What’s New: In Brief (March 10, 2008)

PPG Canada Inc. and Summit Software Solutions have announced a new preferred vendor partnership, giving the PPG CertifiedFirst network of collision repair centres access to the complete line of Summit products and services. “From our customers who are already using the Summit software, we’ve had great feedback,” Jeffery Murphy, marketing programs manager, said in a PPG release. “Summit’s systems allow collision repair centre owners and managers to track almost anything.”Their digi-lean technology is in line with our Throughput Performance Solutions, making this a great fit.”Summit offers digital performance management systems (Ascent, RPM, VantagePoint, Summit and the Digital Performance System) that include complete customer management software solutions, from invoicing to scheduling to communications.

Saskatchewan has announced a substantial increase in insurance coverage available to producers under the 2008 Saskatchewan Crop Insurance program.Dollar coverage is increasing from a 2007 provincial average of Cdn$86 per acre to Cdn$128 per acre for 2008, according to Bob Bjornerud, Saskatchewan agriculture minister and minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation. The minister also announced an overall 4% reduction in premium rates (the amount farmers pay for each dollar of coverage), although the premiums paid by farmers overall will rise marginally due to a projected 46% increase in the value of the 2008 crop.This year, Saskatchewan’s government will commit an additional Cdn$25 million to the crop insurance program to cover the province’s share of the increased premium costs.