Insurance

Personalized messaging, offers, and experiences at scale are becoming more than simply an unprecedented opportunity for P&C insurers due to mounting competition and rising customer expectations. Any carrier hoping to take a sizable lead over competitors may find it to be strategically necessary very soon.

Digital channels have witnessed a major transformation in recent years, affecting far more industries than only insurtech. The current environment has made users more in need of tender affection and care; thus, they are now demanding a high degree of personalization from all businesses, including P&C insurance.

They actually demand it, that is how much they value it. More than seven out of ten customers increasingly demand personalization as a given when interacting with businesses, and over seventy-six percent become irritated when they don’t, according to McKinsey. Personalization can have enormous benefits as well. Revenue improvements of 10% to 15% are possible for businesses that excel at customization; best-in-class performers can see rises as high as 25%.

Although this movement was started by industries other than P&C insurers, it is now the responsibility of the industry’s companies to keep up if they want to stay relevant in a very competitive market.

For many insurers, putting these solutions into practice—which send clients individualized messages including coverage options, policy recommendations, and all the related policy documentation—can be intimidating.

This is even more true when you take into account that this degree of personalization is available via text messages, emails, in-app offers, call centers, and more—across both digital and human channels—at every stage of the consumer experience.

Are these radical adjustments, though, worth it? Is it better for P&C insurers to take a risk? Why introduce such a system and what would be the benefit?

First, compared to the ongoing usage of mass, one-size-fits-all communications or discrete campaigns employing simple segmentation or personas, customization can help reduce client acquisition expenses by 50%.

Additionally, it can support insurers in maintaining and growing their portion of current industry earnings. According to McKinsey, for example, U.S. auto insurers might benefit an extra $5.5 billion if they use customization to hold onto just 10% of the $55 billion in direct written premiums that are transferred annually between carriers.

The true difficulty lies in perfecting personalization at scale throughout the insurance life cycle, but these evident cash flow benefits will undoubtedly have carriers on the lookout for change.

In order to do this, carriers with a contemporary, cloud-based insurance platform have an inherent advantage. In the absence of a bespoke system, you are forced to switch between fragmented systems, which prevents true scalability.

For instance, the Guidewire Cloud Platform provides omni-channel, tailored customer communications for the billing, claims, and policy processes.

For scalable, customized communications, Guidewire has partnered with Smart Communications, a market leader in conversation management platforms.

Everything is managed by a single, cloud-expandable platform, which means that there is no need to maintain different systems and that scalability is unlimited as needs for channels, storage, and other resources increase.

Incorporating a more customized strategy into their present systems can yield a swift return on investment for P&C insurers with the appropriate solutions in place. The personalization necessity isn’t limited to P&C insurance, as devices like Guidewire have already assisted carriers in launching personalized communications at scale in over 100 installations globally in a timely and economical manner. The time has come.

The growing popularity of EVs will have a significant effect on several sectors of the automobile industry. What implications does this sharp rise in EV sales have for vehicle insurance then? Let’s look at the rise of EVs and what its implications for customers and auto insurance in Part Two.

Comparing insurance expenses: Electric vehicles vs. Gas-powered vehicles

Annual premium estimates from Quadrant Information Services were gathered in order to obtain additional understanding of EV insurance rates and how they differ from gas-powered car costs. The calculations were made using a driver who was 35 years old, had a spotless driving record, and good credit. The figures show expected premiums for comprehensive, collision, and comprehensive coverage as well as minimum-liability insurance for full coverage auto insurance policies.

For instance, the 2022 Nissan Altima and 2022 Honda CR-V are gas-powered vehicles whose typical yearly insurance rates are $2,263 and $1,808, respectively. In contrast, the 2023 Tesla Model S and 2023 Nissan Leaf S are both electric cars that will cost a driver $4,762 and $2,374, respectively.

