In a survey of nearly 300 insurance buyers*, more than a third said online self-service was “very important” when deciding who to do business with. Clients are willing to pay more in exchange for online service that’s both reliable and secure … raising a good point.
There’s an array of solutions that can help extend your services online, but not all ECM solutions, claims management solutions, and other software are created equal… and in a digitally conscious world, the ones you choose . In fact, 31% of buyers from the abovementioned survey say that the software used by a carrier or agency will absolutely influence their purchase.
Adopting the right technology already impacts your market share and client acquisition… that impact is expected to double within five to six years. Here’s how electronic signature meets both your and your clients’ expectations while keeping you a step ahead of the competition:
1. Reduce Cost. Improve Productivity
Ever stop to consider the cost associated with the dated ‘print, send, receive, scan, and store’ process? A year’s supply of paper, printer ink, couriers, shipping, return postage, physical storage, etc. can drive quite a wedge between the black and red on a P&L sheet. These manual processes create unnecessary costs while creating a huge drain in productivity among agents and staff.
With AssureSign for insurance, agencies and brokerages eliminate excess cost, reduce turnaround, and provide seamless service. For Knight Insurance Group, reaping the most benefit of eSignature meant deploying an AssureSign integration with their existing TAM software.
“We’re delivering a premier, fully modern experience to our customers. The ease of electronic signature serves as just one more testament to our commitment to our clients’ complete satisfaction… and AssureSign helps us deliver the best.”
John Gauge — Systems Administrator, Knight Insurance Group
2. Diminish E&O Exposure
When agents send contracts, policy applications, coverage election forms, onboarding paperwork and other client forms with AssureSign, they’re choosing a legally compliant and digitally secure solution. However, agility and security aren’t the only benefits eSign brings to insurance.
No client or agency wants coverage to lapse because of an unchecked box or a missing date. Electronic signature eliminates errors and omissions by automatically alerting clients of any fields they leave blank on your form(s).
Need to send claim paperwork or other forms that require photographs, I.D. or other attachments? Clients can easily attach supporting documentation during the signing process! All forms and associated attachments/documents are stored in a single, digital file… making retention or accessing them later easy!
With eSignature, your forms are completed to satisfaction the first time, making it easier to extend world-class service to clients without exception.
3. Create a Competitive Edge
Providing an exceptional client experience certainly lends a competitive advantage. Yet, factors like faster onboarding and increased close rates-benefits that other ECM solutions and claims management solutions lack-are what put your agency or brokerage ahead in the game.
In the survey we mentioned earlier, two thirds of buyers made purchases directly through carriers as opposed to brokerages or multi-carrier agencies. This further highlights the need for agencies to remain competitive by offering a rapid, user-friendly onboarding experience. With eSignature, clients can complete the entire onboarding process on your agency’s website, through email, or even with a single text message.
4. Delight Clients with a Legal and Secure Digital Alternative
If you’re looking to attract new clients-while delighting your current portfolio-digitizing your entire value chain from cradle to grave is pivotal. In fact, many consumer analysts point to the rise of non-traditional digital insurance alternatives to support the conclusion: clients don’t just look for online functionality, they demand it.
But in a time when consumers are more digitally conscious than ever, you can’t simply choose ECM solutions or claims management solutions arbitrarily.
Since the passage of UETA (1999) and the ESIGN Act (2000), electronic signatures have been leveraged within insurance and beyond as a legal and more secure alternative to wet ink signatures. AssureSign gives insurance groups like Farm Bureau and Grange Insurance peace of mind with a long-standing cybersecurity record and a 100% Microsoft Azure-based data environment. Client and other sensitive data are protected with 256-bit encryption and our multi-layered security protocols, which have earned FIPS 140–2 and ISO 27001 certifications.
eSignature empowers agents and brokers to provide their clients with the exceptional service they deserve and the security they expect.
** This article was originally authored by Jackson Tyler Burke while employed with AssureSign, LLC. All copyright and publishing rights for this article and its contents are retained by AssureSign, LLC.