By Mark Duffin, CEO atServicePower

Robust cloud management solutions allow agents to quicklyconnect third-party contractors with core systems via a BYOD (bringyour own device) approach.

Recently, record flood levels created havoc in the lives ofresidents and policyholders across the Midwest, reminding us thatthe insurance industry has to be ready to manage a sharp influx ofclaims requests on a moment's notice.

But managing the insurance-related fallout of a natural disasterisn't easy, especially in rural areas where service providers needto augment their full-time staff with independent contractors andthird-party field workers.

To effectively serve policyholders, insurance agents requiretools and strategies that allow them to manage a combination ofinternal team members and third-party field contractors dispersedthroughout affected regions.

Cloud technology provides a ready-made management resource.Using a proven, cloud-based technology platform, agents caninteract with remote field workers and rapidly create a streamlinedcommunication channel for information about claims, customers,schedules, drive times and more.

Why the Cloud Makes Sense
Cloud-basedtechnology has become a staple of office-based workplaces becauseit provides anytime, anywhere access to critical data and systems.For companies with multiple sites or telecommuters, cloud solutionsplay an important role in improving productivity, collaboration andoperational efficiency.

Over the past few years, the use of cloud technology hasmigrated to other sectors of the workforce. Field service providershave started using cloud solutions to resolve budget pressures andto accommodate rising demand for essential services. The result isa win-win scenario in which organizations improve performance whilesimultaneously reducing costs.

As an extension of the field service sector, the insuranceindustry is beginning to see the value of cloud managementsolutions, especially when it comes to managing third-partyresources after a natural disaster. With the right technology,agents can expand their remote management capabilities withoutinvesting in additional hardware or performing extensive technologytraining for new end-users.

As the agency's business demands increase, either organically orduring a natural disaster, the technology can seamlessly scale tothe management needs of additional adjusters, estimators andservice personnel.

Uses and Benefits for Insurance Agents
Forinsurance agents, the real benefit of cloud technology comes intofocus around the practical applications it provides in the days andweeks following a natural disaster.

Robust cloud management solutions allow agents to quicklyconnect third-party contractors with core systems via a BYOD (bringyour own device) approach. Using their own mobile devices, internalteam members and independent contractors can receive and transmitcritical information from the field, creating a comprehensive viewof the insurer's response capabilities and ensuring theeffectiveness of the claims process.

Three ways the cloud can help:

1. Unified dispatch and scheduling. In the wakeof disaster, the dispatch of full-time and third party workers canbecome a choke point in claims processing. Strong cloud managementtechnology improves dispatch and scheduling by transforming thedata received from field workers into operational insights. Forexample, some insurance companies use remote data capture to adjustthe dispatch of adjusters and inspectors, resulting in moreaccurate estimates for service times and a more efficientscheduling process.
2. Quick and accurate claims processing. Byallowing adjusters and inspectors to send and receive data from thefield, insurance agents can leverage the cloud to create a fasterand more accurate claims process. Many technologies have featuresthat identify or eliminate the kinds of manual errors that lead todelays in claims processing as well as security protocols thatminimize the potential for fraud. This allows agents to reduce thecost of claims processing and to assure policyholders that theywill receive payment as quickly as possible.
3. In-depth businessintelligence. Cloud-based technology platforms also giveagents and insurers access to vital business intelligence—data thatcan be harnessed as a driver of improved efficiency andproductivity across the organization. For example, platformanalytics monitor and identify aspects of the claims process thataren't functioning properly, giving decision-makers the informationthey need to improve response times, service quality andpolicyholders' experience with the agency.

Natural disasters are stressful situations for policyholders andinsurance agents alike. Cloud technology reduces the anxietysurrounding a natural disaster by mitigating risk, facilitatingthird party management and providing policyholders with the bestpossible insurance outcomes.