Viewing entries written by Mark Breading
The P&C Claims Adjuster Role is Dead. Long Live the Claims Adjuster!
Decades ago, a refrain began that predicted the death of the insurance agent. The Internet was going to cut out the middleman! Disintermediation would result in the demise of the traditional insurance agent! But here we are – years later – and distribution intermediaries such as agents, brokers, wholesalers, and...
Tags: Claims
Personal Lines Distribution: Digital Capabilities Continue to Evolve and Expand
Within the insurance industry, the personal lines sector has frequently been the pioneer in building and enhancing digital capabilities. With increasing demands from both policyholders and distribution partners for digital solutions, technology innovation was and remains imperative to both staying relevant and increasing market share.
Tags: Distribution, Personal Lines
Mid/Large Commercial Distribution: Digital Capabilities on the Rise
Traditionally, success in the middle-market and large commercial segments relied on deep expertise regarding customer risks and deep relationships with a network of distributors with access to those markets. Those capabilities are still fundamental to success, but lately, the carriers’ digital capabilities have become increasingly essential in these markets.
Tags: Distribution
The Distribution Technology Journey for Small Commercial: Are We There Yet?
How far along are commercial lines carriers in delivering digital solutions to their agents and other distribution partners? Answering that question depends on whether you are a glass half-empty or glass half-full type of person. The pessimist might say: Despite huge investments in technology over the past few decades, there...
Personal Lines Insurers Tech Plans and the Pandemic: Significant Reshaping and Acceleration
The traditionally stable P&C personal lines insurance industry has been shaken up due to the pandemic. Insurers have been used to adjusting to economic swings and catastrophes that affect volumes and financials. Those kinds of adjustments are business as usual for the industry.
The Pulse Quickens for Commercial Lines Tech: A Post-Pandemic View
The past 18 months have been interesting (to say the least) for anyone involved in technology strategy, planning, or implementation. Ideally, a roadmap with prioritized projects and defined resource allocations directs the activity, and the company stays relatively true to its path.
Personal Lines Channel Plans: It’s Complicated
When most insurance industry observers think of the channel strategies for personal lines, the picture appears to be fairly simple. More of the business is moving to direct distribution approaches, whether that is through call centers or the web. Furthermore, there is a clear movement to digital, straight-through processing.
Commercial Lines Channel Plans: The Times They Are A-Changin’
Property/casualty commercial lines carriers have ambitious plans to expand their distribution channels. Much of the change is centered around traditional channels and agents, brokers, MGAs, and wholesalers. Because of that, my original title idea was, “The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same.” However, our new SMA research...
Customer Experience in P&C: It’s a Marathon, but the Finish Line Keeps Moving
Much has been written and much has been done in the past decade regarding the customer experience in P&C. Progress has been made in better understanding customer needs and journeys, implementing digital solutions for mobile and self-service capabilities, and improving interactions with agents and policyholders.
Commercial Lines Distribution Platforms: Way Beyond Comparative Raters
Commercial lines insurers have many options for distribution partners. The world of intermediaries is continuing to expand with many new platforms to connect distributors to carriers. We are frequently being asked by insurers how many distribution platform partners an insurer should have and how to identify the ones that best...