CONVENIENT, FAST AND HYPER-RELEVANT: PERSONALIZING THE INSURANCE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Todays insurance customers desire personalized, convenient and quick service. Accentures 2019 Global Financial Services Consumer Study made it more apparent than ever that serving customers in demographic segments is not as effective as serving them as individuals. But how can insurers manage hyper-relevance to millions of customers?The study surveyed 47,000 banking and insurance customers across 28 markets in Asia, Europe and North America. Its aim was to uncover what consumers want most from their providers, as well as major trends in how technological advancements affect consumer expectations.

Spotlight

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group

Chartered in 1828, the Vermont Mutual Insurance Company is one of the 10 oldest mutual property/casualty insurers in the United States. They have operated continuously since that time in Montpelier, VT. Along with the wholly owned subsidiary, Northern Security Insurance Company, Inc. and the affiliated Granite Mutual Insurance Company, the Vermont Mutual Insurance Group provides coverage throughout New England and New York. Through more than 400 independent agencies, the Group insures more than 300,000 policyholders with a direct written premium of approximately $465,000,000. The Vermont Mutual Insurance Company is rated “A+” by A. M. Best and has been named to the Ward’s Top 50 performing property/casualty companies in the United States for the past nine consecutive years.

OTHER ARTICLES
Insurance Technology

Reinsurance Market Maintaining Its Firming Trend

Article | July 20, 2022

Despite economic pressures on reinsurers and cedants, nearly all buyers were able to secure coverage during the reinsurance renewal period. However, attachment levels and the cost of ceding risk were higher than most buyers desired, and supply constraints in some lines and territories caused stress not seen in years. As a result, according to Gallagher Re's latest 1st View renewals report, the reinsurance market has maintained its firming trend. Despite mostly positive H1 2022 results, the combination of inflation and rising interest rates has caused reinsurers to adjust their balance sheets and reserves while also taking into account how a recessionary environment may increase claims frequency. These economic factors, combined with sustained loss levels, allowed reinsurers to maintain upward pricing pressure as they sought to reduce their appetite for volatility. Key Contributions to Understanding: Natural disaster capacity decreased overall as reinsurers continued to shift away from low-level layers, which differed by country and region. Reinsurers were seen assessing cedants' inflation-related actions and applying carefully calculated loadings to relevant treaties. The Russian invasion of Ukraine increased interest in cyber and war contract provisions. Long-tail casualty placements remained popular among reinsurers, but there was more debate about ceding commissions than in recent renewals. Higher ILS risk transfer prices have attracted net new capital, but this has not resulted in market softening. The inflation discussions have been detailed and technical, with reinsurers eager to challenge cedants' model outputs. Most reinsurers are assessing reserve adequacy as interest rates rise, in addition to their concerns about primary rate adequacy in the new inflationary environment. They are experiencing effects simultaneously on the asset and liability sides, which has strengthened their resolve to maintain the pricing momentum of the previous two years.

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Insurance Technology

Advancement of Technology in the Insurance Industry

Article | July 14, 2022

In the 21st century, we have witnessed high technological advancement. Just like any other industry, the insurance sector is transforming at a rapid speed. With the changes in demands and expectations of customers, insurers are seeking digital innovation and transformation that not only meet the requirements but also reduces their costs. So, here are a few that are set to engulf the entire industry for the better. These tech trends will help both insurers and customers to achieve what matters the most efficiently. Artificial intelligence For Process Improvement AI tends to disrupt the insurance industry more than any other technology. The main advantages that insurers can claim with AI include reduced claim costs, identifying insurance fraud, and mining voice data for improved customer service. The more an insurer will understand and use this technology, the better they will survive the competition. Customers usually look for a personalized experience when it comes to buying something especially as crucial as insurance. Artificial Intelligence provides the ability to create a personalized experience for a vast amount of users based on the data collected. It also enables fast data access and rapid reporting by removing the human element from the process. Blockchain for Secured Records With the amount of security required in the insurance records and claims, blockchain seems to be the most powerful technology for the upcoming revolution. The thriving technology behind the cryptocurrency has become the center of attention for insurance enterprises. Blockchain having the capability to encrypt all the data can decrease the number of fraudulent transactions, loss of data, and scams. IoT For Protecting Investment IoT (Internet of Things) is a technology trend that can be used to connect different objects to the internet. Be it a car, smartwatch, or a refrigerator. For insurance companies, it can be the most awaited blessing as IoT can help in detecting any problem before the actual damage take place. With the help of this technology, insurers can alert the customers in advance about the problems they might face through vehicle tracking, biometrics, and weather sensing. All of this makes it a win-win situation for both consumers and insurers. Automation For Ease of Verification Automation along with machine learning will drive better efficiency in the insurance sector. Having the intelligent system as support, insurers are exploring the more complex processes that can be automated. Some of which entails verification and approval of claims, customized interactions with customers, acquiring insights of the customers, property assessments, and detection of fraud. Adopt New Tech To Succeed As the competitors of insurance companies are moving ahead, more organizations need to adopt these emerging technologies. Moreover, techs like blockchain and automation are ready to provide more efficient processes. On the other hand, AI and IoT will help in offering personalized experiences while lowering the cost. Besides, a company or insurer can also hire developers to develop their system or application that can provide all the customization and security needed in the processing.

