No one knows more about being a good partner than the Strategic Insurance Software team. A driving force of the SIS culture, working with and for our partner agencies is the cornerstone of our work. We asked SIS CEO Alex Deak to share what it means to go beyond a provider and become a partner for the many independent insurance agencies we serve.
When did you start at SIS? What has your journey been like so far?
SIS has been providing service to independent insurance agencies since 1995. I got involved with SIS in 2008 as our parent organization, NuGrowth Solutions, was providing sales and marketing services to expand the market presence of Partner XE. When NuGrowth acquired SIS in 2009, I took on the role of CEO.
Working with the SIS team has been very rewarding. We work hard every day to improve our Partner XE system and the services provided to our partner agencies. Our investment in technology and people has increased our capability to serve a broader spectrum of agencies in terms of size, complexity, and lines of business. As the company has grown, we’ve been able to increase our investment and the pace at which we can improve to serve more clients.
Describe the culture at SIS. How does it reflect your values as a company?
At SIS we say “Partner is who we are and Community is how we work.” Our goal is to build long-term partnerships with our customers, suppliers, and the organizations we connect with.
We operate in a highly collaborative team environment. We look to our customers to provide us insight into the capabilities and services that will help them most. Then, we work together to find a way to deliver good solutions through innovation and collaboration. Collaboration is a huge part of how we work. Each system update comes from the combined work of our team, our customers, and other technology organizations that have a good solution we can connect to Partner XE.
We value our customers and our relationships. I think that comes through in every interaction we have.
What does it mean to you to be a partner to Partner XE agencies?
Partner is more than a brand or slogan for us; it’s how we do business. Partnership and relationship is everything to us.
We want healthy and valuable relationships that last many years and decades; just like the agencies we work with.
And we daily renew our commitment to make that happen. The biggest thing is to listen to our customers to learn who they are and what’s important to them. That allows us to serve them well, which is really our number one goal.
What do you do on a daily basis to achieve that goal?
We want our customers to feel heard, that we care about what’s going on in their world. To let them know we are here to help. Even if we can’t provide a full solution immediately, we want our customers to feel we understand and will use all our resources to bring resolution.
How would you describe the Partner XE User Community?
The Partner XE User Community is a highly active and collaborative group of our partner agencies. They’re interested in the same thing we are: serving their clients in a mutually beneficial way. They’re full of new ideas and inspire us to innovate Partner XE to not only do more, but do more of the things our customers really need. And they like to have fun along the way, making it even more enjoyable.
What are some memorable moments you’ve experienced with the SIS team and Partner XE community?
I enjoy attending our Regional Learning workshops. They’re intimate, collaborative sessions focused on gaining new ideas and insights. Attendees are able to share learnings with each other and with the SIS team.
We usually have more than 20 people from 10 or more agencies, making it the right size to foster collaboration and innovation. It’s always interesting to see how each agency has a unique approach to their common daily operations.
At Regional Learnings, our customers constantly tell us they learned just as much from their fellow users as from our product experts. And the groups are lively. Both our team and the attendees always share a lot of laughs.
What makes SIS different from other management system providers?
The thing that sets SIS and Partner XE apart is our focus on relationship and service. Our actions around those foci are important. It’s not just lip service. The features and technology part are important, but in the end, most management systems do similar things. We work with our clients to provide the capabilities they want, the way they want them, at a cost that makes sense. And when they have a question, suggestion, or idea, they can talk to someone who is ready to listen and do something about it.
What is the most important thing you can provide for Partner XE agencies?
The most important thing we provide to Partner XE agency customers is trust. They can trust us to do the right thing, work to serve their needs every day, and be there when they need us.
Remember those Febreze commercials where people didn’t notice the smell in their homes, cars, and other spaces? They had gotten used to the unpleasant order they lived with in these places. But, when other people came by, it was obvious something stunk.
When I meet with individuals about switching agency management systems, I have a similar experience. I find too often they’ve gotten used to the system they have, even if it does stink. They’ve put up with limited functionality, found workarounds, and have given up on the slow-moving customer service offered by their provider.
Are you ignoring the smell of your agency management system? Check out our “must-have” list below to see if you’re missing these critical pieces for a more fragrant management system experience.
System Must Haves: The Short List
Below are the absolute musts for your management system. If you’re one short, it’s time to move to greener pastures.
Independent insurance agencies never settle for “good enough.” Go beyond the minimum with these capabilities to set your agency apart.
Outlook Integration
Customer and company communication is almost exclusively through email. Outlook integration brings email into your system, saving you from switching back and forth.
