ACORD working groups have completed a standardized vocabulary for XML based on the ACORD ObjX and AL3 Standards. The result of a joint initiative with the Independent Insurance Agents of America, the XML project is targeted to help prevent the potential growth of non-standard DTDs. Responding to a specific set of requirements from the IIAA’s Agents Council for Technology (ACT), ACORD working groups refocused their XML efforts to address the fragmentation of industry XML standardization. ACT member organizations, all ACORD participants, brought individuals to the table to accelerate the process. The resulting ACORD XML Dictionary encompasses all of the property/casualty data requirements for all existing ACORD Standards including Personal, Commercial, Claims, Accounting, and Surety. The next steps underway at ACORD include the creation of a process to facilitate the creation of XML transaction standards and a transaction specification based on the dictionary. Several proposed transactions are currently under development for Personal Auto, Homeowners, Business Owners, and Workers Compensation. These include quote requests in addition to new business and change submissions. ACORD also released a resource kit that contains guides to assist in the transaction definition process, including a Standards Mapping Guide for AL3 and ObjX, a Code List Guide, a DTD, and a Submission Template for proposed transactions. The XML standards project has received the support of major carriers and software developers. In addition to SAFECO and National Grange Mutual, participating companies include CGU, Chubb, Hartford, Kemper, Progressive, St. Paul, and Travelers. In addition to IVANS and AMS, participating software developers are Applied Systems, APT, Delphi, DocuCorp, ISO, JCRS, Microsoft, NCCI, Ontos, PMSC, and Symmetry Technology Labs. www.acord.org.