Challenging Conventional Wisdom :Implementation tips for digital technology – my top 10

In our increasingly mobile and customer centric world it is becoming more apparent that the “business as usual” approach to IT development in the insurance industry will only produce incremental change…. and slowly

Conventional Wisdom : What is the hidden cost of following the established path?

My top 10 list of  how IT development should change in the insurance industry for front-end customer centric technology development

1. “Outside in” : Designed for the end user – whether a customer or disdtributor. Set high uability/ rates of adoption as the launch goal
2. Led by distribution:Distribution should own and lead front-end technology  – IT should advise
3. Supported from the top:CEO needs to provide visiable and tangible support
4. Small team : Small, empowered , qualified and full-time implementation teams (experience in the business and in front-end technology)
5. Fast development : AGILE IT development techniques supporte by professional interface design
6. Pilot and improve : Pilot the first version. Expect it to be less than perfect and use the real feedback to
7. Ditch the detailed written specification :Avoid months of functional specification – use wireframes and screen mockup to move quickly to prototype
8. Configurable Design : Build the design for the long term with rules based engines that can scale the solution across business lines an countrie if necessary
9. Smart vendor management : Partner with vendor who can help large insurers deliver transformative front-end technology
10. Use Cloud services: Where appropriate use cloud technology to reduce costs and increase speed to market (even if only for pilots it will help)

Will insurance companies be brave enough to change the way they develop and implement their front-end IT technologies?

What is your list of things insurers should do differently?

Additional reading

Access the AIA Case study on Tablet Toolkits to learn how AIA have risen to the challenge

Read the Insurance Tech Report for another opinion on this topic