The Internet, as we all know, changed the way we do business.Add in search engines, agency management systems, CRM systems andsocial media, and we have a mountain—or even a volcano—of data atour fingertips.

The data revolutionize how we conduct business. Cold calling isin the distant past; today you can easily know the demographics,wants and needs of your clients now and in the future. With freetools like Google Analytics and Facebook Insights, the data arereadily available—and we can build even stronger relationships.

Our lives should be easier, right? Many characterize the 21stcentury as the age of information overload. With the mountains ofdata getting bigger every day, how do you capitalize on thatinformation? The data can easily become unruly, overwhelming, andtherefore, sometimes ignored.

While the insurance industry has collectively been a laggard inembracing technologies and tools, we are on the verge of a“breakout” from the shackles of a lot of data, but no information.Carriers are using tools and systems, such as EagleEye Analyticsand Dovetail, to analyze their data and bring products to marketquicker. Carriers also can use tools like ProspX InsiderConnect toget the right information at the right time to the right agents andproducers. On the agent and broker side, we now have proven systemsto increase the effectiveness of client service and communicationfrom vendors such as Succeed Management.

Need someone internally to analyze your data? Hire a collegeintern or a recent graduate to do the work. Not only do they knowhow to use these tools, but they have the mindset and work habitsto find the gold in these mountains of data. When you hire amillennial, the benefits are twofold: You also introduce them toone of the best industries in the world—an agency.

John F. Kennedy once said, “For time and the world do not standstill. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to thepast or the present are certain to miss the future.” What you dowith your data now will define the future of your agency. Ascomplicated as it can be, embrace it, analyze it, incorporate itinto your planning and evaluate. Technology continues to evolve andmove at a rapid pace. Jump on the bus before it passes you by. Thepossibilities are endless.