The Power of Simplicity: 10 Tips Every AMS360 User Should Know
Author: Shelly Werfelmann, Agency Consultant, Vertafore AMS360 │Kite Technology Group │NetVU Silver Partner
AMS360 is a powerful system, designed to help agencies manage their business with greater efficiency and insight. And while its capabilities run deep, sometimes the biggest improvements come from small adjustments to everyday tasks. A few simple changes in how you use AMS360 can make your workflows smoother, your data cleaner, and your team more productive.
That’s why we’ve gathered ten practical AMS360 tips and tricks you can start using right away. Whether you’re just getting started or have been working in the system for years, these simple strategies will help you get even more value from your AMS360 investment so you can stay focused on what matters most: serving your clients.
10 Simple AMS360 Tips for Greater Efficiency
1. Keep Searches Simple
Less is more when searching in AMS360. Unlike Google, AMS360 works best with shorter, focused keywords. Using fewer terms not only improves accuracy, but also reduces errors caused by typos.
Example: Instead of typing “Kite Technology Group,” just search “Kite Tech.”
This habit keeps your workflow smooth and helps you find records faster, helping you work more efficiently.
2. Use the Asterisk (*) to Improve Search Results
The asterisk is your secret weapon in AMS360 searches. It functions as a wildcard to help locate customers with abbreviations, initials, or middle names. This is particularly helpful for:
· Personal Lines customers with complex names.
· Commercial clients with long or abbreviated business names.
Example: Searching John*Constr or John*Smith Constr can help you locate “John T. Smith Construction.” Searching Werf*Shel can bring up “Shelly Lynn Werfelmann.”
This trick saves time and keeps you from guessing at unusual spellings.
3. Enable “Automatically Open Single Customer Search Results”
Why waste extra clicks? By enabling this setting (found in Customer Search View Options), AMS360 will open the customer record automatically if there’s only one match. It’s a small change that eliminates unnecessary steps and speeds up client lookups.
4. Use Color to Identify Inactive Customers
Inactive accounts can clutter your customer list. Use the Customer Search View Options to assign a unique color (brighter than AMS360’s default blue) to inactive customers. This quick visual cue helps you:
· Avoid wasted time on non-active clients.
· Keep your focus on revenue-generating accounts.
5. Populate Key Fields at the Customer Level
Preloading customer details saves significant time when creating applications. Don’t skip this step. It prevents you from re-entering the same data over and over.
Be sure to:
· Add Customer Contacts for Accounting, Claims, and Inspections using AMS360’s predefined labels.
· Enter NAICS, SIC, and FEIN under the Additional Information section.
This ensures consistency across your system and supports cleaner reporting.
6. Use the Acquisition Label for Book Purchases
When tracking acquisitions, the Acquisition Label feature is invaluable. Always include the effective date for clarity.
Example: KiteTech-9/16/2025 or JohnSmith-9/16/2025
This simple step makes it easier to manage and report on acquired books of business.
7. Leverage the Estimated Revenue Percentage Field
If your agency isn’t using AMS360 for accounting, leveraging the Estimated Revenue Percentage Field provides critical insights. By applying estimated commission values, you can generate projected revenue data in the MAR Book of Business report.
Suggested commission defaults:
· 15% for P&C Direct Writers
· 10% for P&C Wholesalers/MGA/Surplus Lines
· 10% for Workers Compensation
You can always override this field with true commission percentages, but this gives you a clearer picture of your revenue if you don't currently utilize full accounting integration.
8. Clean up Duplicate Records with Merge Customer
Duplicate customers not only create confusion but also skew reporting. The Merge Customers tool in the Administration Center lets you consolidate two records into one, preserving all accounting and customer data.
This step is essential for maintaining data integrity across your agency.
9. Exclude Specific Policies from Download
Sometimes carrier downloads overwrite important manual entries. By using the Exclude from Download checkbox (found under Basic Policy Information), you can prevent specific policies from being updated while still receiving downloads for others.
This is especially helpful for policies with:
· Large lists of locations
· Carriers that override key underwriting information
10. Use Notations and Descriptions Effectively
The Description Field (under Basic Policy Information) is perfect for documenting property addresses for Personal Lines clients with multiple policies for multiple locations. Meanwhile, Notations can be used as identifiers at the policy level and will appear on certain reports like Production Analysis. NOTE: This field can only populate one option, so you need to use notations for identifiers that should not conflict.
Suggested notation options:
· BofR-New
· BofR-Lost
· No Carrier Comm
This structured approach improves clarity for your team and simplifies reporting.
Simplifying AMS360 for Everyday Success
Small changes in how you use AMS360 can make a big difference in your agency’s efficiency, accuracy, and client service. By applying these tips, you’ll not only streamline daily workflows but also ensure your data is cleaner and more reliable for long-term success.
At Kite Technology, we specialize in helping agencies just like yours get the most out of their technology. Whether you need AMS360 consulting to optimize your setup or Managed IT Services to strengthen your technology foundation, our team is here to help you work smarter, not harder. Contact us today to start the conversation!
About the author:
Shelly Werfelmann, Agency Consultant – Vertafore AMS360
With over 30 years in the insurance industry, Shelly has held roles such as Account Manager, Operations Coordinator, Vertafore Systems Manager, and Business Intelligence Analyst, giving her a well-rounded perspective on agency operations and the critical role AMS360 plays in supporting them. Today, she serves as an Agency Consultant for Vertafore AMS360 at Kite Technology Group, where she is passionate about helping organizations unlock the full potential of their AMS360 system and work more efficiently. Outside of work, Shelly is active in her community as a pastor and mentor, guided by her commitment to learning, teaching, and serving others.