India is on track to rank as the sixth most significant insurance market by 2032, with insurance premiums anticipated to grow at an average rate of 9% annually for the next ten years. This growth spurt is primarily due to ‘Insurtech’, the amalgamation of ‘insurance’ and ‘technology’. With the surge of technological progress, insurance providers are forming dynamic collaborations with tech companies to spur innovation and elevate the quality of customer service. These tech firms bring proficiency in domains such as AI, data analytics, blockchain, and cloud computing. This partnership allows insurers to harness these tech advantages for better risk evaluation, streamlined underwriting, claims handling, and enhanced customer interaction.
Streamlining the Underwriting Process
Underwriting, a pivotal function where an individual or entity’s risk profile is examined, has been revolutionized by AI and data analytics. With the aid of these technologies, insurers can analyze historical claims, credit scores, and even social media activities, thereby determining an accurate risk profile and setting policy rates.
Enhancing Claims Settlement Speed
The introduction of paperless claims submission has drastically shortened the industry’s response times. Leading health insurance firms now approve cashless policies in under three hours, a reduction from days in the past. This digital method, supplemented by predictive analytics and digital ID verification, is poised to curb future fraudulent claims.
Elevating Risk Management
Through IoT and telematics, insurtech equips companies with real-time data for precise risk assessment. For instance, in car insurance, telematics can track driving patterns, letting insurers offer policies based on driving behavior. In agriculture, satellite-based models help predict risks like droughts or pests, aiding farmers in their crop decisions.
Generating New Economic Avenues
Tech advancements are also bolstering employment, from opening up novel career paths to fostering the start-up culture. The rising need for professionals skilled in AI, machine learning, and digital marketing is evident. Insurers are also investing more in technology infrastructure and digital transformation projects.
Delivering Tailored Customer Experiences
Insurers, with access to extensive data, can spot trends and correlations, allowing them to offer bespoke insurance solutions. Through data analytics, they can detect fraudulent activities, speed up claims resolutions, and enhance customer contentment.
Meeting the Tech-Savvy Generation’s Expectations
India’s young, always-connected demographic demands swift, convenient, and tailored services from insurance providers. The advent of mobile apps and policy renewals via platforms like WhatsApp exemplifies insurers’ efforts to cater to this audience. These digital channels empower customers, letting them adjust policies, calculate premiums, and even self-assess motor insurance policies.
Innovating to Reach the Unreached
AI-driven chatbots and virtual assistants are revolutionizing customer service, offering instant help. Generative AI is expanding this scope even further. These advancements, coupled with vernacular chatbots, ensure more inclusivity, even beyond major cities.
Our Perspective
We see these advancements as a testament to the power of innovation, reshaping the insurance landscape while keeping the customer as the focal point. We believe that as insurtech continues to foster collaboration and drive transformation, the ultimate beneficiary will be the consumer, who will enjoy a more seamless, efficient, and personalized insurance experience.
Pinnacle Digital Advisors
Insurtech’s influence is undeniable, modernizing traditional insurance practices and promoting alliances between established players and start-ups. While technology is transforming the sector, enhancing risk management tactics and unveiling new business opportunities, it’s the consumer whose journey is being reimagined and revitalized.
This article was original published in: https://www.expresscomputer.in/columns/how-insurtech-is-changing-the-insurance-industry/103999/