Business Process Integration Can Help SolidifyCarrier-Agency Partnerships Historically, insurancecarriers have struggled to keep pace with the demands of highlyproductive agents, who in some cases can single-handedly writeenough business to impact the carriers bottom line.

Agencies choose carriers based on their ability to generaterevenue by selling the carriers products. The specific products andpricing factor into this equation, of course, but if the carrierand agency do not have a good collaboration strategy, operatingcosts will eat into profits and reduce the carriersattractiveness.

Agencies have indicated that in situations where products andpricing were competitive, ease of doing business is the mostimportant factor in carrier selection. If the carrier cannotprovide good service, agencies may find other carriers who areeasier to work with. For this reason, carriers can missopportunities to add to their book of business if they are too slowto provide quotes, issue policies and endorsements, or respond toagency requests.