details, or else won’t generate ‘As Informational’ details.
System Parameter Affected
None
Existing Functionality Affected
Retrocession Calculation Order basing on “Cash Based Premium’
- If the source detail’s balance on the IAB is Settled then it should be included in the order.
- If the source detail’s balance on the IAB is Unsettled or Partially Settled then it should NOT be included in the order.
- If the As Original details does not have a source detail, e.g. because it is manually booked on the OCC, it shall always be included in the Retrocession Calculation order
Business
SE-2756 - Ensure Underwriting Year Same as Insured Period - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
Reinsurance contracts normally have an underwriting year being the same as the year of the insured period from date. In some cases, companies consider a different year to be the underwriting year than the year of the insured period from date. For example, if a facultative business starts within the last hours of the last day of the year, some views the underwriting year to be a day later than the start of the contract and therefore change it to the year after. For companies that want to enforce that the underwriting year always should equal the year of the insured period from date, the system now offers a choice of stopping a change of underwriting year.
System Parameters Affected
System Parameters / Business / Insured Period / Require Underwriting Year Same as Insured Period
Existing functionality affected
Create Business
Renew Business
Maintain Contract Insured Period Information
Create Business by Web Service
Renew Business by Web Service
Changed documentation
Claim, NP Recovery, Cede
SE-793 - Improvement on Proportional RUG - CA Seguros
Aim of function
- Achieving a more efficient way of administrating policies seen as one risk
- Achieving correct Auto Protection Assignment according to Proportional Method also for large number of policy members
- Preventing unnecessary amendments of policy protection assignment and consequently make the original attachment periods of the policy appear less hidden
System Parameters Affected
Business/Protection
Proportional Risk Unit Group - Protection calculation frequency
Existing functionality affected
Risk Unit Group
Policy Light
Protection Assignment
Automatic Business Protection Assignment
Preliminary Bookings
Preliminary Booking Corrections
Cede Interface Records
Cede Interface Order
SE-2603 - Removal of the AC0432 confirm validation - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
Message related to reinstatement premium not having been booked should be removed if Claim Accuracy applies to the Insured Period. It is expected that all validations is taken care of by the applied template.
System Parameters Affected
Claim Accuracy in use.
Existing functionality affected
Create Claim Worksheet
eMessaging
SE-2296 - Sending CM Message - DXC
Aim of function
When a Recovery Order has been run and closed, CM Messages are created for the brokers and reinsurers capable to receive messages.
In addition, a corresponding TA message is created in cases where the claim Movement message has payable amounts
New options available on the Recovery Order:
- Create Claim Movement Message(s)
- View eMessages
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
ACORD TechAccount
ACORD Claim Movement
SE-2297 - Sending TA Message - DXC
Aim of function
When a technical worksheet has been created on an ORP, it is possible to create a TA message from the worksheet closing, TA Messages will be created for the brokers and reinsurers capable to receive messages.
When instalments, adjustments and reinstatements orders has been created and run from an OCC, it is possible to create TA messages from the orders menu button. TA messages will be created for brokers and reinsurers capable to receive messages.
New options available on the worksheet closing and menu button on the orders:
- Create TechAccount Message(s)
- View TechAccount Messages
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
ACORD TechAccount
SE-1369 - Improve Limit validation rules in Placing - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
Removed the validation that an ACORD item can only be used once for Deductible Type and CoverageType
- Possible to map an ACORD Deductible Type Code to more than one SICS Deductible Type Code
- Possible to map an ACORD Coverage Type Code to more than one SICS Coverage Type Code
ACORD Deductible Type and Coverage Type Codes with no mapping to a SICS Deductible or Coverage Type code are ignored when validating a placing message.
ACORD Deductible Type and Coverage Type Codes with mapping to a SICS Deductible or Coverage Type, are validated as per existing functionality
If the Reference Rules are being used then mappings for ACORD items not required for validation can be mapped to None
System Parameters Affected
eMessaging/Mappings
Existing functionality affected
ACORD Placing message
SE-1735 - Enhanced FAI linking (Financial Account Item) - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
The pre-existing FAIBalanceReferenceRule will try to link to a balance using an eMessage / references.
The pre-existing FAIBalanceReferenceByAmountRule will try to link to a balance using the amount (no eMessage link required) but only when there is no Business Partner Reference on the balance (to avoid linking to that of another eMessage).
