Important Factors For Choosing Insurance Agency Management Software

By Beryl Dalton


To have lasting success in the insurance industry, agencies today are more reliant upon superior computer programs than ever before. Data is everywhere, and the sheer volume of it is simply too much to manage without the best program on hand. For those agencies seeking just the right insurance agency management software for their office needs, here are a few important factors that should be considered prior to any purchase.

The best programs have superior client data management features. This type of customer relationship management program should be able to not only house client and prospect data, but should also have features that enable the agent and his or her employees to quickly phone or email those customers. In addition, features that enable the creation of quick policy proposals can be tremendously beneficial.

Most agencies survive and grow as a result of their leads. Customer management programs should enable the efficient tracking of every prospect at every stage of the contact process. Data should also be stored in one central location so that agents can get to it via the internet. Since many agents spend much of their time outside of the office, that access can keep them in touch no matter where they might be.

Reporting features should not be forgotten either. After all, how can an agency recognize success if no reports are ever generated? The top programs can provide regular reports detailing things like lead source return on investment, the average cost for each lead, and the rate at which leads convert to sales.

Many agents are shocked to discover the many document management features offered by these programs. Many can electronically generate almost any document the agent needs to efficiently deal with prospects and clients alike. Things like Brochures, policy terms and rates, and proposals can be quickly created and transmitted to any customer, making it far easier to manage a lead than ever before.

Obviously, these agents are entrusted with a great deal of personal and professional information that must be safeguarded from criminals and others seeking unauthorized access. That data needs to be as safe and secure as possible, so every office should focus on using CRM programs with top of the line security features. The best systems use complex encryption and continuous network monitoring to prevent data incursions and protect customer information from prying eyes.

It is, of course, important to recognize that there are not many systems out there designed to handle all of the various policy types that any given agent might offer. Many times, these agencies have to rely upon secondary software to handle the supplementary policies they provide. As a general rule, if an agent has an employee wholly dedicated to managing a secondary type of insurance coverage, then he should also have separate software to assist in that process.

The obvious takeaway from all of this is that modern insurers can no longer rely upon outdated customer systems. There are simply too many details, data points, and privacy issues involved to entrust the process to anything but the best computer programs available on the market today. For agents seeking those programs, attention to these key considerations can make that selection process much easier.




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