Integrated Accounting
An integrated accounting system eliminates doubling data entry in Quickbooks or Peachtree. You also get the ability to run extensive reports using all the data stored in your system.
Client portal access is quickly becoming a must-have for customers. With this online portal, customers essentially serve themselves after regular business hours.
Proposal Creator
A customizable proposal creator allows agencies to provide clients with professional, agency-branded proposals in 10 minutes or less for all renewals.
See more on SIS’s Proposal Creator and Client Portal in our latest releases
Mobile App
Another emerging must-have, a mobile app gives employees on-the-go access to customer and policy information. This allows staff to enter follow-up activities and update info in the moment so business can keep moving no matter where you’re located.
Finding a System that Has It All
Is it possible to find a system and provider that has it all? The short answer: no. But the long answer is: if they’re willing to grow. Each agency is unique, requiring a system that fits them. A provider that is open to changing and improving their system can make that perfect fit happen again and again as your needs grow.
Collaboration and growth are integral to our success at SIS. Our Partner XE management system is continually improved to directly meet partner agency needs, ensuring good stays the enemy of great. Find out more about how we work with our agencies through Workgroups and Regional Learnings. Visit us at sispartnerplatform.com to get in touch at [email protected].
As Client Services Manager at SIS, I spend a lot of time talking with our partner agencies about their day to day needs around agency management system functionality. One popular topic is how to execute advanced insurance agency reporting through their management system.
Owners, principals, accountants, and other agency staff need to extract and interpret data stored in their management system but are unsure how to get the information they need. In many of our Partner XE Regional Learnings, we review the most popular reports and how to export and interpret them using excel. Below are just a few of the most commonly requested reporting areas.
Book of business reports: includes number of active clients, clients by total premium, clients by active policy count, and personal vs. commercial business.
Production reports: includes producer production report and carrier production report.
Expiration lists: includes policies expiring in next 30-90 days (run this by producer or CSR managing accounts).
Cancelled policies: includes looking back (cancellation confirmation) and looking forward (cancellation requests).
Retention Reports: includes what book of business looks like year over year and compares expansion vs. contraction.
Does your agency have a data tracking strategy? Find out why you need one
Exporting and Interpreting Reports
Once run, all of these reports can be exported to Excel as .xls or .csv files. Once in Excel, you can manipulate data to look cleaner and interpret it in different ways (i.e. as percentages or sums). You can also change formatting so you can easily present data to staff, partners, investors, or other groups as needed.
The best tool I’ve found for data interpretation in Excel is pivot tables. Pivot tables allow the user to summarize, count and extract column percentages against other columns of data without being an Excel wizard. Below is an easy YouTube video on how to use basic functions of a pivot table:
Keeping it Simple with Partner XE and SIS
Reporting can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you know the data you’re after, you’ve overcome the biggest hurdle. I’ve helped many of our Partner XE users tackle their reporting needs. It’s amazing what you can do once you’ve got a handle on the basics!
Our Partner Learning Center offers dozens of step-by-step videos, our QuickGuides are available 24/7 as a quick refresher, and the SIS staff is always available by phone or email to give that extra helping hand. To find out more about what SIS and Partner XE can offer your agency, contact us at [email protected] or 800.747.7005, Option 6.
Whether it’s a quick morning jog, coffee in the car, or a shot of espresso at your favorite cafe, we all have a part of our morning routine that gives us that “Hello, today!” boost. Could your agency use that jolt, too?
Whether its tech tips, marketing tricks, news and information, or anything in-between, take advantage of the advice and inventiveness provided by great minds in the industry.
A recent post from Agency Nation hit on some of the best resources out there. Below are some of our favorite resources from the list.
Get targeted resources on perpetuation, cyber security, and more with the SIS eGuides
6 Online Insurance Resources to Follow
Agency Nation: Though specific resources are named on the list, the site itself has a wealth of information. Choose from articles, podcasts and a weekly video show uncovering the latest trends and tactics in independent insurance.
Insurance Thought Leadership: True to its name, this site brings together great minds in the industry. Read articles, listen to podcasts, or check out one of three blogs, including one focused on innovation.
The GROW Program: Stemmed from a social and digital marketing business, GROW offers a blog and podcast for agencies looking to hone branding and expand exposure.
Carrie Reynolds: Carrie has been at it since 1996, including creating her own brand, Insurance Goddess. Show co-owns her family-run agency and goes full throttle in insurance branding and marketing.