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Automobile Insurance, Insurance Technology

Security Think Up: It’s Time to Give a Thought About Cyber Insurance

Article | December 19, 2022

The rise in remote work during and after the pandemic has increased cyber vulnerabilities significantly. Cyber insurance protects your company from the financial consequences of cyber threats or data breaches involving computer systems and data. Credit card numbers, social security numbers, account numbers, health records, and driver's license numbers are examples of sensitive customer information. According to a recent SBA survey, 88% of small business owners believe they are vulnerable to a cyberattack. If your company is a victim of cybercrime, the cost of recovery can be prohibitively expensive, including specialized repairs and legal fees. One of the most difficult challenges is quantifying cyber risk. Although approaches and frameworks like NIST CSF, CIS 20, NCSC Cyber Essentials, and ISO 270001 aid in the development of cyber security capabilities, they do not provide the tools to quantify risk. As a result, leaders frequently overestimate their cyber maturity while underestimating cyber insurance premiums. Potential Cyberattack Types are: Breach of data: A breach occurs when critical information, such as personal financial information, is stolen. Cyber-attacks on computers:Your computer system is hacked and compromised in this type of cyberattack. Extortion via the internet:During an extortion threat to your company's computer system, thieves may demand ransom payments. To address these issues, a variety of approaches can be used, ranging from zero-trust models to multi-factor authentication (MFA) and end-point detection and response (EDR) (EDR and XDR). Protective monitoring, encryption applied to the most critical aspects of your network, and patch management processes can also provide insurers with the assurance they require. There are options for both small and large amounts of cyber liability coverage. A small cyber liability insurance policy could be added to the policy of a business owner. A larger cyber liability policy with higher limits would necessitate its own policy. Furthermore, they provide a real-time view of compliance through a risk-based approach that is consolidated, consistent, and aggregated across the entire organization. Workflow automation can help the IRM system become more efficient. By consolidating your risk management processes, you can ensure that controls continue to deliver on their objectives and demonstrate compliance with policies, standards, and regulations while having a lower impact on your day-to-day operational demands. All of this will make it easier to meet cyber insurers' requirements and give organizations confidence that their policy will protect them when they need it.

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Coronavirus and insurance: threat or opportunity?

Article | April 17, 2020

The world is facing an unprecedented situation like never before. In the span of a couple of weeks, a visually undetectable virus has wreaked havoc and driven everyone home. COVID-19 had led offices to close, the economy to slow down, and has isolated us in our homes. Zooming in on the insurance industry, the effects haven’t gone unnoticed here either. Since no one was prepared for a pandemic of this scale, people are scrambling to know what their insurance covers. Those who weren’t covered are enquiring if they can get covered now. Travel and health insurance are the specific types are making the most news.

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Spotlight

Vermont Mutual Insurance Group

Chartered in 1828, the Vermont Mutual Insurance Company is one of the 10 oldest mutual property/casualty insurers in the United States. They have operated continuously since that time in Montpelier, VT. Along with the wholly owned subsidiary, Northern Security Insurance Company, Inc. and the affiliated Granite Mutual Insurance Company, the Vermont Mutual Insurance Group provides coverage throughout New England and New York. Through more than 400 independent agencies, the Group insures more than 300,000 policyholders with a direct written premium of approximately $465,000,000. The Vermont Mutual Insurance Company is rated “A+” by A. M. Best and has been named to the Ward’s Top 50 performing property/casualty companies in the United States for the past nine consecutive years.

Related News

ICA to host insurance consultations as Townsville recovery continues

insurancebusinessmag | July 08, 2019

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) will host one-on-one consultations as well as an insurance forum for policyholders impacted by the February monsoonal deluge that severely affected many parts of Townsville.

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Insurtech growth in Canada opens up opportunities for insurers and brokers

insurancebusinessmag | July 08, 2019

Insurtech hackathons arent all fun and games. On the contrary, insurers in Canada are seeing a ton of value in taking part in these events and getting insight into ideas that participants are bringing to the table, which have the potential to bring benefits to the insurance industry.

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Lloyd’s demands insurance policies be explicit about cyber coverage

insurancebusinessmag | July 05, 2019

It looks like silent cyber has become deafening for Lloyds of London, which is now requiring clarity of coverage for cyber exposures in all insurance policies.In a new market bulletin, Lloyds said it believes it is in the best interests of customers, brokers, and syndicates alike for all policies to be clear on whether losses caused by a cyber event are covered.

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ICA to host insurance consultations as Townsville recovery continues

insurancebusinessmag | July 08, 2019

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) will host one-on-one consultations as well as an insurance forum for policyholders impacted by the February monsoonal deluge that severely affected many parts of Townsville.

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Insurtech growth in Canada opens up opportunities for insurers and brokers

insurancebusinessmag | July 08, 2019

Insurtech hackathons arent all fun and games. On the contrary, insurers in Canada are seeing a ton of value in taking part in these events and getting insight into ideas that participants are bringing to the table, which have the potential to bring benefits to the insurance industry.

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Lloyd’s demands insurance policies be explicit about cyber coverage

insurancebusinessmag | July 05, 2019

It looks like silent cyber has become deafening for Lloyds of London, which is now requiring clarity of coverage for cyber exposures in all insurance policies.In a new market bulletin, Lloyds said it believes it is in the best interests of customers, brokers, and syndicates alike for all policies to be clear on whether losses caused by a cyber event are covered.

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