Virtual Research Associates, Inc.

Economic uncertainty and the war on terrorism have increased awareness of vulnerability of financial markets and business operations to terrorism and political risk.  In order to stay competitive in the face of economic and industry pressures, Insurers, Re-insurers, Financial Services Institutions, and Multinationals need to monitor the global situation closely.  A recent AON survey revealed that few Fortune 1000 companies' risk managers are confident that their companies are safe from political-risk losses and that most firms lack a good way of assessing and evaluating exposure to political risks.

Providing a web-based software tool that supports interactive analysis and intuitive display of news wire data in the form of graphs, tables, and maps

Virtual Research Associates has been addressing this market need since 1996 when it launched its web-based software tool that supports interactive analysis and intuitive display of news wire data in the form of graphs, tables, and maps-- all of which are linked to the full texts of the news wire reports from which they are generated.  Drawing on an electronic archive of global news reports spanning more than fifteen years and a continuous news feed from Reuters, VRA makes it possible for analysts to identify and assess trends reported in large volumes of text, and still drill down to any specific report for in-depth analysis. The Reuters-VRA partnership offers a unique, innovative approach to effectively glean critical information from the ever-increasing volume of global news reports, and VRA’s integrated approach to real-time monitoring can provide timely warnings on situations that may erupt into violence or undermine social, political, or economic stability.

Providing early warnings about potential international “hot spots”

The VRA system illuminates countries’ vulnerabilities to social hazards by monitoring global news wire service reports, assessing them and presenting up-to-the-minute intelligence in graphs, maps and tables. By spotting areas where instability or violence is likely to occur, VRA is currently providing early warnings about potential international “hot spots” to government agencies, corporations, academic and intergovernmental and nongovernmental humanitarian organizations.

A 100% transparent and 100% consistent automated system of processing reports

The unique and flexible research and analysis tool has broad application in the marketplace.  It is of interest to risk managers because it automatically performs traditionally labor-intensive time consuming research and analysis tasks. The alternatives are hand-coded, not iterative and typically only 45% accurate.  VRA software leverages the tasks that professionals already do by offering a 100% transparent and 100% consistent automated system of processing reports.  By its technological leadership in natural language processing and events data analysis, VRA can support a number of risk management applications in a growing field of industries and professions, via a real-time system that is flexible, user customizable, intuitive, and low-cost to operate. No competitor can claim the full spectrum of full horizontal integration from raw data points to conceptualization/frameworks to tools to visualization/presentation of the data.

Helping companies succeed in the arena of global enterprise

Business leaders considering the global economy beyond the events of 9/11 have found the security and prosperity of the world’s nations increasingly interdependent.  Knowledge of trends in regional political developments, civil strife, and other factors affecting global security is essential. It is the companies who hold the means to monitor and understand the forces of social, political and economic change who hold the power to succeed in the arena of global enterprise. In an era of constantly changing terrain and persistent challenges to security, the leaders of the next era of multinational companies need to be able to confidently navigate their firms through the uncertainties of the emerging global market.