The average cost of insurance for electric automobiles is also typically higher, though this depends on the make, model, and year of the car. In 2023, the average annual cost of full-coverage auto insurance nationwide will be $2,024. The coverage costs of the electric cars on this list range from 10% to 135% more than the national average.

Strategies for electric vehicle owners to reduce car insurance expenses

EV drivers will save money on standard automobile ownership expenses by not having to pay for gas or oil changes, but they can also reduce the cost of insurance by utilizing local, state, and federal rebate programs.

For example, at the state level, low-income Californians may be eligible for more than $30,000 in incentives toward the purchase of a new EV, and Colorado offers up to $8,000 in rebates for people who buy or lease an electric car. Many states have utility providers that provide discounts and other incentives to customers who install specific EV charging stations in their homes.

Federal tax benefits are also offered to owners of specific EV brands and models. A tax credit of up to $7,500 is available under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act to individuals who buy an eligible electric vehicle (EV) with a battery capacity of at least seven kilowatt hours. The expiration date of this credit is December 2032.

Using the discounts on auto insurance that are offered by an insurer is a terrific method to save money in addition to credits and rebates. Many large insurance providers provide discounts to responsible drivers, multi-vehicle policyholders, and customers who combine auto and other policies. Lower premiums can also result from choosing a greater deductible, but doing so increases the amount of money drivers must pay out of pocket for repairs.

It will be more crucial than ever to compare auto insurance quotes from several companies because we anticipate some volatility in the price of electric vehicle insurance in the years to come. This is among the greatest ways for drivers of electric vehicles to locate coverage that meets their needs and is both inexpensive and of high quality.

The implications of electric vehicle (EV) growth on the insurance industry

With the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market, car insurance firms are already changing and there will definitely be more changes in the future. Insurance firms would likely need to change their underwriting methods and risk assessments to take into consideration the unique characteristics of EVs. Charge infrastructure, battery range, and the availability of authorized repair facilities are just a few of the variables that may affect premiums.

Elevated expenses associated with collision insurance

The costlier collision coverage will likely be the most noticeable impact EVs have on insurance. This kind of insurance covers the cost of repairs to your car in the event that you cause an accident.

Compared to traditional gas-powered cars, electric vehicles (EVs) require more expensive replacement parts and repairs. As was already established, this problem is even worse if an accident damages an electric vehicle’s battery. Insurance companies will have to control this risk by charging more for EV crash coverage.

Do you need extra insurance for home charging?

Another consideration for insurance providers is using a home charger for an electric car. For EVs, home charging involves two primary stages:

Level 1: Charge your electric car using the provided charger. Any standard 120V outlet can be used with it. Despite its convenience and ease of setup, level 1 charging requires more time than other charging techniques.

Level 2: You need to purchase individual chargers for your electric vehicle in order to employ this technique. Large equipment like laundry dryers require 240V outlets, which are also needed for level 2 charging. When compared to Level 1 charging, this method charges batteries three to seven times faster.

There are no further home modifications needed for Level 1 charging, which is a straightforward charging technique. Although adding a new 240V outlet is usually required for a Level 2 home-charging system, insurers do not require EV owners to get extra homeowners’ insurance. However, some insurance companies could require proof of the proper installation of the home charging equipment.

Enhanced training and fresh policies

As EVs become more and more common, auto insurance companies will need to adjust the way they operate. This is particularly valid in the case of assertions.

Additionally, there’s a strong likelihood that new categories of auto insurance plans will emerge to meet the needs of developing EVs. Insurance firms may develop new plans or increase coverage options tailored exclusively for EV owners as the market for electric vehicles grows, keeping a watch on the always changing trends in the electric car sector.

The EV revolution: Final thoughts

It is too early to tell how EVs will impact the auto insurance market. We do know, however, that as EV market share increases in the United States, insurers will need to modify coverage options and provide agents with the necessary training to manage EV-related claims with ease. Average premiums will probably level out as the market adjusts to the growing number of electric vehicles on the road, even if consumers are presently paying higher-than-average premiums to safeguard their electric cars and should continue to expect high expenses soon.

