Progressive Adds Spanish To Web Site

Mayfield Village, Ohio-based insurer Progressive has announcedtwo technology developments to make life easier for agents andexpand customer access to its products, with the development of aSpanish language Web page.

The company launched its new Web site, espanol.progressive.com,designed specifically for Spanish speaking customers. The site,said Progressive, allows customers to obtain the full range ofinformation about Progressive, including how to find a localauthorized independent agent who has at least some Spanish-speakingpersonnel, said Matthew Collister, a spokesman for Progressive.

Spanish-speaking customers visiting either the new site orprogressive.com can get names and contact information for up tofive local independent agents participating in Progressives“ProLeads” referral program.

The company said that after the customer has entered a ZIP codeand request for product, he or she receives a list of local agents,the agents contact information, and links to individual agent Websites, if available. If there are no agencies within 100 miles ofthe customers location who speak Spanish, the customer is offered alist of non-Spanish-speaking agencies.

The company said that since the launch of “ProLeads” in May of2001, the site has helped agents sell approximately 30,000 policiesfrom referrals.

Agents who are interested in enrolling as one of the Progressivesites need to contact a local territory sales manager, Mr.Collister explained.

The company also announced expanded service from itsagent-dedicated Web site “ForAgentsOnly.com” (FAO), which itredesigned earlier this year. In addition to improved navigationabilities and security upgrades, the site is now moving to replaceits desktop-based rating system “ProRater” with a Web-based quotingsystem.

The new rating system would give agents the most current ratesand software, the company said. Agents would also have direct andimmediate access to information in Progressives systems. Since theprogram is Web-based, there would be no need for downloading newprograms. All of the information would be stored at the FAOserver.

The company said it began limited quoting over the Internet onJuly 1 with some agents in Ohio. More agents are to be added to thesystem throughout the year as the company receives feedback fromagents and makes adjustments.

Mr. Collister said there is no timeline for the expanded rolloutof the quoting system. However, the company does anticipate it willhave full nationwide functionality by the end of this year.

The FAO site is designed to be a one-stop shop for agents to doall of their contact work with Progressive, the company said.

Progressive insurance products are available nationwide, exceptin the states of Massachusetts and New Jersey.

Reproduced from National Underwriter Property &Casualty/Risk & Benefits Management Edition, September 23,2002. Copyright 2002 by The National Underwriter Company in theserial publication. All rights reserved.Copyright in this articleas an independent work may be held by the author.