Staying up-to-date with the latest technology is important but, as we saw in our last post, can be expensive. As you assess your technology needs, it is helpful to keep in mind the high-cost items your agency needs – be aware of price range and budget accordingly. You may find it is best for your agency to purchase the most expensive tech items outright, or that a monthly payment plan works better. Whichever you chose, plan ahead! Here are some costly tech items to pay attention to:
Cloud Storage/Back-Up
Cloud storage and back-up are becoming the norm for any business dealing with client data. This is one thing you should never skimp on. Look for a provider that has multiple levels of back-ups and a stellar reputation. If there is one place to invest a little extra, it’s here.
eSignature Software
Pen and paper signatures and back and forth faxing are on their way out. The convenience and security of esignatures is winning the day. Although it may be pricier than you’d like, with some at close to $300 a month, investing in an esignature software will bring higher efficiency and productivity. The customer satisfaction boost that is more than worth it.
Employee Hardware
Although you may not be purchasing high cost laptops or smartphones for your employees, the volume of your purchases can be significant. To keep your agency up to date, you need to make sure your staff have access to reliable hardware that is compatible with current technology. . It’s best for you to purchase the same brand for all employees, and to regularly update.
Online Presence
Your agency must be online, and not just a website! You need a mobile website and social media presence. Many agencies find it beneficial to outsource their website and social media work, which can come at a cost. Your website is your best sales and service resource. Serving as a customer service portal and one of the best ways to track and convert leads, it’s important to have it done well. Your social media presence also serves customers and leads by keeping them updating and directing them to your website. With such a high ROI, it’s worth investing in your online presence.
Agency Management System
This one may seem obvious, but some agencies make the mistake of overpaying for software that they don’t use or skimping and buying one that doesn’t help an agency improve productivity. With the right agency management system, you can get cloud storage, esigning, and elements like mobile access. With so much riding on having a successful system, this is the place to invest the most and require the best.
We at SIS know the importance of keeping up with tech and our Partner XE reflects this commitment. Automatic data back-up, cloud storage, esignature integration and mobile access are just the beginning of our tech updates. To find out more, check out Partner XE’s capabilities or contact us. We’d love to hear from you. Happy tech shopping!
If you’re not using technology in your independent insurance agency, you’re behind. Technology doesn’t just mean a cell phone and laptop either. These are now essential parts of doing business. Tech must be integrated in all aspects of your agency – from sales, to acquisitions, customer service, and marketing. The most up-to-date systems and versions are an important part of ensuring you stay relevant, especially considering the sophistication and budget of the large captive agencies.
But, we all know the cost of tech can be pretty staggering. To make matters worse, if you’re not a techie it’s hard to tell what to spend and where to spend it. We’ve put together a few quick tips to help you make the most of your tech dollars, so your agency can make your tech spending efficient and sustainable.
Start with the essentials.
If you’re feeling behind, start by equipping your agency with essential tech items first. These include document sharing and backup, eSignature software, an agency mobile app, and up-to-date hardware (computers, printer, scanners, etc.)
Put it in your budget.
Start saving for tech updates now. By making updates and new purchases a normal part of your budgeting, you can easily invest in new tech when it comes along.
Consult with colleagues.
Check in with other agency owners to see what they value. Ask around in your agency management system user group to get ideas of where others feel they are getting the most return for their investment. These individuals can also be helpful in giving you an idea of what to budget for your tech uses.
Be aware and compare.
Always, always do your research before making a tech purchase. Shop around, ask questions, and check out online reviews. Look for something that will last and, if possible, get with a provider that updates their product frequently. By having the latest versions, you’ll be sure to stay on top of the tech game.
Your agency management system provider is one place where you should get frequent system updates. We at SIS stay on top of the game, listening to our clients and watching the latest trends to keep our Partner XE ahead of the tech curve. To see about our most recent updates, check out our capabilities or contact us today!
To round out our series of posts focused on system conversion and finding the best conversion provider, we look to the transition process itself. Providers may be vague in saying they will “make the transition smooth” or “provide training” to ensure you’re ready for conversion. You have a right to gain clarity from these nebulous promises! Be straightforward with your potential provider and get the facts on what they’ll provide to make the transition and training of your conversion process painless and positive.
Transition and Training Questions for Your Provider
How have other agencies prepared? What are the most effective ways to help my agency learn?
What type of training will be provided for the transition? Online? Onsite? Blend of both?
How many trainers will be onsite? For how long?
If additional training is needed what are the costs?
How will you tailor training to my agency’s specific needs?
Will you work with me after the conversion if I want to make any adjustments post-initial conversion?
What is the transition timeline? How will you ensure we stick to this timeline?
Who will be involved in the transition (on your end and their end)?
Will additional training be offered as updates are made? At what cost?
What additional transition supports can you provide? User groups? Personalized troubleshooting?
Besides asking these questions, you should also question agency owners who recently transitioned to the provider. The best and most honest reviews come from the clients themselves to learn more about their experiences and things they’d do different knowing what they know.