The new rule is an amendment / conditional replacement for the ByAmountRule that does not have the restriction on an empty Business Partner Reference. This is for cases such as ADH generated messages (set up different ByAmount rules using Message Function) that may have a non-matching / non-eMessaging relevant Business Partner Reference set but should still be allowed to automatically link to a balance as there is no exact 1:1 relationship to the balance and FAI.
System Parameters Affected
New eMEssaging rule FAIBalanceReferenceByAmountDisregardPartnerReferenceRule for Settlement on Message layer.
Existing functionality affected
eMessaging rules to link Settlement FAI to SICS balances
Settlement Message Type Rule set.
e.g. FAIBalanceReferenceRule, FAIBalanceReferenceByAmountRule
Life
SE-2999 - Set Original Accounting Year and Period on Bookings created through the Cession Order - Africa Re
Aim of function
To set the Original Accounting Year and Period on the booking details either from the ACI ‘as of date’ or from the Order
System Parameter Affected:
System Parameter: Accounting- > Worksheets ‘Original Accounting Period Set on Order’ has been extended to both the cession order and retrocession cession order.
Existing Functionality Affected:
On the inward business Insured Period Tab a new flag ‘Original Accounting Year and Period’ is available
When this flag is selected, the columns ‘Original Accounting Year’ and ‘Original Accounting Period’ will be available on the Technical worksheets and Cession Worksheets created on the Assumed Business
On the Cession Order, it will be possible to select the Original Accounting Year and Period that needs to be set on the cession worksheets. The Accounting Period Set is defaulted from the System Parameter selection
The cession worksheets will be created with the Original Accounting Year and period as per the dates selected on the order and when there is no period selected on the order, the Original Accounting Year and period on the cession worksheets will be set based on the ACI as of date
Changed documentation
SE-1823 - Introduce new type of business Service Contract - China Re
Aim of function
A Life Reinsurance company can provide some special services to a cedent. In this scenario, they may sign a contract with a third party to provide the service. In this situation, they will want to capture this kind of service contract in SICS, and handle the accounts.
To support these functions, this enhancement introduced a new level of business ‘Service Contract’ which can link one or more assumed business to this level of business
System Parameter Affected
A new system parameter under Business–> Miscellaneous under Business Preference ‘Allow Service Contract as a Level of Business’ is available. This system parameter is applicable only to the Life system.
Existing Functionality Affected
When the above system parameter is selected
- It will be possible to create a new level of business ‘Service Contract’ that has been made available under Ref Data 00045
- A new Business to Business Partner Relationship under Ref Data 00055 ‘Service Company’ is available and this will be a mandatory business partner along with the Reinsurer on a Service Contract and the Payment Task will be defaulted to the Service Company
- It will be possible to link one or more Assumed Business that has not already been linked to a Service Contract to this Service Contract. The Service Contract will not validate the Base Company, Type of Business, Insured Period or Classifications of the linked Assumed Business
- It will be possible to create amendments to the service contract and change the life cycle status similar to that of an assumed business
- It will be possible to define User Defined Fields on the Service Contract
- It will be possible to create Technical Bookings on the Service Contract
Changed documentation
SE-2874 - Enhance the security control of the TW menu - China Re
Aim of function
- Enhance system control of the availability of Reverse Technical Worksheet through ”Find: Accounting Worksheet” window.
- Enhance system control of the availability of Import Sub SOA File functionality.
- Enhance system control of the availability of Add/Delete/Edit Actual Accounts.
System Parameters Affected
- New Domain Restriction for Reverse Technical Worksheet: ‘Accounting Worksheet Reverse from Find: Accounting Worksheet’. It is relevant only when the Use Case ’Accounting Technical Worksheet Reverse’ is assigned.
- System Parameter Maintenance/Accounting/Worksheet/’Enable Summary Account on Technical Worksheet’
- New Security tab on User Role: ‘Additional Security’. The ‘Additional Security’ tab is enabled only when System Parameter: ‘Enable Summary Account on Technical Worksheet’ is selected.
- New flag on ‘Additional Security’ tab: ‘Allow Import Sub SOA File’
- New flag on ‘Additional Security’ tab: ‘Allow Actual Account administration’
Existing functionality affected
- Reverse Technical Worksheet/Balance from Find Accounting Worksheet window:
- Import Sub SOA File for Technical Worksheet with Summary Account:
- Add new booking for Actual Account:
- Delete an Actual Booking:
- Edit the Actual Bookings.