The era of electric vehicles is now formally upon us (EV). By 2022, there will be more than 10 million electric vehicles sold worldwide. By 2030, the International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that this number will almost triple. There are currently 3 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road in the United States alone, and there are more than 130,000 public charging stations. These numbers are only expected to rise.

The growing popularity of EVs will have a significant effect on several sectors of the automobile industry. What implications does this sharp rise in EV sales have for vehicle insurance then? Let’s look at the rise of EVs and what its implications for customers and auto insurance in Part One.

The implications of electric vehicles’ ascendance for consumers

Beyond having reduced fuel expenses, electric vehicles (EVs) provide several other advantages to users, such as fewer moving components that can break down, no need for oil changes, and typically less wear and tear on brake systems than their gas-powered competitors. But EVs are also more expensive to insure than conventional combustion-engine cars because of their higher sticker prices.

What causes higher insurance costs for electric vehicles?

In addition to being more expensive than the majority of conventional cars, EVs also require more expensive maintenance and replacement parts. These are the two main causes of consumers’ increased EV auto insurance rates, according to Kelley Blue Book.

The average cost of a new electric vehicle was $58,940 in March 2023. This is over $10,000 more expensive than the $48,008 industry average for a new car at that time. Car insurance premiums are directly impacted by a vehicle’s MSRP; therefore, EV owners can expect to pay more for coverage.

Premiums for EV insurance are also significantly influenced by high repair expenses. An electric vehicle’s components are less likely to break down, but the ones that do cost a lot more to replace or repair. This is particularly true if the battery pack on an EV is harmed. According to Consumer Affairs, replacing an EV battery can cost anywhere from $4,500 to almost $18,000 on average.

Another issue facing EV owners is a lack of skilled repair facilities and experts. When it comes to repair alternatives, buyers will have fewer options and pay more because electric vehicle technicians need specific training. For EV drivers, the cost of insurance is increased by each of these considerations.

What should consumers anticipate regarding electric vehicle insurance expenses?

Repair prices and MSRPs will undoubtedly decline as electric vehicles proliferate and account for a growing portion of the automotive fleet; insurance costs will likewise inevitably decline in tandem. But EV insurance premiums will likely be more expensive in the near future than those for regular cars.

With over 14 years of experience dealing in personal lines insurance, registered insurance agent Nick Vitali discussed his thoughts on how a rise in EVs would impact consumers. While Vitali conceded that future insurance premiums will probably rise due to significant repair costs, he also highlighted several advantages for electric vehicle owners. He discussed how some insurance companies actually provide discounts or incentives for EV owners because electric vehicles (EVs) are more environmentally friendly and have less fire-related accidents.

Comparing repair expenses: Electric vehicles vs. conventional gas & hybrid cars

Here are some yearly repair cost estimates from RepairPal for more background. For instance, a gas-powered Toyota Corolla typically costs $362 to repair, whereas a hybrid Toyota Prius and a gas-powered Nissan Altima often cost $408 and $483, respectively.

In contrast, the average repair expenses of two electric vehicles, the Tesla Model S and the Nissan Leaf, are $1,047 and $748, respectively.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the article, coming soon.

As natural disasters like wildfires and storms become more severe, many insurance companies are limiting their coverage in certain areas or reducing what they’ll pay for repairs.

A lesser-known part of the financial industry, called reinsurance, is playing a crucial role in these changes. Reinsurance companies step in with large sums of money when disasters, like hurricanes or wildfires, cause widespread and expensive damage that regular insurance companies can’t handle on their own.

At the beginning of this year, almost all reinsurance companies raised their prices. This meant higher costs for insurance companies, including major national carriers like State Farm and Farmers, as well as smaller specialized firms. Negotiations between insurers and reinsurers, including companies like Swiss Re and Odyssey Re, have been tense.

