Featured Post
The Technology Behind Being a Digital Agency
The Digital Age of Insurance is here. This means that agencies can no longer afford to remain un-automated and rely on manual processes or traditional methods of conducting business. Those who do run the risk of being surpassed by competitors.
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Sales & Marketing
Content Marketing: The Answer to Building Stronger Customer Relationships
In this blog post, Lisa Muvich, Manager of Content Strategy at Applied, reviews what content marketing is, why you should have a content marketing strategy and the benefits of using a marketing automation tool.
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Best Practices
3 Steps to Remove Inefficiencies in Your Submissions Process
In this blog post, we explore technology that can streamline your submissions process.
2020, Best Practices, Digital Transformation, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity
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Industry Trends
Happy CX Day 2020!
Each year on the first Tuesday in October, the global CX community celebrates the team members and companies that make great customer experiences happen – a celebration known as CX Day.
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Industry Trends
Rising to the Challenge of the New Normal – Part 3
Kelley Herrin, owner of Jack Bradley Agency, joins us for the final part this three-part series featuring advice from our Agency Roundtable webinar.
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Digital Transformation
Industry Progress on Technology Adoption
View the new interactive report for insights on the percentage of agencies considered digital in 2020, as well as developing trends and benchmarks to compare your business by.
2020, Digital Transformation, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Management System
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Industry Trends
Rising to the Challenge of the New Normal – Part 2
Kerrie Koestner VP of employee development at FBinsure joins us for part two of this three-part series featuring advice from our Agency Roundtable webinar.
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Events
Big News: Applied Net 2020 Is Going Virtual
As you have likely heard by now, we have decided to take Applied Net online. And while we would like to say it was a hard decision to miss the opportunity to see you all in person, the decision was ultimately an easy one.
2020, Digital Transformation, Events, Industry Trends, Management System
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Industry Trends
Rising to the Challenge of the New Normal – Part 1
In this three-part series, we’ll feature advice from one of the panelists from our webinar, Agency Roundtable: Our Digital Path Forward. First up, Dina Buxton, director of communications and development at Crane Agency located in St. Louis, Missouri.
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Industry Trends
Coming Together in a Time of Crisis
We are all going through a trying time right now but through all the anxiety, confusion, isolation and Tiger King, the human spirit remains. People around the world, our industry, and here at Team Applied are doing amazing things to support educators, first responders, healthcare workers, and local businesses they used to frequent. We want to share some of them with you because who doesn’t love 'Some Good News'.
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Industry Trends
How to Celebrate Earth Day While Sheltering in Place
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has caused concerts, sporting events and other exciting spring plans to be put on hold, one thing that’s not cancelled is Earth Day.
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Digital Transformation
How to Reduce Cost with Your Commercial Lines Renewals Process
Inefficient tasks are costing your brokerage valuable time, and as the saying goes, time is money. One area that is notorious for inefficient, manual, time-consuming tasks is the application and renewal process.
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Business Continuity
What Chatbots Mean in Claims Management
If you attended Applied Net in 2018, you may remember that we introduced and demonstrated an early prototype of a new chatbot capability to be made available in Applied MobileInsured this year.
2020, Business Continuity, Digital Transformation, Industry Trends
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Business Continuity
Beyond the Office: Interacting with Policyholders Wherever They (and You) May Be
At times when your physical office location is closed, your agency or brokerage can provide customers uninterrupted service through an omnichannel delivery model.
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Business Continuity
Getting the Most from Applied Epic: 5 Features You Should Use Now
Sometimes a sudden change can throw a wrench in how we get things done. If you find that not being in your office is affecting your usual productivity, consider using these features in Applied Epic to get more done.
2020, Business Continuity, Industry Trends, Management System
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Digital Transformation
Winning the Digital Revolution of Insurance
We are in the midst of the digital revolution of insurance, which is a tremendous opportunity to take advantage of technology to improve how we market, sell, distribute and service insurance so that we put the customer first.
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Industry Trends
2020 Digital Technology Survey: Share Your Feedback Now
The rapid digital transformation occurring in our industry has many businesses focused on determining what technologies they should adopt and deploy to create success and stay competitive. To assist agencies and brokerages with evaluating their digital strategy, Applied developed an annual Digital Technology Survey.