For many independent insurance agencies, keeping it “all in the family” is more than just an expression, it’s a way of business. As family owned businesses, these agencies have strong values and a sense of community with clients and employees. However, when it comes time for the next generation to take charge, switching hands can be tricky. Clients and employees alike may be resistant to any changes to the “family ways”, making for a challenging transition.
Our most recent eGuide addresses the issues around transitioning your family agency from one generation to the next. We look at the dos and don’ts of transitions, how to grow your agency, and evaluating your successes, all while staying true to your family values.
Access the eGuide here! And be sure to check out our other great eGuides and whitepapers, as well as our blog, on our resource page. Have topics you’d like to see us cover? Contact us today to share your thoughts!
In this post, we continue our focus on ensuring a positive conversion experience for you and your independent insurance agency. As we look at the many facets of each agency management system provider, service and support stand out as critical pieces of the conversion puzzle. Knowing a provider has your back before, during, and after conversion can go a long way. In order to have conversion success, check in with your potential provider on the who, what, when, where, and how of client support.
Who will guide your agency through the conversion? Will they remain with your agency afterwards?
Continuity of service is ideal, as is getting to know who you’ll be working with during your conversion. Ensure the provider gives time for you to be in conversation with the conversion team so you feel comfortable with and know who you’re working with during the process.
What issues can happen during conversion?Whatguarantees are offered for data integrity in the conversion?
These questions are critical. Get to know what to look out for and how the provider will ensure your data is effectively converted. What type of documentation is provided as to what will convert and what won’t convert.
Where will conversion happen? Onsite at your agency? At the provider’s offices? Another location?
The closer you and your provider are during the conversion process the better. It is ideal to have your staff and your provider’s conversion staff in conversation as conversion happens so any glitches can be addressed immediately from both ends.
When will the conversion take place? Does your agency have input in timeline?
Besides the obvious question of the “when”, it is important to find out how much input you will have in setting the conversion timeline. The more a provider can work with you, the better the experience will be from a staff and client standpoint.
How can your agency gain support afterwards? Online? Onsite visits?
Many agencies forget the importance of support in the aftermath of conversion. Even if the process goes seamlessly, chances are you and your staff will need support in figuring out how to read new data output or explain any changes in client facing aspects. The more support the provider can give, the better.
We at SIS know the importance of providing such service and support, and are committed to ensuring you and your agency fully understand and trust your conversion experience with us. To get details about the conversion process, contact us today at [email protected].
Our next “Behind Our Insurance Agency Software” series focuses on encrypted email and signature provider RPost. Based in Los Angeles, CA, the team at RPost operates in the U.S., the U.K., and more than 100 countries worldwide.
Formed in 1999, RPost filled an emerging need in online communications. While the convenience of email made it the dominant form of business communications, the team at RPost saw a worrying trend in email security. Organizations were sending sensitive information via the web and needed to protect it.
RPost stepped up to fill that gap between convenience and security, adding legal verification to email content and attachments through encryption technology. I talked with RPost’s VP of Business Development, Jake Finnell, about how RPost brought its powerful encrypted email and esignature services to SIS and the Partner Platform community.
Comparison quoting, esignatures and e-doc processing, and other digital insurance software tools have vastly improved personalization and customer service in insurance. It’s also becoming clear that these tools are also making agencies more vulnerable to cyber-attacks. According to the Identify Theft Resource Center, cyber-attacks increased by 42% in the first quarter of 2021, affecting an estimated 51 million people.
As a community-minded, independent agency, you can’t afford to expose your customers to that risk. Not only would it affect you financially, it would also damage your reputation in the community. How can you keep your customers and agency protected?
The evolution of sales as a software (SaaS) has dramatically changed the software landscape. Thanks to their easy-to-integrate nature, more businesses use SaaS applications over desktop software to improve operations. A 2019 report found that companies with less than 50 employees had, on average, 47 SaaS apps in use across their organization.
This SaaS revolution takes shape in the insurance industry with insurtech. Based in SaaS, insurtech provides streamlined operations through integrated solutions. While agency owners recognize the benefit, many ask how to incorporate insurtech – do they implore their management system providers or take on the integrations themselves? The answer lies in what it is you as an owner want for your agency.
Staying up-to-date with the latest technology is important but, as we saw in our 
If you’re not using technology in your independent insurance agency, you’re behind. Technology doesn’t just mean a cell phone and laptop either. These are now essential parts of doing business. Tech must be integrated in all aspects of your agency – from sales, to acquisitions, customer service, and marketing. The most up-to-date systems and versions are an important part of ensuring you stay relevant, especially considering the sophistication and budget of the large captive agencies.
To round out our series of 
In this post, we continue our focus on ensuring a positive conversion experience for you and your independent insurance agency. As we look at the many facets of each agency management system provider, service and support stand out as critical pieces of the conversion puzzle. Knowing a provider has your back before, during, and after conversion can go a long way. In order to have conversion success, check in with your potential provider on the who, what, when, where, and how of client support.