Reinsurers have been losing money in recent years as they competed to offer the best deals to customers. However, last year, they decided that this kind of competition wasn’t worth the cost. The price increases in reinsurance have accelerated changes in an industry grappling with rising uncertainty due to global warming, more intense storms, increased costs of rebuilding after disasters, and higher global interest rates.

Insurance companies have paid out around $40 billion to U.S. customers this year, setting a record for yearly losses. This rising cost affects everyone, from the leaders of large companies to homeowners and small businesses.

Reinsurance prices increased by as much as 40% on January 1, leading insurers to make changes in their offerings. Some insurers stopped accepting new applications for certain policies, and reinsurers specialized in agriculture insurance pulled out of Iowa, where a severe windstorm caused significant damage three years ago.

As a result of higher reinsurance costs, insurers also increased prices where regulations allowed, especially for insuring new developments in places like Denver and Calgary, Alberta, where stick-frame housing is booming.

Severe thunderstorms in the United States have caused nearly 70% of the global losses from natural disasters this year. Experts predict that reinsurance prices will stay high for a significant period, and insurers might need to raise prices even where regulators resist such increases.

With reinsurers pulling back, some insurance companies are exploring alternatives to secure backup funds, such as catastrophe bonds, which let investors provide money for major-disaster losses in exchange for regular payments.

However, not all reinsurers are taking a step back. Recently, Berkshire Hathaway and Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state-run insurer in Florida, reached a $1 billion agreement. This is Citizens’ biggest coverage arrangement for traditional reinsurance with a single company to date.

Reinsurers may reenter the market in quest of profits, despite the opinion of some analysts that reinsurance rates could drop earlier than anticipated. This dynamic market means that insurance premiums and disaster coverage are continually changing.

The insurance industry has struggled to keep pace with innovation in other sectors

In comparison to other industries, the insurance sector has struggled to keep up due to low levels of innovation.

This is partially because consumers are less interested in insurance goods until an urgent need arises, and partly because providers must adhere to stringent risk and compliance regulations and use rigid legacy systems.

To make their product more relevant to clients, insurers have therefore had less need—and less ability—to innovate. As a result, many existing players have concentrated on solidifying their positions, making business expansion more challenging, expensive, and complex.

As a result, insurers are increasingly looking to collaborations with insurtech companies as the “magic solution” to quicken the insurance industry’s digital transition.

Customers may manage their insurance portfolio and submit a claim with the assistance of chatbots powered by AI, for instance.

When combined with behavioral data from smart watches or cars, the use of AI and machine learning technology can aid insurance carriers in the detection of fraud, support the development of new business models, and help customize plans and lower premiums.

The idea of “embedded insurance” is, nevertheless, possibly, the most significant trend and the strongest growth lever for insurance providers. This is not a brand-new business model; rather, it expands the reach of what we have come to refer to as “bancassurance” to new prospective retailers that sell goods or services to customers online.

When a consumer is making a transaction, embedded insurance allows suppliers to sell micro-insurance goods or services. A prime illustration of that is when you get travel insurance along with a ticket or vacation.

Because of this, integrated insurance must be digitalized, whether through online sales channels, e-commerce platforms, apps, standalone websites, or even at non-points of sale. And to accomplish this, most insurers must collaborate with insurtechs.

Legacy insurers can modernize by expediting innovation in the sector

There are many other ways for businesses to update their outdated platforms, and not all of them entail integrating with an insurtech’s platform.

There is no one technique that works for everyone, and the best course of action greatly depends on the current status of the organization’s strategic goals and the design of its systems.

Many businesses should start by prioritizing modernization and innovation and spending the necessary time and money to outline their strategies.

Implementing innovative working practices like Agile or DevOps, which will hasten innovation and the development and deployment of systems, is one such strategy.

Additionally, businesses may try to re-architect their systems using techniques like microservices, modularization, or containerization to increase agility while reducing complexity and interdependencies.

Companies may need to adopt an API-first strategy or migrate (or partially migrate) their old systems into the cloud if they wish to benefit from insurtech innovation. They might even decide to replace their legacy systems completely, which would be a huge move.