2020, Best Practices, Digital Transformation, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity
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Marketing & Distribution
New Year, New Innovation – Q&A with Indio Technologies Founders
One announcement that’s generating buzz throughout the industry is our recent acquisition of Indio Technologies, the leading solution for the insurance application and renewal process. This is an exciting announcement, not only for our company but for the entire industry.
2019, Digital Transformation, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Industry Trends
The Giving Season
The holidays are in full swing. The halls have been decked, and people around the world are joining together to celebrate the joys of the season. This time each year also presents an opportunity to give back to our communities and to those in need.
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Industry Trends
Taylor Rhodes By the Numbers
Hello everyone! My name is Taylor Rhodes, and I’m Applied’s new CEO. I recently attended this year’s Applied Net in Las Vegas and all I can say is wow.
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Management System
An Inside Look: Applied CSR24 Favorite Features
Making your business more mobile is no longer an option – your customers expect 24/7 access to their information. Applied CSR24®, a cloud-based client self-service software, enables your business to meet today’s insurance consumer demand for anytime, anywhere service by providing 24/7 access to policy information, claims filing and processing, premium payments, and insurance documents through an online client portal and mobile application via Applied MobileInsured™.
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Analytics
Data Analytics: Insurance in a League of Its Own
It’s that time of year again. The leaves are changing and baseball season is at its peak. For many casual fans, in the stands or on the other side of a television, the game appears unchanged across history.
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Best Practices
6 Business and Leadership Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List
Summer is a time when many of us devote extra time for reading, diving into fascinating stories or learning important life lessons.
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Digital Transformation
Visualize the Benefits of Being a Digital Agency
As noted in the news daily and discussed at every industry event, the insurance industry has entered into a new digital age.
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Industry Trends
Applied Systems’ New CEO – Q&A with Taylor Rhodes
Taylor Rhodes has taken the helm as Applied’s new CEO. We recently sat down with him to discuss this new chapter in his life and learn more about his perspective on the insurance industry, digital transformation and more.
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Best Practices
Spring into the Digital Age of Insurance
Our 2019 Digital Agency Survey indicates that the national average for digital technology adoption among independent agencies is 43%.
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Industry Trends
The Technology Behind Being a Digital Agency
The Digital Age of Insurance is here. This means that agencies can no longer afford to remain un-automated and rely on manual processes or traditional methods of conducting business.
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Industry Trends
Celebrate Earth Day, Go Paperless
With Earth Day here, now is the perfect time to think about changes you can make around your business to reduce your environmental impact.
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Industry Trends
Applied Systems Recognized in G2 Crowd’s Best Software Awards 2019
Peer-to-peer business solutions review platform G2 Crowd recently announced the 2019 winners of its annual Best Software Awards.
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Industry Trends
Celebrating Women in Insurance: How Two Female Professionals Are Shaping the Future of Insurance
Women’s History Month is a time to look back and honor the many achievements of women through history and the vast strides made by women today.
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Industry Trends
2019 Digital Technology Survey: Share Your Feedback Now
While digitally transforming your business was once a nice-to-have, it is now imperative. The time for denial of the Digital Age of Insurance is over.
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: 2018 Year-End Results for Premium Renewal Rate Change
IVANS Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for premium renewal rate change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Data collected in the IVANS Index enables insurers to determine competitive rates and the most profitable lines of business for investment.
2019, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Industry Trends
The 5 Whys of Becoming a Digital Agency
For years, we’ve been talking about the impending digital transformation of insurance. Well now that it’s here, how is digital transformation impacting our industry?
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Industry Trends
What Younger Generations Look For in Insurance
Over the past few decades, rapid and increased technological innovation has significantly changed the behavior and expectations of those generations coming after the Baby Boomers, most notably millennials and Generation Z.
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Industry Trends
35 Years of Serving the Insurance Industry
As Applied celebrates its 35th year in business, it’s an appropriate time to reflect on the past three-plus decades and what the future holds for our industry.
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: May 2018 Results for Premium Renewal Rate Change
IVANS Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for premium renewal rate change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Data collected in the IVANS Index enables insurers to determine competitive rates and the most profitable lines of business for investment.
2018, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Management System
There's Gold in Them Thar Management Systems
The phrase “there’s gold in them thar hills” is probably best known as being uttered in various Bugs Bunny cartoons.
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Digital Transformation
A Digital Transformation Roadmap
For years, we’ve been talking about the impending digital transformation of insurance. Well, it’s no longer just coming – it’s here.
