Snap Poll on Agent Portal Technologies
Available Only for Members of the NA Celent Insurance Research Panel
Abstract
Snap polls reflect questions posed by members of the Celent Executive Research Panel, a group of C level executives in the insurance industry. This question came about from a member who is looking at options for their portal architecture and wanted insights around how other members have designed their agent portals. Thirty-one insurers responded to this survey over the course of three days, June 7 - 9, 2021.
The question that was posed was:
Background:
The insurer is looking for information about how other insurers that work with independent agents have designed their agent portal. They see two options - 1) a simple point of sale portal that authenticates the agent and then provides a simple and direct link to pass the agent into the policy admin/claims/billing systems to get quotes and manage policies; or 2) a broader portal that includes access to quotes and policy management capabilities, but also includes functionalities such as leads, messages of the day, manuals, marketing brochures, training, documentation, and other broader capabilities.
Question:
| Do you have a custom developed agent portal, or do you use a standard agent portal provided by core policy management system? | |
| Does your agent portal landing page provide: | |
| Quoting and policy management | |
| Other capabilities such as leads, news, procedures, documentation, etc. decoupled from your main policy management system | |
| If your agent portal is decoupled from your policy management system - was your agent portal built: | |
| Using low code software such as Salesforce, Appian, Outsystem, Unqork, Mendix etc. | |
| Using more traditional custom development tools such as Angular, React etc. | |
| Supplied by the vendor providing your core systems | |
| Other | |
| If your agents directly access your Policy Management backend systems, do you have a separate portal or community site for agent related information, documents, messages, FAQs, underwriting policies, marketing materials, etc. | |
| How well is this strategy working for you? Are you thinking about changing? | |
| And this question is for us here at Celent, if you don’t mind! | |
| How would you characterize your company’s use of personal lines price comparison sites | |
| We do not work with them today, and have no intention of using them in the foreseeable future | |
| We do not work with them today, but will likely begin working with them in the next year or two | |
| We are working with them today, but are not satisfied with the amount/quality of leads or submissions we are receiving | |
| We are working with them today, and are satisfied with them | |
| We are working with them today, and are satisfied with them; and will expand our use of these sites in the next year or two | |
About Celent’s Research Panel
The Celent Research Panel is a free knowledge sharing resource for senior technology and operations executives at insurers in North America.It provides an easy way for executives to share information, obtain quantitative data, and learn from each otherthrough regular ongoing surveys, snap polls, round tables, and webinars.If you are interested in joining the Celent research panel, you can reach out to Karlyn Carnahan kcarnahan@celent.comor Dan McCoach dmccoach@celent.com