Companies may think about collaborating with an expert partner to assist them sort through the plan and determine the best course of action given the variety of possibilities, the potential cost, risk, and complexity involved.

Key factors to prioritize when modernizing legacy systems

When modernizing systems, there are several factors to consider. Among the crucial ones are:

Business impact: How does the current system affect the company’s present and long-term strategic goals? How well does the system satisfy customer needs, and what maintenance risks exist, such as downtime and security issues?

Cost-benefit evaluation: What are the costs associated with operating the current system, taking into account the cost of construction, upkeep, licenses, and the financial impact of unavailability? What are the expenses incurred by modernizing, as well as the financial gains in terms of spending, productivity, and client retention?

Technical debt and complexity: How much complexity has built up over the years, considering obsolete technologies, unsupported software, and intricate interdependencies? What effect do these have on technology integration, maintenance, and stability?

Interoperability and integration: How effectively does the current technology suit the needs for interoperability and integration with internal and external systems now and in the future? Can the system support contemporary APIs, data formats, and protocols? How well does it integrate with other technologies, such as cloud, mobile, and third-party systems?

Future scalability and innovation: To what extent is the system capable of supporting foreseeable expansion and innovation? Can it support cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, and can new features and functions be added quickly and easily thanks to the architecture’s support for modular upgrades and agile development?

The Covid epidemic has had a huge impact on the insurance industry’s technological strategy, according to a new special report by AM Best.

However, the pandemic sharpened the industry’s focus on innovation, according to the rating agency. Property and casualty (P&C) insurers have traditionally concentrated on data.

Businesses can become even more data-driven through digitization, and predictive modeling gives insurers a competitive advantage as they work to set premiums that are in line with the actual underlying risk.

According to the AM Best research, “ultimately, Covid led to a sense of urgency for digital transformation.”

The industry’s perspective of what is feasible has changed in the wake of Covid, particularly for product categories like home and motor that are becoming more integrated with Internet of Things gadgets that monitor driving behavior and water leakage in houses.

According to AM Best, the requirement to adopt remote processes has given energy to boost insurers’ digital literacy and launch initiatives to update procedures and systems. These processes range from consumer engagement to claims assessment to remote personnel.

All insurance segments and lines of business are experiencing a transformation in their underwriting capabilities due to the explosion of data and increasingly sophisticated telematics. Particularly regarding small business and personal motor lines, this is the case.

According to AM Best, the more creative players are utilizing machine learning and data sources to improve underwriting capabilities by looking beyond normal automation.

In an effort to actualize a future in which the majority of policies go through straight-through processing, the most forward-thinking carriers are continually experimenting, according to AM Best.

Innovative insurers have also used data analytics to create more specialized goods and services for new risks, like the developing cyber insurance sector.

The reinsurance industry, according to the research, tops the industry in terms of innovation. Because they are one or more steps removed from the final policyholder, it is highlighted that they have had to grow in disciplines including enterprise management, portfolio development, and risk accumulation.

“This has become evident recently with the series of losses due to significant natural catastrophic storm activity, which has been exacerbated by secondary perils and heightened inflation,” AM Best says. 

To remain sustainable, significant, and prosperous, insurers have been forced to develop an inventive culture in response to the ongoing challenges posed by these high severity events and competitive pressures.

LenderDock Inc., the leading provider of online Property and Casualty Insurance policy verification and automated lienholder process management services, is pleased to announce a new relationship with Westwood Insurance Agency LLC, an indirect subsidiary of BRP Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRP).

“Westwood is a smart and strategic company that has made a point to continually improve operational efficiencies and internal workflows in order to better serve their customers and to support growth opportunities. We are thrilled about the collaboration and synergies between both organizations,” said Frank Eubank, LenderDock’s CEO.

Westwood Insurance Agency will take full advantage of LenderDock’s Verifi™, Correxions™, and LenderDocs™ solutions.

