Guidewire Software Inc., a provider of core system software to property/casualty insurers, announced a new class of cloud-based applications on Monday.

Dubbed Guidewire Live, the hosted applications are intended to augment the functionality of Guidewire's InsuranceSuite underwriting, policy administration, billing, and claims management applications.

Blending internal data with external content such as weather, geographic and demographic data, the Guidewire Live apps are intended to help insurers solve specific operational problems. One app, Compare, displays dozens of operational metrics, enabling users to chart their performance internally or against a peer benchmark. Another app, Hail Forensics, enables insurers to track claims resulting from hail storms by measures including time, location and hail size.

Donald Light, research director, insurance at Boston-based advisory Celent L.L.C., said that by leveraging data, the new apps should help insurers solve common operational challenges.

“Celent sees many insurers looking for data-based sources of operational and strategic advantages,” Mr. Light said in a statement. “Guidewire Live puts benchmark data and analyses in the hands of managers and executives looking for those kinds of advantages.”

Guidewire CEO Marcus Ryu said the combination of data services delivered as apps paired with an 'instant-on' delivery model was unique for the insurance software industry.

“InsuranceSuite provides P/C insurers the surest path to replace their legacy core systems,” Mr. Ryu said in a statement. “But core system software alone is not enough. We have the opportunity and responsibility to innovate in ways that harness the power of our fast-growing customer community.”

Sean Welch, senior assistant vice president at Amica Mutual Insurance Co., said his company is among the first group of Guidewire customers to use Guidewire Live.

“We have been a Guidewire customer for many years and can say from experience that Guidewire continues to innovate,” Mr. Welch said in a statement. “Live is really ground-breaking for the industry and has the potential to take insurance to the next level.”