Commercial lines policy detail downloads (CLDL) is on the rise, and for good reason! Such streamlined, consistent client records and data put a smile on the faces of carriers, agency staff, and clients alike. Using commercial lines downloads is one of the few things in life to make everyone happy!
Your Carriers
Carriers love CLDL because it gets them client information quickly and accurately at any time. Also, CLDL saves carriers time and money because it cuts down on calls to carrier service centers by brokers. Carriers also like the consistency commercial lines policy downloads brings to data entry.
Your Staff
Commercial lines policy downloads help things move faster and more efficiently, making your staff smile. CLDL eliminates duplicate information and minimizes errors that may occur with manual entry, meaning less E & O issues for your staff to investigate and manage. Your agency staff experiences less hassle when connecting with carriers, and is able to give clients accurate, up-to-date information quickly.
Your Clients
Clients feel the benefits of CLDL through faster response times and consistent customer service communication. CLDL allows for better communication between your staff and carriers, which translates to better communication with your clients. And if the clients are happy, you are happy!
You!
Happier staff, clients and carriers means a happier you. Plus, with all the increased efficiency, you will have more time to devote to the “back burner” things like improving your website or streamlining other processes.
In addition to these many benefits, CLDL also saves you money. Some agency management systems, like our Partner XE, already have the capabilities to allow for CL download, meaning you don’t have to invest in a new system to make it work.
To find out more about Partner XE and Commercial Lines downloads, check out our website or connect with us at 800.747.9273 or [email protected].
In our previous posts, we have look at a number of tools and processes to aid independent insurance agencies in avoiding errors and omissions. These tactics aid in E & O by keeping track of data, making immediate updates as needed, and consolidating client information in one place. While these “front end” elements are an important part of your E & O prevention, it’s all for naught if you don’t know why and how E & O is occurring in your agency.
By “getting to the bottom of things” after an error or omission occurs, you can take the most effective preventative measures needed for your agency. Here are a few ways to go about the investigative process of finding your E & O root causes:
1. Report on all errors and omissions: Immediately, thoroughly, and accurately
2. Gather information: From employees, clients, and any other parties involved in process
3. Re-trace steps: Carefully, intentionally, and critically
4. Discuss and analyze results: With employees, management system provider
5. Take action: Implement changes, assess results
This process should be repeated as many times as you encounter an error or omission within your agency. Additionally, set up a system to constantly monitor and assess your agency’s systems to spot potential E & O traps. If you’d like a professional outsider opinion, consider an E & O audit for your agency.
As mentioned, your agency management system provider is an excellent resource for talking about how to improve your E & O prevention processes. At SIS, we work with our clients to make Partner XE efficient and effective, incorporating security and record keeping practices to prevent E & O issues. To find out about our other Partner XE capabilities, like mobile access and Outlook synching, contact us today!
To continue providing the best in data security and availability for an ever-expanding Partner XE user base, Strategic Insurance Software (SIS) has upgraded data hosting capabilities and increased capacity in the cloud computing infrastructure supported by SIS partner Expedient Data Centers.
“We’re building out for growth,” said SIS CEO Alex Deak. “This expansion is a result of our continued success in attracting new independent insurance agencies to Partner XE and underscores our continuing commitment to provide our clients with secure, reliable, leading edge technology to assist in operating their business.”
SIS has partnered with Expedient since 2012 because of their expertise in IT infrastructure outsourcing and proven network of secure data centers. Partner XE, a leading agency management system, and all associated client data are housed on Expedient’s highest capacity cloud computing infrastructure.
“SIS has always been a forward-thinking client.” Bryan Smith, Regional Vice President for Expedient said. “It’s been great to be able to provide them a platform that is designed to scale as their business needs change.”
Through additional investment in Expedient services including cloud computing, colocation, disaster recovery, firewall, offsite backups, and archiving, SIS is maintaining and building upon their dedication to protecting data integrity. Partner XE users can be certain that their data will remain secure and available.
“We know we can count on SIS,” said Michael Sweere, President of the National Association of SIS Partner Agents (NASPA). “They do everything they can to deliver the reliable, always available computing resources we need.”
About SIS: Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, SIS is the team behind Partner XE insurance software – an innovative web-based insurance agency management system that helps independent agencies streamline workflow and grow their business. Built on a foundation of strong technology and exceptional service, we’re moving forward with a constant eye on innovation that will make independent agents’ lives easier.