The first tool, Verifi™, is a real-time insurance policy verification system. Verifi™ eliminates the need for phone calls for policy verification, resulting in a quicker and more effective process.

With the second tool, Correxions™, lenders can send adjustments to the carrier directly, automating the process of changing policy information. This enables carriers or providers to process the updates quickly and effectively in accordance with their own protocols.

Finally, LenderDocs™ offers financial third parties electronic and real-time access to critical policy-related papers including EOIs, Certificates, and others. This facilitates the acquisition and dissemination of these documents, making it simpler for business partners to handle their policy data.

About Westwood Insurance Agency

Westwood Insurance Agency is one of the largest personal lines agencies in the United States, having helped more than a million people protect what matters most since its founding in 1952. As a full-service agency, Westwood offers a complete array of personal, commercial, and surplus line products. Westwood partners with the world’s leading insurance products. For more information, visit http://www.WestwoodInsurance.com.

About LenderDock Inc.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, LenderDock Inc. is the leading provider of online Property and Casualty Insurance policy verification and automated lien holder process management services. The policy verification-as-a-service (VaaS) platform offers banks, lenders, and financial third parties the ability to digitally verify and correct home and auto policy-related data in real-time.

In the property and liability insurance market, digital transformation has enhanced processes from quotation through coverage administration. As we move ahead to 2024, this digital transformation is accelerating with an omnichannel approach to customer service and other business-related issues.

In fact, insurers of all sizes are utilizing flexible, long-lasting solutions in order to preserve their competitiveness. For insurers looking to get the upper hand, here are five more cutting-edge technological trends here in Part Two.

6. Data from Social Media Platforms

The use of social media in the insurance sector is expanding beyond clever marketing campaigns. For P&C insurers, social media data mining is enhancing risk assessment, enhancing fraud detection capabilities, and enabling completely new customer experiences.

Consider the Dutch insurance provider Kroodle as an illustration. They conduct all their consumer interactions through social media. Customers log in using their Facebook credentials and then use a Facebook app to submit claims, seek estimates, and do other tasks.

Social media can be used by insurance technologies to investigate fraud. To spot such anomalies, insurers can examine insureds’ social lives and compare them to their claims histories. Insurtech Insights reports that between 2014 and 2021, the use of social media data for fraud detection more than doubled.

7. Connected Vehicle Technology

Telematics capabilities will continue to have an impact on auto policies. Consider telematics in the context of insurance technology as wearable technology for your vehicle. Nowadays, monitoring systems for cars are available. One example is Progressive’s Snapshot, which uses analytics software to monitor and process data on speed, location, accidents, and other factors to assist calculate your policy rate.

Telematics has many advantages for both insurers and insureds. In P&C insurance, telematics will:

1. Promote safe driving practices

2. Reduce insurance companies’ claim expenses 

3. Transform carrier customer interactions from reactive to proactive

8. Conversational AI Agents

Some predictions state that chatbots will fuel 95% of all client interactions by 2025.

Chatbots may smoothly communicate with clients using AI and machine learning, saving time for all parties involved in an organization and, eventually, money for insurance firms. To save human assistance for more complicated situations, a bot can guide a consumer through the application or claims procedure for a policy.

“Kate” is a virtual assistant from Geico that interacts with consumers by text or voice, providing 24/7 assistance with policy and coverage questions. Chatbot capabilities are anticipated to grow in 2023 and beyond as more insurance businesses invest in technologies like this.

9. Simplified Development with Low-Code

Today’s insurers must be able to effectively manage software platforms, roll out changes, and launch new products onto the market. Previously, this process needed an experienced developer or IT team, but recent developments in platforms for software-specific coding have made this process simpler than ever.

Business stakeholders, not only IT specialists, can update and manage apps and software with the use of low-code configuration tools that use a simple drag-and-drop interface. Insurers will be able to swiftly deploy new and innovative user interface (UI) features that clients need, in a fraction of the time typically needed, with only basic or even modest app and software knowledge.

