{"id":1419,"date":"2021-03-01T00:31:27","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T00:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.replicant.ai\/how-ai-is-transforming-customer-service-for-insurance-companies\/"},"modified":"2023-01-31T18:07:14","modified_gmt":"2023-01-31T18:07:14","slug":"how-ai-is-transforming-customer-service-for-insurance-companies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.replicant.com\/blog\/how-ai-is-transforming-customer-service-for-insurance-companies\/","title":{"rendered":"How AI is Transforming Customer Service for Insurance Companies"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
AI is transforming the customer service experience across all industries. Insurance companies are no exception. However, according to CustomerThink<\/a>, the insurance industry is not a forerunner in this transformation. It lags behind other industries that have taken digital transformation by the horns. As of 2018, only 17% of insurers believed they effectively integrated AI and digital into their business strategy, according to EY\u2019s 2020 Global Insurance Outlook<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Unlike other industries, the insurance industry must overcome a multitude of regulatory red tape and potential disclosure of sensitive personal and financial data in order to adopt emerging technologies. However, customer expectations have changed over the past few years, and this change has accelerated throughout the pandemic. Insurers must understand changing customer needs and expectations<\/a>, especially as customers begin to no longer tolerate lengthy insurance applications or a convoluted claims process. Integrating digital offerings, especially as it relates to AI and automation, into the customer service model for insurance companies is critical to their success. Let\u2019s look at some ways that AI can transform customer experience for insurance companies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n AI can transform how the insurance industry sells products to current and potential customers. Customers now expect personalized, intuitive experiences when and where they want it \u2014 whether on a laptop or smartphone. Many insurers are starting to utilize natural language processing (NLP) and speech recognition, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners<\/a> (NAIC), to answer questions, address common inquiries, and sell the right product to the right customer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For example, imagine being able to seamlessly interact with new and existing policy holders to improve conversion of new policy sales \u2013 if a policy holder starts the insurance process, but doesn\u2019t finish, give them a call or send them a text to schedule a call-back with voice AI. You can also know when to offer complimentary insurance coverage to existing policy holders to increase up-sell by automatically scheduling outbound calls for follow-up. Integrating proactive voice AI into insurance companies call center strategy lets them seamlessly scale proactive customer service to increase conversion and ultimately revenue.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n However, it’s important to keep in mind that human agents will always play a critical role in the sales process even when a significant portion of sales interactions occur with AI-powered interactions, as they’re vital for high-level or sensitive customer needs. These are the types of interactions for which AI interactions are less ideal. According to EY<\/a>, \u201cThe key is making human touch conveniently available when and how consumers want it and for the right products, even as most interactions happen through digital channels.\u201d Voice AI can help scale and secure sales, while also providing information almost instantaneously to the human agent with automatically generated call summaries. Agents can then service customers in the sales cycle faster and more productively; making for the perfect combination of AI and human collaboration.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n AI is also helping reshape the claims process for new and existing policy holders. For example, voice AI can help handle high call volumes when policy holders are calling in to understand their coverage or need to update their policy, reducing the load on human agents.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n For example, imagine leveraging voice AI to help customers schedule repairs and appointments with service providers, allowing agents to focus on higher priority calls. Customers could call 24\/7, get recommendations on the best service providers, and make an appointment all within a single call for convenient customer service.<\/p>\r\n Or imagine, helping policy holders resolve tier-1 service requests with easy-to-use, customer service that\u2019s just like speaking to a human agent. Customers can file new claims, check claim status, set-up new policies, add additional entities to existing policies, update account information, or troubleshoot common requests quickly and seamlessly without the help of an agent. Voice AI-driven self-service capabilities reduce hold times, average handle time, and increase customer satisfaction, improving the overall customer service experience for insurance companies.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Looking ahead, McKinsey<\/a> predicts claims processing will remain a primary function of all insurers in 2030. However, AI technology will reduce the overhead associated with claims\u00a0by 70 to 90 percent, compared to 2018 levels. Automated customer service apps will handle most customer interactions through voice or text. Human agents will primarily focus on complex claims situations, with human interaction bolstered by analytics and data-driven insights. With most claims largely automated in 2030, claims processing times will be dramatically reduced from days to minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A third area where voice AI would make an impact is policy management. Calls where customers are looking for information on their policy, requesting a copy of their policy, or updating policy information are perfect use-cases for voice AI.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPersonalizing Sales<\/h1>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Increasing the Efficiency of the Claims Process<\/h1>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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Managing Policies<\/h1>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n