Coverager: With a focus on insurance tech, Coverager is a curation of what’s up with insurance, innovation, and the tools that make it happen. Check out its “Coverage Ponders” section for engaging articles.
Agency Checklists: Based out of Massachusetts, this site provides the latest in agency, insurer, fraud, and other industry news. It’s the straight facts owners need to make the best decisions for their business.
The conversation about improving your agency doesn’t have to stop at gaining tips and tricks. Keep the conversation growing by sharing your insights with your colleagues. We encourage Partner XE users to share their latest ideas through our Partner XE user community.
Whether it’s meeting at our regular Regional Learnings, shaping the Partner XE experience as a member of a workgroup or connecting on our regular monthly webinars, it’s important for the Partner XE community to connect in order to grow.
Get connected with the Partner XE community today! Contact us at [email protected] or 800.747.7005, Option 6.
Looking for the solution to your workflow management woes? We’ve got the answers. Follow these three simple steps to help your agency run better, faster, and smarter.
Audit your workflows
No matter the “it,” the ways it’s always been done isn’t necessarily the best way. Take a look at your current workflow practices and ask: “is this the best way?”. Pay attention to tasks you perform the most, such as:
Data entry
Certificate creation and distribution
Document storage and organization
Service call recording
Once you’re audited your workflows, train your staff to use the most efficient paths
Utilize time-saving tools
As you audit your workflows, see if you’re using the operative time-saving tools available to your management system. Essential elements include:
Carrier downloads for daily, automatic updates to both personal and commercial policy information
Integrated systems like accounting and email syncing, saving you from entering data twice or forgetting to add important information to your management system
Customer portals allowing insured to access and update their policy information in real-time, saving you form acting as the middle-man
Read more on the benefits of a customer portal from IDR, ACT and AUGIE’s digital technology campaign
Establish workflows for each role and employee
One size does not fit all with workflows. Common tasks and best ways to access information vary by role and employee. Producers want to view and edit prospect profiles and track engagement. CSRs look for the fastest way to access current customer information and policy updates. Both have specific, but different, workflow needs.
Similarly, each employee has a different way of using your agency management system to get the same information. Here’s where personalized workflows come in. Elements like custom dashboard and tracking views and multiple paths for common actions give your staff the freedom to optimize their personal workflows. This simple bit of freedom helps your team work happier and better.
BONUS: Lean on your management system provider
No one knows more about your management system than your provider.
We provide both online and in-person targeted training and work side-by-side with our clients to make enhancements and updates to the Partner XE agency management system. And we connect our user community through Regional Learnings, encouraging agencies to share tips and tricks on how they maximize Partner XE in their agency.
If you’re not part of the PXE community, contact us to find out more and get connected. You can reach an SIS sales representative at [email protected] or 800.747.7005, Option 6.
Recent surveys found the average insurance agent is just shy of 60 years old. That means two things: there are a lot of experienced agents out there, and there are a good number of agents reaching retirement age. As these agents retire, they’ll take their experience...
When your focus is community-minded, personalized insurance, it can be challenging to translate your skills to sales, marketing, and lead management. It can seem like a herculean task to figure out an insurance CRM and how it can help you identify and gain your ideal customers, growing your book of business.
When everyone in your agency is doing two, three, or more jobs, how can you manage to keep up with sales and marketing, too?
Our Partner Platform agencies can attest that it’s easier than you think. With our integrated management system and insurance CRM, we take the guesswork out of creating and managing customer and lead profiles in a CRM system. When everything is linked in one place, you can leverage the sales and marketing power of an insurance CRM with relative ease.
If you’re still wondering how to improve your insurance agency marketing, the answer is: data.
While that one-word answer is simple, the process of gathering, analyzing, and acting on data isn’t so easy. But if you put in the effort, it’s worth it; that’s why Everest Company found data analytics use in the industry could quadruple in just one year.
With over 70% of consumers looking for insurance quotes online, the data is out there for you to capture. Get your team started with honed marketing by breaking data analytics down into five parts.
No one knows more about being a good partner than the Strategic Insurance Software team. A driving force of the SIS culture, working with and for our partner agencies is the cornerstone of our work. We asked SIS CEO Alex Deak to share what it means to go beyond a provider and become a partner for the many independent insurance agencies we serve.
The thing that sets SIS and Partner XE apart is our focus on relationship and service. Our actions around those foci are important. It’s not just lip service. The features and technology part are important, but in the end, most management systems do similar things. We work with our clients to provide the capabilities they want, the way they want them, at a cost that makes sense. And when they have a question, suggestion, or idea, they can talk to someone who is ready to listen and do something about it.