The following are the main gains from low-code development:

1. Significantly faster time to market

2. Organization-wide app development on a large scale

3. The capacity to develop fundamental traits that can be enhanced; 4. Enabling staff to accept responsibility for their work/offerings

According to Statista, 29% of respondents believed that low-code development moves 40–60% more quickly than its conventional version. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that low-code solutions are quickly taking over as the preferred method for application development. This transition is so significant that according to Gartner research, by 2024, more than 65% of all app development efforts will be carried out using low-code approaches. That was a big jump, wouldn’t you say?

10. Drones

Insurance companies are taking to the skies, or at least their drones are. Carriers will employ unmanned drones as a technology tool in the insurance sector more frequently in 2023. They can be used at several stages of the insurance lifecycle, including gathering data to calculate risk before a policy is issued, helping with preventative maintenance, and assessing damage following a loss.

Farmers Insurance is a wonderful example of a company that employs Kespry drones to analyze risk and property damage. In addition to doing evaluations like roof inspections, these drones also upload their data to the cloud for analysis. Another instance of how the insurance industry combines IoT and other technologies is this one.

P&C insurers are always searching for the most cutting-edge developments in insurance technology. They are able to provide the experiences that customers desire in the modern market, which keeps them one step ahead of their competitors. Due to all the recent market advances, such as smart home technology, insurtechs, and microservices, 2023 and 2024 will be years to watch for advancements in insurance technology.

If you missed Part One, here are even more trends to get caught up on here.

LenderDock Inc., the leading provider of online Property and Casualty Insurance policy verification and automated lienholder process management services, is pleased to announce a new partnership with McMillan Warner Mutual Insurance Company.

“McMillan Warner is a carrier that takes the service and support of their customers seriously and has committed to improved processes and automation to help drive efficiency and savings.  We are excited to be partnering with them and supporting their goals,” said Frank Eubank, LenderDock’s CEO.

McMillan Warner will take full advantage of LenderDock’s Notifi™ solution. Notifi™ is a system that facilitates the exchange of insurance information among a variety of parties including insurers, lenders, leasing companies, government agencies, and trackers. Insurance companies send electronic files to LenderDock, which then distributes the insurance information to its trading partners either through electronic means or via paper, as per the trading partners’ preferences or capabilities.

About McMillan Warner Mutual Insurance Company

McMillan Grange Mutual Fire Insurance Company was organized on the 28th day of May 1898. A board of nine members was elected and from the nine a President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer were chosen.

On April 30, 1982, the company merged with the Warner Mutual Insurance Company; and therefore, the name was changed to the present name McMillan Warner Mutual Insurance Company.

McMillan Warner Mutual Insurance Company is a policyholder owned domestic non-assessable mutual insurance company.

About LenderDock Inc.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, LenderDock Inc. is the leading provider of online Property and Casualty Insurance policy verification and automated lien holder process management services. The policy verification-as-a-service (VaaS) platform offers banks, lenders, and financial third parties the ability to digitally verify and correct home and auto policy-related data in real time.

Digital transformation has improved procedures from quotation through coverage administration in the property and casualty insurance industry. With an omnichannel approach to customer service and other aspects of business, this digital revolution is accelerating as we look ahead to 2024.

In fact, in order to maintain their competitiveness, insurers of all sizes are using adaptable, sustainable solutions. These five cutting-edge technological trends, which we’ll discuss in Part One, are now strategic necessities for insurers that want to get the upper hand.

1. Anticipatory Data Analysis

Predictive analytics is widely used by insurers to acquire a variety of data for client behavior analysis and forecasting. There are new uses for it, though, which can improve the accuracy of the data.

In 2023 and 2024, insurance companies can use predictive analytics for:

  • Risk selection and pricing
  • Recognizing customers who might cancel
  • Identifying fraud risk
  • Classifying claims
  • Detecting erroneous claims
  • Recognizing trends

Numerous Property and Casualty insurance companies have seen increased accuracy and increased revenue after adopting predictive modeling methodologies. According to research done by McKinsey & Company in 2023, the top four performers in EMEA in 2022 had an operating profit increase of 10–25% because of the use of predictive analytics.