Changed documentation
Changed documentation
domain_restrictions/#1299-accounting-prevent-reversing-find-technical-worksheet
Changed documentation
domain_restrictions/#1299-accounting-prevent-reversing-find-technical-worksheet
SE-2875 - To enhance the revoke functionality on Technical worksheet - China Re
Aim of function
- Add a new worksheet status “Ready”
- Enhance the “Revoke Validation” functionality can change the worksheet status back to “Open” except for “Closed” and “Inactive” worksheets.
System Parameters Affected
- System Parameter Maintenance/Accounting/Worksheet: ‘Enable summary account on technical worksheet’
- Reference Data Maintenance/Worksheet Status (00168)
Existing functionality affected
-
A new TW status ‘Ready’ to be available and ONLY applicable when the system parameter ‘Enable summary account on technical worksheet’ is selected. Worksheets with origin Manual with Summary will see this option of Ready in addition to Closed when the Validate and Close Sub SOA option is selected
-
Revoke Validation of a Ready worksheet will set the worksheet back to Open
-
The status of the booking details will also be set back to not validated as per existing functionality
Changed documentation
SE-299 - New functionality to be able to calculate Profit Share - DXC
Aim of function
To be able to calculate the profit commission through a Profit Commission Calculation Order
System Parameters Affected
Under the Business System Parameters a new option ‘Profit Commission Calculation Rule’ is available.
Where the Profit Commission is to be defined as a rule, it can be defined here and selected on the Profit Commission condition on the business.
Example:
A rule, eg Rule A as below can be defined to calculate the Income Less Outgoings
This rule, Rule A can then be included in the Profit Commission Calculation Rule, where depending on the result of Rule A, the order will calculate the profit commission as either 50% or 80% of the calculated value.
Existing functionality affected
Define Profit Commission on the Assumed Business or Outward Cedent’s Contract
The Profit Commission basis can be defined as either a Profit/Loss Basis which will use the entry codes defined within the selected Profit/Loss basis entry code group OR the Profit Commission Rule basis that was defined on the system parameters as described above
The entry codes for automatic booking of profit commission and management expenses will be available for selection under the Accounting-> Entry Codes- > Automatic Booking system parameter.
Create and Run the Profit Commission Calculation Order
Based on the Profit Commission Condition that was defined on the business and the bookings for the Accounting Year and Period defined on the order, the profit commission will be booked on the technical worksheet created through the order.
Where the PC calculation rule has the Previous Accounting Period variable, the previous accounting period will be considered as the Acc Year and Period immediately preceding the year and period selected on the order.
Note: The calculation currently does not support the deficit carried forward
Changed documentation
SE-2902 - Web-services for various functions - Heng An Standard Life
Aim of function
To be able to use Webservices for the following functions in SICS Life
Update Deduction Condition
Update Proportional Premium Condition
Update the Sum at Risk Condition
Update the Reinstatement Condition
Update the Profit Commission Condition
Update Agreement Clause Condition
System parameters affected
None
Existing functionality affected
Update Business Conditions through webservices
MG & Reserve Orders
SE-2861 - Support exponential functions in UW Estimates and Multi GAAP calculation rules - DXC
Aim of function
Added support for exponent function in calculation rules for Underwriters Estimates and Multi GAAP.
The function is found under Number Functions
When selected, the function is written out in the calculation area:
<value> and <exponent> must be replaced with numbers. These can be fixed values, variables, functions or sub calculations.
When calculated, the <value> is raised to the power of the <exponent>
System parameters affected
None.
Existing functionality affected
Calculation of Underwriters Estimates and Period Estimates
Changed documentation
underwriters_estimates/#number-functions
Other
SE-1277 - AWS Aurora MySQL Support - DXC
Aim of function
Add support for the additional DBMS platforms to expand the degree of support SICS has for Cloud offerings and lower the total cost of ownership by permitting the use of lower license cost DBMS products.
Support to cover MySQL 5.7+ and compatible platforms including AWS Aurora MySQL, MariaDB 10.2+
System parameters affected
None.
Existing functionality affected
All DBMS configuration related functions
SE-1859 - Improvements to the database update process to improve performance & documentation - DXC
Aim of function
Adding a new column to an existing table when a default value needs to be set results in SQL to update the entire table. For a table with a large number of rows, this causes a large transaction log in Microsoft SQL Server.
To prevent this, large table updates on Microsoft SQL Server will be batched into increments of 10k rows when the Optimized Schema is in use.
System Parameter Affected
This feature is only enabled when using Microsoft SQL Server and the setting <optimizedMode>true</optimizedMode>
is set in the sics-database-sources.xml configuration file.
