Learn How to Optimize Your Software to Profitably Run Your Agency/Brokerage
Today’s agencies and brokerages are a far cry from the paper-based firms of the past, and many of them now rely on software and technology to help agents and brokers bind policies, file claims, and communicate with clients. As systems administrator at Fischer, Rounds & Associates, I was in charge of not only setting up new software users but also managing relationships with vendors for networking and servers, as well as learning and managing those systems.
Think outside the box
In insurance, we often forget to think outside the box, but when I look at other industries and how they use technology to improve operations, I try to find ways that those tools can work for our agents and staff. For instance, many of our clients already communicate with our sales team via text messaging, but how well are those text-based conversations being documented in the management system? I wanted to find a tool we could use that would enable the sales team to send text messages directly from the management system to ensure these conversations are properly recorded.
Cloud-based customer service portals, like Applied CSR24, help our staff meet the needs of clients. If customers can log into a retailer’s website and see all their past purchases, why can’t insurance clients do the same? These kinds of portals allow customers access to all their insurance documents in one place, even if, as an agency, we need to split up packages of coverage—such as workers compensation and commercial general liability—between multiple carriers.
A few tips for making these changes include:
- Don’t be afraid of change
- Assess your processes and look for ways to improve workflow
- Implement change gradually and train staff well
- Reassess those changes to determine if modifications are needed
I think, so many times, we are stuck in the status quo, meaning “this is how we’ve always done it” and “it’s still working, why change it?” But how well is that process really working? Can you make it better? Rocking the boat now may slow some people down, but what if changes could make them more effective in the weeks and months ahead?
Read the full article on RoughNotes.com.