Additionally, it is anticipated that this influence would increase during the next two years. It’s important to note that numerous businesses believe predictive analytics will increase their operating earnings by over 25%.

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming widely used, and there are now many AI-capable devices in households all over the world. The use of voice assistant technology in the United States is anticipated to grow steadily over the coming years, according to a Statista estimate. By 2026, it’s expected that the 142 million people who signed up in 2022 will have increased to more than 157 million members. So how can the insurance sector take advantage of this pervasive and available technology?

Customers are particularly on the hunt for tailored experiences when purchasing something as important as P&C insurance. AI allows insurers the ability to create these unique experiences so they can meet the quick-paced demands of modern customers. The key lies in harnessing AI’s abilities to leverage the enormous amounts of consumer data that are already available to create personalized experiences based on a person’s behavior and habits.

In addition, insurers can use AI to speed up the underwriting process and reduce the time it takes to process claims. Additionally, AI helps insurers to access data more quickly, and doing away with human intervention may result in faster, more accurate reporting.

According to a McKinsey & Company analysis, AI might transform the insurance sector by moving it from a “detect and repair” approach to one of “predict and prevent,” which would alter how brokers, customers, and other stakeholders operate. The outcome? enhanced customer experience, better decision-making, increased productivity, and cost savings.

3. Training Machines to Learn

The incorporation of machine learning operations will determine the insurance technology trends of 2023. To maximize the benefits of data-driven analytical tactics, this will require cross-departmental cooperation. The deployment and administration of machine learning (ML) requires a number of different processes and practices, according to Deloitte Insights. The potential of AI may be difficult for organizations to realize without adequate MLOps skills.

Not only can machine learning make claims processing better, but it can also be automated. Digital files that are accessed via the cloud can be examined using pre-programmed algorithms, enhancing processing efficiency. This automated evaluation can affect more than just claims; it can also be applied to risk analysis and policy management.

You don’t want to fall behind when it comes to embracing machine learning skills. All indications are that machine learning will spread throughout the insurance industry. According to a SMA poll, 66% of P&C insurance executives think machine learning will have a significant influence on commercial lines of business while 53% of executives think it would have a significant impact on personal lines.

4. Connecting the World: The Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) can automate much of this data sharing because most consumers are eager to contribute extra personal information if it means getting a better deal on their insurance coverage. When calculating rates, reducing risk, and perhaps preventing losses altogether, insurers can leverage data from Internet of Things (IoT) devices like the numerous smart home components, car sensors, and wearable technology.

P&C insurers simply cannot afford to wait to take use of IoT capabilities, as predictions indicate that the market for IoT insurance will grow to be quite large by 2029. IoT will support other insurance technologies with first-hand data, increasing the accuracy of risk assessment, allowing insureds more power to directly affect the pricing of their policies, and offering insurers the potential to increase accuracy and revenues.

5. The Intersection of Insurance and Technology

The insurtech industry, or more precisely insurtech businesses, makes use of the most recent insurance technologies to save costs for both consumers and insurers, boost operational effectiveness, and enhance the entire customer experience. Insurtech advances the capabilities of existing digital insurance services, which may sound similar to those that have been in use for some time.

The third quarter of 2022 will see the first growth in P&C insurtech funding since the second quarter of 2021, according to a report by Gallagher Re. Over 75% of the entire insurtech investment for Q3 2022 came from the $1.8 billion in funding, which represented a growth of 20% quarter over quarter.

Since 2012, the insurtech market has brought in over $50 billion, reaching its peak in 2021 before tumbling in 2022. The financing split favors P&C insurtechs over their peers in the life, accident, and health sectors by a 60-40 margin.

Look for more ways that technology trends are changing the insurance industry in 2023 beyond in Part Two, coming soon.