#PC360ClaimsTech chat will discuss insurance technology's impact

Insurers are making significant investments in technology, but how are policyholders adapting to these new opportunities?

Technology is changing many aspects of the insurance process, allowing policyholders to contact insurers from multiple devices 24/7. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Technology is constantly changing how consumers interact with their world — we can purchase our groceries online and pick them up at the store without getting out of the car. We can order items from an online service provider and have them delivered to our door within 24 hours. Products, services and even insurance can be purchased on our cell phones from just about anywhere.

Some millennials don’t remember life before texting, social media and cell phones. They expect to be able to get directions, take photos, watch videos, speak to friends around the globe and purchase products all on a mobile device.

This expectation has crossed over into the insurance space, and insurers are making significant investments in technology to improve the claims process, simplify the first notice of loss and keep insureds abreast of what is transpiring with their claims. Some InsurTech start-ups allow policyholders to purchase insurance from their phones and use artificial intelligence to assess and pay their claims.

PropertyCasualty360.com, RMS and Claims magazine will be hosting a Twitter chat on Wednesday, May 9 from 1-2 p.m. ET that will examine how technology is changing, its impact on the insurance industry and how policyholders view these changes.

Consumers unaware of technology changes

A recent study from J.D. Power and Associates found that consumers are generally unaware of the investments insurers are making in this area and the impact on purchasing insurance or the claims process. Although InsurTech companies have raised more than $7.1 billion globally since 2012, only 6% of prospective customers were aware of firms such as Lemonade, Metromile, Trov and Sure. Moreover, less than half of the shoppers even aware of their existence said they would purchase insurance from them.

While the study focused primarily on auto insurance, it found that insurers who interact with customers during the purchase process had a higher level of customer satisfaction than those using insurance technology.

The claims process is one area affected by technology as policyholders use their mobile devices to take photos of their losses and file their first notice of loss with insurers. An adjuster may or may not come out to write up an auto or property loss.

We’ll be discussing these topics and more during the Twitter chat. Follow us using the hashtag #PC360ClaimsTech.

Participating in the chat are several industry experts, including the following:

Using technology to improve the claims process

Keys to improving the claims adjusting process

Curbing prescription drug compounding in workers’ compensation

Pressing tech issue: Enterprise software vs. cloud computing?

Join the conversation at #PC360ClaimsTech at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 9, to share your insights and questions.

We’ll also continue this discussion at the America’s Claims Event in Austin, Texas, on June 25-27. Please plan to join us there!