5 Common Insurance Software Selection and Implementation Mistakes to Avoid

Insurance software provides businesses with a bouquet of functionalities and empower them to create consistent, streamlined workflows. Implementing an insurance management system means more profitability, improved customer service, and better productivity. Exciting as these benefits are, before implementing a new insurance software, businesses must first ensure they are making the right decisions. Here are some common mistakes that businesses must avoid when choosing and implementing an insurance software for agents:

Not Being Clear With the Requirements

Businesses looking to implement an insurance software wish to automate and integrate business processes. But, it is vital to note that the efficiency of the insurance management software largely relies on how effective the processes are. For instance, automating or streamlining inefficient or outdated processes would do more harm than good.

Before getting started with the software selection process, businesses must take the time to understand what they really need. For instance, small and emerging enterprises with a small budget and inadequate resources would probably want to consider getting a fully integrated insurance software. These platforms will enable them to streamline their workflows and increase productivity at lower costs and with limited resources.

Not Taking Inputs from the Employees

Typically, while implementing an insurance software, the management tends to seek approvals of only C-level executives. The inputs of the end-users of different departments are usually not taken. It leads to a lack of interest in the personnel and operational complications even with the insurance management software in place. When choosing and implementing an agency management system, it is crucial to consult the employees from the whole organization to make sure that everybody is invested in implementing the right software as seamlessly as possible. The end users, who will be ultimately using the software on a daily basis, should support the selection of the new system.

Failing to Set Aside a Clear Budget

Insurance software solutions come in various shapes and sizes. Businesses could implement a dedicated insurance claims management application or go for a full-fledged end-to-end solution encompassing modules like CRM, policy management, claims processing, etc. Accordingly, the pricing for these solutions are also proportional to the features, functionalities, capabilities, configurations, integrations, etc. available. Further, vendors may charge a flat rate or follow a subscription-based model for the service. Given these variables, insurance agencies that fail to set aside a clear budget according to their expectations for such a purchase will notice that the decision making process is inordinately long and confusing, which will have repercussions on the implementation timeline as well.

Purchasing the First Popular Option That Comes Their Way

Believe it or not, insurance software for agents is a long-term commitment. At the same time, emerging insurtech companies are giving established players a run for their money with their assortment of offerings. As such, it would be foolish to stick around with the first viable option that businesses may come across, even if it is highly popular and recommended in the industry. Ideally, insurance agencies must dedicate a good amount of time, effort, and resources into conducting detailed market research and analysis of all the options available. Tools like SWOT analysis, pros cons perspective, etc can help identify the cost and rewards of adopting an insurance management software system. The insights derived from these evaluations will help businesses form an informed decision on the solution that they choose.

Not Making Training a Priority

Training the core team and end-users on the new insurance software businesses are about to implement is a must. By giving the workforce basic information regarding the new system, and training them in stages before the end of the implementation will help insurance businesses save time and effort. After deciding which insurance management software to implement, businesses must let their employees know about the new functionalities and what’s expected from them. For a successful insurance software implementation, the end-users must have a clear understanding of how to use the tool. Employees who don’t understand how the software works will end up creating inefficient workarounds that bypass the functionality of the system. This can lead to errors, mistakes, and financial consequences and liability for businesses.

Final Words

All of the mistakes mentioned above can be prevented with a little forethought and action. The aforementioned tips will help you avoid catastrophic mistakes to get the best from your insurance software.