Well convention season is in full swing and after a fairly bone-chilling winter in the Northeast, I'm pretty excited to be traveling to some warmer climates to learn more about the industry and the issues facing insurers.
Conferences are a great way to learn and network. To maximize my experience at any event, I review all of the education sessions to see which ones will be of the most interest to our readers or teach me more about the industry, look at the list of exhibitors in the trade show and identify the companies I absolutely have to see based on the products or services they offer, and I check the attendee list to see if any colleagues I haven't met in person yet will be attending. Maybe you do this, maybe you don't, but I'm a planner who likes to maximize my time and meet as many people as possible.
As an editor, the educational component of any conference is critical because it makes me that much more effective at my job and it allows me to share what's on the horizon for our readers. We can't report on industry issues if we're not aware of what they are. Cybercrime, telematics, the Internet of Things, workers' compensation issues, the impending talent shortage in the industry, fraud, subrogation and the risks of driverless cars are just some of the topics tackled at recent industry events, and you've probably seen these topics on the pages of Claims and on our online portal, PropertyCasualty360.com.
The trade shows are equally interesting because technology for this industry is changing so rapidly it's almost impossible for any one company to stay on the cutting edge without partnering with other firms. Drones, robots, technology that allows insureds to capture damage to their cars and homes, voice recognition software, software that assigns claims, audits claims and streamlines the process can be viewed and tested in the exhibit halls. (And if you haven't been able to see some of these in person, make sure to check out our June issue of Claims because we'll be highlighting some of the latest industry technology.)
While we've become technology dependent and customers seem to prefer communicating via texts, emails, online portals and social media, none of these methods of communication is as effective as actually going to a conference, meeting people, hearing the information first-hand, asking questions, and touching or seeing how the new technology works.
If I missed you at PLRB, RIMS or the Atlantic Claims Executives Association, maybe I'll run into you at America's Claims Event next month in Austin, Texas. It takes place at the Hilton Austin from June 17-19 and you can find more information at AmericasClaimsEvent.com. Claims readers get a special $125 discount. Use Code SM3 when you register. If you're there, please find me and say hello.
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