In today’s volatile and highly complex business environment, a substantial change is being witnessed in the insurance sector. The main reason behind this is the change in market drivers and strict regulatory standards. High competition in the insurance sector has given rise to several operational challenges, such as the improvement of turnover rates and their activity, together with the establishment of a pricing model that remains competitive.
In the last decade, companies dedicated to the insurance sector have focused on the importance of agile and flexible outsourcing models. By leveraging the potential of business process outsourcing (BPO), insurance companies have minimized operating expenses along with the rationalization of back office operations. In addition, outsourcing also facilitates them to carry out their daily functions by forming a solid base of profitability and growth.
BPO represents an efficient and strategic option for insurance companies that are trying to prosper today. If properly implemented, it helps them reduce costs, survive any economic uncertainty and, most importantly, establish a concrete scenario for future expansion and growth. The advantages of a robust BPO model include a streamlined delivery model, standardized business processes and a commercialized approach to customer retention and operations.
What Aspects Of BPO Are Helping Insurance Companies Increase Their Performance And Productivity?
1) Call Center Services
A reliable contact center outsourcing service provider that offers the best client and multi-channel customer service solutions can help insurance companies meet regulatory requirements, enter new markets by demonstrating superior services and maintain user loyalty.
Insurance companies can take advantage of call centers to manage user queries and concerns through multiple channels, including email, voice and chat 24/7/365. In this regard, a survey conducted by Accenture found that 91% of insurers believed that providing an exemplary customer experience is the springboard for future growth.
Outsourcing of call center services can also be essential to increase user confidence with the insurance company when a consultation is presented by providing professional and emotional support.
2) Data Processing Services
Data processing is the most critical function that insurance companies must perform during their operations. As they grew, so did their data processing requirements, which resulted in them buying more computers and other technology-related equipment, thus increasing administrative and technological costs.
This is where the professional back office BPO service providers came to the rescue of the insurance industry. The various data processing services that insurance companies could benefit from include precise tasks of entering paperwork data received from customers, entering commercial transaction data such as sales of insurance policies, receipts and invoices.
3) Data Collection Services
Data collection has changed the way companies work. For insurance companies, it has helped to discover several useful patterns from the customer database. This technique produces excellent results and improves decision-making capabilities. Traditional methods of handling large volumes of transnational insurance data are too complex and time-consuming. Data collection service providers help insurance companies to effectively manage customer data.
Insurance companies can outsource data extraction to support administrative and management tasks, control policies and efficiently manage organizational and financial data.
4) IT Services
The use of technology in the insurance sector has improved all aspects of the company’s processes and data management system. Outsourcing various aspects of IT from an insurance company can be beneficial. Thus, the use of the latest technologies can help insurance agents respond quickly to customer needs and provide accurate information.
Professional IT outsourcing service providers can help insurance companies reduce the volume of paperwork related to proposals and policies by making various web-based applications available to customers that automate most processes and tasks. This allows insurers to meet the needs of their customers in much less time.
On the other hand, customers also benefit, as web-based applications allow them to receive quotes, complete the application process or sign proposals and policies without having to visit the insurance company in person.
5) Financial And Accounting Services
Insurance companies assume and manage their clients’ risks in exchange for a premium. With the increase in the customer base, the volume of financial transactions also increases. For the insurance industry, which has a fiduciary responsibility with the public, special accounting rules have been developed.
Insurance companies can work with expert finance service providers to design, transform and execute associated accounting and billing functions to improve cash flow and increase customer satisfaction by generating improvements in the processes that integrate and streamline the company.
In conclusion, in addition to financial gains, insurance companies can also obtain other benefits from outsourcing, such as a greater facility to increase operational capacity by documenting workflow and placing the burden of other non-core activities on the provider of outsourcing services, thus improving the efficiency of the company.
Therefore, insurers are taking advantage of BPO’s potential to optimize their back-end operations effectively, maximize revenues and sales while reducing their capital overheads. The insurance business is constantly evolving and for insurance companies to remain relevant and competitive, they must continue to adapt and strive for excellence.