About Expedient Data Centers: Expedient operates a network of eight nationwide data centers in six markets (Pittsburgh (2), Cleveland (2), Boston, Baltimore, Indianapolis and Columbus). Their suite of managed services include virtualization, cloud computing, remote backups, management of equipment, storage area networks, disaster recovery and more. These proven managed services combined with reliable and redundant geographically-diverse SSAE-16 SOC 2 compliant data centers enable Expedient to deliver premier colocation, network and managed services to enterprise, commercial, education and government entities. Expedient is a wholly owned by Landmark Media Enterprises of Norfolk, VA. To learn more about Expedient please log on to http://www.expedient.com.
As we continue with our look at the many ways to keep your independent insurance agency E & O free, we turn to the latest technology: your smartphone. According to a recent Engadget article, about two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone, meaning it is likely many of your customers will be use to sending and receiving information quickly. You can use this to your advantage! By using mobile applications and texting, you can cut down on E & O issues through capturing information quickly and accurately.
Creating a Mobile App
If your agency doesn’t have a mobile app, you’re already behind the curve. One of the best to keep your client records accurate is to give them easy access to updating information. Some of the best insurance apps allow users to:
Take photos of damaged items (i.e. valuables, car)
Access mobile ID cards
Make policy updates
Keep records of property maintenance
File a claim
Text to Management System
Texting is another great way to capture information quickly. Also, texts are a great way to get your client’s attention and get a quick response – most texts are answered within 10 minutes. When using texting, keep in mind:
Client communication preferences (texting vs email vs phone call)
This last bullet point is an important one, and you should address it before going forward. Talk with your agency management system provider to find out if they have a means to synch texting with your systems, or if they have a procedure to make this possible. Want to learn more about how your agency management system and mobile can link? Check out the latest version of Partner XE, including its mobile capabilities. Contact us today to get the conversation started!
As the weather starts to change, you may find yourself thinking about change within your independent insurance agency as well. Many management system contracts come up for renewal this time of year, and it’s important for you and your staff to take a good, hard look at what you have and if you want to keep it, tweak it, or pitch it.
Deciding if you should make a change is only the first step. Should you decide to update or switch your system, you will need to think a host of other items attached to effectively implementing change within your agency. To help you get started, we’ve put together a Change Management eGuide to walk you through the steps of implementing change and quick tips on how to make transitions smooth.
It may not be what it’s always been – and it may surprise you how preferences have changed. Advancements in insurance tech and changes in purchasing patterns mean your current and prospective customers may be looking for something more. Though you’ll have variation among different generations, there are commonalities within what your customers are looking for to get excellent service.
Next in our series on what’s behind our Partner Platform insurance agency software community is the management and operations consulting group, Eisenhart Consulting Group. For over ten years, we’ve been lucky to work with owner Mary Belka and her team.
Mary Belka, CEO and founder of Eisenhart Consulting Group, has been part of the Partner Allies team for more than a decade. When she was first introduced to the Partner Platform system, she was impressed by the hands-on, personalized service the Partner Platform team provided to one of her clients. Since then, a mutual dedication to personalized service has made Partner Platform and Eisenhart Consulting the perfect team for our independent agency clients.
I spoke with Mary to talk about how she came to meet the Partner team, the unique and transformational service she brings to Partner agencies, and how she prepares agencies for the future.
We strive to provide the best insurance agency software to our Partner Platform agencies, but we don’t have all the answers on our own. That’s where our trusted technology partners, our Partner Allies, come in. In this series, we get to know more about our industry partners and how they bring innovation and expertise to the Partner Platform system.
Based in Nokomis, FL, Lightspeed Voice® is a VoIP, cloud-based IP telephone provider founded in 2009 to provide the insurance industry with reliable VoIP and client relationship management (CRM) solutions.
Lightspeed differentiates through high-touch and high-service, which aligns nicely with Partner Platform’s approach – and is also true for the way our independent agency clients sell. Both Partner Platform and Lightspeed strive to be hands-on, building relationships with clients just as our independent agents do with their customers.
I talked with Lightspeed’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Steve Mohr, about the partnership.
In our previous posts, we have look at a number of tools and processes to aid independent insurance agencies in avoiding errors and omissions. These tactics aid in E & O by keeping track of data, making immediate updates as needed, and consolidating client information in one place. While these “front end” elements are an important part of your E & O prevention, it’s all for naught if you don’t know why and how E & O is occurring in your agency.
Commercial lines policy detail downloads (CLDL) is on the rise, and for good reason! Such streamlined, consistent client records and data put a smile on the faces of carriers, agency staff, and clients alike. Using commercial lines downloads is one of the few things in life to make everyone happy!