Commercial Lines Distribution: Agencies and Carriers Diverge on Digital Investment Priorities
New SMA Blog by Mark Breading, Partner, Strategy Meets Action —
It’s not uncommon for agents/brokers and carriers to express frustration with one another. For many risks, especially those more complex, agents are prone to gripe about carriers’ submission process, which is often laborious and requires a lot of back and forth with the underwriter. On the other hand, carriers frequently encounter challenges with agents misunderstanding their appetite or slowly adopting new tech capabilities. These challenges – and others – emphasize the importance of carriers investing in digital capabilities to support distributors and improve customer experience, increase efficiencies, and grow business.
SMA recently surveyed agency executives in commercial lines to understand their satisfaction with insurers’ digital sales and servicing offerings and the capabilities they believe insurers should invest in to support their needs. The study’s results were published in two separate research reports focused on the small commercial and mid/large commercial segments.
Immediately, the research shows significant misalignment between commercial lines agents’ most-wanted digital sales capabilities and carriers’ current investment plans across the sixteen options presented. Of course, it is unrealistic to expect 100% alignment across the board as the objectives and needs of agencies and carriers are different. But as co-dependent partners, there should be closer alignment in the many areas where there is mutual advantage.
In the mid/large commercial arena, over two-thirds of agents seek AMS real-time upload integration, whereas only a quarter of carriers is investing in this technology. In this segment, carriers are also hyper-focusing on enhancing their agent sales portal, but only 14% of agents say this area currently needs greater improvement. In contrast, agents and carriers in small commercial lines see eye-to-eye on the needs and investments in both of these capabilities. Instead, they do not align with other technologies, such as risk appetite and proposal tools.
There is greater consensus among commercial lines agents and carriers regarding the seventeen digital servicing capabilities featured in the survey. In both small and mid/large commercial lines, agents’ needs align with carriers’ investments in commission dashboards and pay-a-bill bill technologies. Agents in mid/large commercial lines also emphasize the importance of self-servicing capabilities, such as policy download and claims filing capabilities, and carriers appear to meet demands in these areas. One area where commercial lines agents and carriers don’t align is in auto certificates. Half of mid/large commercial agents and 36% of small commercial agents say this is a top need for their practices. Still, less than 20% of carriers in both segments are funding projects in the capability.
Despite agents and brokers becoming increasingly satisfied with digital sales and servicing offerings, there continues to be a division between where agents want carriers to invest and carriers’ actual investment plans. Agents want further investment in distribution technologies that will help them increase efficiency and service their policyholders. Carriers that can align strategies and investments with both their internal and distributor needs will differentiate themselves and become partners of choice for commercial lines agents and brokers.
For more information on agencies’ digital strategies and priorities in small commercial and mid/large commercial lines, read our recent research reports, P&C Agency Distribution: Digital Strategies and Plans for Small Commercial Lines in 2023 and P&C Agency Distribution: Digital Strategies and Plans for Mid/Large Commercial Lines in 2023. These reports are part of SMA’s research series designed to provide actionable insights for carriers on distributor plans and expectations.
Contact the author for more information on this new research and advisory services offerings for distribution.
About The Author
Mark Breading is known for his insights on the future of the insurance industry and innovative uses of technology. Mark consults with insurers and technology companies on forward-thinking strategies for success in the digital age. His inventive methodologies, fresh ideas, creative conceptualizations, and ability to incorporate InsurTech and transformational tech in business strategies are unparalleled. He also leads SMA’s research program, publishing 25-30 research reports per year and conducting various custom research projects for insurer and vendor clients. His thought leadership in the areas of InsurTech, transformational technologies, customer experience, and digital strategies has earned him a ranking of one of the “Top Global Influencers in InsurTech” by InsurTech News and Onalytica and a place in the ten finalists for the “Top Global IoT in Insurance Influencer Award.”
Before joining SMA in 2009, Mark spent 25 years with IBM in roles including the Global Insurance Strategist and Director of Global Financial Services Executive Conferences in addition to leadership roles in consulting and marketing. Mark co-developed IBM’s Account Based Marketing program and led the global project office to implement ABM across all industry verticals worldwide. Mark has held both technical and business roles in sales, consulting, marketing, and business strategy and has advised insurers around the world for almost 30 years.
About SMA, a ReSource Pro company
At Strategy Meets Action, our clients advance their strategic initiatives and accelerate their transformational journeys by leveraging our forward-thinking insights, deep vendor knowledge, and vast industry expertise. Strategy Meets Action is an advisory firm that works exclusively with insurers, MGAs, and vendors in the P&C market. For more information, visit www.strategymeetsaction.com.
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SOURCE: Strategy Meets Action (SMA)