Existing Functionality Affected
Database Update
SE-3004 - BOAC - Script clean-up - DXC
Aim of function
Cleanup how SICS generates the BO (Tables, Stored Procedures, Stored Functions/Packages) create/drop scripts.
Enable execution of create/drop scripts for BO (Stored Procedures and Stored Functions/Packages) directly from SICS.
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
BO
Changed documentation
preparation_of_tables_used_by_reporting
SE-2550 - ADH – Export and import multiple mappings, output patterns and translation tables - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
Enhancing the existing functionality of Export and Import in ADH Transformation Mappings / Output Patterns to export / import multiple mapping(s) / output pattern(s) at the same time
Transformation Mappings
Export
Import
Output Patterns
Export
Import
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
ADH Transformation Mappings / Output Patterns
Changed documentation
transformation_mappings/#transformation-mappings
output_patterns/#output-patterns
SE-2736 - ADH - Output pattern editing - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
Enhancing the Move up and Move down during Output Pattern edit as drag of one or more fields (or) groups and drop within same group or different group for all Output Types.
Drag and Drop Field(s)/ Group(s)
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
ADH Edit Output Pattern
Changed documentation
output_patterns/#output-patterns
SE-2828 - ADH - Improved import/export of Translation Tables - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
- Enhancing the existing functionality of Export in Transformation Table to export multiple Translation Table(s) at the same time.
- Enhancing Import menu option in Translation Table with Import new Table to import new Translation Table, Merge Table via Import to update and merge existing Translation Table values, and Replace Table via Import to replace existing Translation Table values.
- Enhancing Import Values menu option in Edit Translation Table with Merge Values via Import to update and merge existing Translation Table values, and Replace Values via Import to replace existing Translation Table values.
Translation Tables - Menu Option
Edit Translation Table - Menu Option
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
Translation Tables
Changed documentation
ref_items_translation_tables/#edit-table-definition
ref_items_translation_tables/#edit-table-contents
SE-2866 - ADH - Import/Export format version handling - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
Add support for version specific import/export formats of ADH mappings.
Mappings that were exported from a prior release can be imported into a newer release.
Mappings can be exported in a format that is compatible with a prior release.
The oldest release supported is 4.9.3.
Incompatible features will trigger a warning or error message that lists what features cannot be exported or imported (block types, connections, etc).
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
ADH Mapping import/export
Changed documentation
transformation_mappings/#transformation-mappings
SE-2903 - ADH - Claim Section Status and Date of Loss From/To - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
Renaming the Claim Section Domain Data block output field ‘Date of Loss’ as Date of Loss From Date and Introducing a new output field’s
- Date of Loss To Date that reflects the date of loss end date of the respective claim section.
- Status that reflects the Claim Section Status
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
ADH Transformation Mapping
SE-3013 - ADH - New ‘Random String’ block which can produce shorter output compared to the UUID block - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of function
To generate a new, almost unique random string each time the block is processed. The output is a 10- or 8-character string based on the selection in properties window, where the characters are taken from the basic Base64 (RFC 4648) character set: a-z, A-Z, 0-9, + and /. For example: ‘DX+kJ/qz’.
Random String
System Parameters Affected
None
Existing functionality affected
ADH Edit/View Mapping
Changed documentation
transformation_blocks/#data-generation-blocks
SE-3034 - SQL Server: Add primary key to CLASSIF_LEGAL_AREA, CLASSIF_REF_DATA, AC_RETRO_WORK - Swiss Re Zurich
Aim of Function:
On all DBMS platforms, SICS has 3 tables that have no primary key: CLASSIF_LEGAL_AREA, CLASSIF_REF_DATA and AC_RETRO_WORK.
The aim of this fix is to make SICS add a primary key to these tables when creating a new SICS database on Microsoft SQL Server and SICS is configured in “optimized schema” mode.
Description of Solution:
This enhancement covers the creation of optimizedMicrosoftSQL Server databases only.
Such databases have an IDENTITY column named ‘INTEGER_ID’ on all tables.
This is used for clustering, while OBJECT_ID (or some other field(s)) still is the Primary Key (PK).
This enhancement defines INTEGER_ID as the PK for CLASSIF_LEGAL_AREA, CLASSIF_REF_DATA and AC_RETRO_WORK.
This enhancement applies when a new, optimized Microsoft SQL Server database is created. It does not apply to existing, optimized Microsoft SQL Server databases.
System Parameters Affected
In the sics-database-sources.xml configuration file, the entry for this database needs to have the setting <optimizedMode>true</optimizedMode>
Changed documentation
sics_software_installation/#sics-software-installation-enable-database-optimizations-optional