More independent insurance agents and brokers should resolve to work smarter in 2008, and an industry coalition is offering tips to accomplish that goal.

The Real Time/Download Campaign (www.getrealtime.org) is offering some suggestions on how agents and brokers, along with their business partners, can improve operations by making and keeping a few resolutions to improve the efficiency of carrier communications and customer service.

A coalition of independent agents, trade associations, carriers and technology providers, The Real Time/Download Campaign, is an advocate of a workflow approach that frees up more time for agencies to sell, process and service business. Most agents can leverage tools already contained in their agency management systems or comparative raters to accomplish this goal.

Agents and brokers should resolve to do the following, the coalition says:

For Agencies:

o Demonstrate commitment to real-time transactions by having staff members use what is available and have them direct more business to the carriers that offer Real Time as part of their ease-of-doing-business efforts. Use the tools and resources available at www.getrealtime.org to jumpstart the process and to understand–and share with staff–what is available and how to begin.

o Train new employees only on management-system-based real-time functionality, rather than all of the different workflows required to navigate individual carrier Web sites. Other employees will catch on quickly once they experience the efficiency of real time.

o Make sure real-time functionality tops the agency's list of discussion items for carrier planning meetings.

o For real time to be an effective workflow implementation, just like any other change, it takes good reporting and constant management monitoring. Vendors and carriers can help by providing their agencies with tools to make it easy for them to monitor real time usage by employee.

o For agencies already leveraging real-time inquiry, adding real-time endorsements is an easy, logical next step. Reducing steps means agents can serve customers quickly and save money.

For Business Partners:

o Educate agents and employees on the benefits of real time transactions. Show agents, step-by-step, how to get organized to begin using real time and, for those using it, offer advanced training and support.

Continuously review real-time implementations with your agencies to validate that they are efficient, eliminate redundant data entry and streamline workflows. The use of industry standards will increase their speed, and the consistent workflow will ensure that agents have a smoother experience compared with the carrier's Web site.

o Make real time transactions a priority on your association or user group advocacy agenda, targeting agents, carriers (both national and regional), vendors and others in the industry.

Few people can make and keep eight resolutions in any given year, so experts recommend choosing one or two and accomplishing them–then add more.

For additional ideas, view the “Real Time Stakeholder Commitments” document, downloadable at www.getrealtime.org/documents/RTStakeholdersCommitments.pdf.

Special Reports /

Agents Should Resolve To Work Smarter In New Year

Related Stories

Recommended For You