Article Synopsis :
India’s insurance industry is growing up fast
India’s economic development has gone hand in hand with that of the insurance industry, says this report from PwC
The last decade has witnessed gross premiums grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.2%, placing the Indian insurance industry within the pantheon of larger economies globally.
Customer behaviour is changing
One of the most significant changes during this period has been the shift in customer behaviour. Almost 25% of customers use digital channels to understand insurance products better and then to compare them.
Businesses have become more connected through the rapid adoption of the internet of things (IoT) and other devices.
Digital technologies offer access to information anytime and anywhere and competition has become fierce. Brand loyalty is a thing of the past, yet customers demand high quality, seamless service
Distribution channel gets access to digital services
Insurers have responded by enabling distribution partners and transforming the face-to-face sales model. This places the customer, instead of the products, at the centre of the process.
This does require deep understanding of the of a customer’s financial needs and their financial situation. The system must also be easy to use and allow immediate analysis of data so the agent may find the right solution.
In order for the model to be fit for purpose, there is a shift first to relationship based, then expertise based selling, rather than simply selling products.
There is also a shift from script-based selling skills, harnessing the power of behavioural science and then to demonstrating expert financial advisory skills. This requires strong market knowledge and an ability to interpret large amounts of data in order to provide advice.
Data is king
And so a more sophisticated advisory process has developed. Digital solutions process and model vast sums of data.
Distribution partners must be ready to use tools that give them a significant amount of economic, financial, demographic and behavioural data so they may offer data-driven advice.
Consumers are more discerning
Customers are also demanding more choices, more quickly and for less, too. Business is not so sticky and brand advocacy has fallen away considerably. It is therefore imperative for an organisation to create value-added propositions.
Insurers must focus on:
- a personalised and well-informed interaction
- an insightful journey
- a paperless environment
- integration with social media
This report examines these distribution challenges faced by the insurance sector and identifies the key considerations for defining a future operating model.
It suggests that layered assistance based on the specific needs of distribution partners will improve their sales efficiency and lead to better adoption.
Link to Full Article:: click here
Digital Insurer's Comments
The Indian insurance sector had a very long way to go to be able to prepare for the digital age.However, the rapid pace of changing consumer behaviour is driving the need for insurers to get up to speed and overhaul not only their own processes and products, but their distribution channels, too.
The same changes and innovations are happening in China and at this rate, India will have established itself as the mammoth market that it has promised to become for so long.
Link to Source:: click here
About the Author
