Two of Chattanooga’s biggest companies are making sizable bets on better use of technology to grow their businesses and aid customers.

Staff Photo by D. Patrick Harding -- BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s new campus continues to rise on Cameron Hill.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and two other companies earlier this year agreed to buy TriZetto Group Inc., a California-based information technology business for $1.4 billion.

TriZetto is the nation’s largest provider of IT-based administrative services to the health care payer market, according to BlueCross.

“TriZetto is an important partner in leading the way toward fundamental industry improvements,” said Vicky Gregg, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s chief executive.

Mrs. Gregg said BlueCross’ ownership interest will deepen its ties with TriZetto in a way that “we believe will help us transform health care.”

TriZetto Group clients serve more than 140 million health plan members, or more than half of the insured people in the United States, according to BlueCross.

TriZetto provides information technology solutions that enable payers and other constituents in the health care supply chain to improve coordination of benefits.

Meanwhile, Unum Group is rolling out nationally its Web-based Simply Unum effort that combines its group and voluntary products on one platform.

“It is transformational,” said Unum U.S. Chief Operating Officer Bob Best about the initiative.

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He said the idea was to build a Web-based integrated service for the needs of the small and midsized businesses that are an increasing focus for Unum.

Mr. Best said Simply Unum creates more benefit choices and pricing flexibility while easing the customer’s way to buying insurance and processing claims through a better use of technology.

“We think it will be a big hit from a growth standpoint,” he said.

Mr. Best said the insurer has about 400,000 hours of work in developing Simply Unum.

In crafting Simply Unum, the insurer looked at other companies known for having a culture of continuing improvement, such as Toyota Motor Corp., FedEx and Southwest Airlines, Mr. Best said.

The company also did a lot of market research with brokers and employers, he said.

The Unum official said that more than 80 percent of Unum’s products are included within Simply Unum.