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Industry Trends
The Digital Agency: Connecting Minds and Machines
Digital technology is integrated into every aspect of our lives. For instance, when you go to the grocery store you can process your own purchases via a self-checkout.
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: 2017 Year-End Results for Premium Renewal Rate Change Across the Industry
IVANS Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for premium renewal rate change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Data collected in the IVANS Index enables insurers to determine competitive rates and the most profitable lines of business for investment.
2018, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Best Practices
Technology Adoption: Risk or Reward?
The independent agency channel is doing quite well in today’s economy. According to Labor Department Statistics, total employment within the U.S. insurance sector has recovered very nicely since the Great Recession, reaching over 2.6 million jobs.
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Industry Trends
Top 10 Insights on Digital Technology Adoption
Changing insurance marketplace dynamics require you to do more for your business in less time. It’s no longer enough to go un-automated with paper files and manual records.
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: Premium Renewal Rate Change for November
IVANS Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for premium renewal rate change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Data collected in the IVANS Index enables insurers to determine competitive rates and the most profitable lines of business for investment.
2017, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Management System
How to Win Insurance Business in the Age of the Customer
Technology innovations have empowered customers in new and disruptive ways. Customers have shifted from being passive sideliners to more active players who control how they engage with insurance companies.
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: Premium Renewal Rate Change for October
IVANS Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for premium renewal rate change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Data collected in the IVANS Index enables insurers to determine competitive rates and the most profitable lines of business for investment.
2017, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: Premium Renewal Rate Change for August
IVANS Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for premium renewal rate change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Data collected in the IVANS Index enables insurers to determine competitive rates and the most profitable lines of business for investment.
2017, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Digital Transformation
Technology & Insurance: Yes, They Can - and Should - Coexist
I am an insurance advisor in a small town agency in Ohio with five office locations, all located in rural areas.
2017, Digital Transformation, Industry Trends, Management System, Mobile
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: Second Quarter Continues to Show Positive Results
IVANS Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for premium renewal rate change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Data collected in the IVANS Index enables insurers to determine competitive rates and the most profitable lines of business for investment.
2017, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: More Jobs and Better Wages Are Pushing Workers' Comp
IVANS Index is a data-driven report of current conditions and trends for premium renewal rate change of the most placed commercial lines of business in the insurance industry. Data collected in the IVANS Index enables insurers to determine competitive rates and the most profitable lines of business for investment.
2017, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Industry Trends
Digital Agency Scorecard: How Does Your Agency Rank?
Digital technology is rapidly transforming the way independent insurance agencies run their businesses.
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Industry Trends
IVANS Index: Get Ahead of Renewal Pricing for Your Clients
More than a year ago, the IVANS team asked agents and insurers, “What insight is missing in the industry that you truly need to better run your business and serve your clients?”
2017, Industry Trends, Insurer Connectivity, Marketing & Distribution
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Industry Trends
The Connected Agency: Transform Your Agency Through Technology
According to Ernst & Young’s 2016 U.S. Property & Casualty Insurance Outlook report, technology is the most impactful external force to the insurance industry.
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Industry Trends
The Connected Business of Insurance: Technology for Driving Growth in the Digital Age
Technology continues to transform the insurance landscape, connecting all stakeholders across the insurance lifecycle.
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Management System
Accurate Quoting: The Key to Unlocking High Net-Worth Business
As a rule, high net-worth clients have not been a common target market for independent insurance agents. However, the number of U.S. households with a net worth of $1 million or more has hit a new record of 10.4 million households.
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Industry Trends
Insurance in a Connected World - What We Can Do Today for a Better Tomorrow
Technology is revolutionizing the business of insurance. According to Ernst & Young, technology is the number one external force impacting today’s insurance market.
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Industry Trends
Digital Technology Adoption: How Does Your Agency Score?
The results of a recent survey conducted by Applied Systems found that the national average for digital technology adoption among independent agencies is only 42%.
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Digital Transformation
What it Takes to Be a Digital Insurance Agent or Broker Today
Technology is now essential to how insurance agents and brokers run their businesses, including how they serve existing clients and attract new ones. To fully realize the benefits of being digital, forward thinking agents and brokers are embracing technology to fully automate all aspects of their operations and customer service.
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Industry Trends
Attracting Millennials and Gen Z: It Starts with Technology and Innovation
You couldn’t wait to become an insurance professional. It was a career you dreamed of since you were a child. In high school, you told everyone you were going to college to study insurance. Right?
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Management System
Digital Agency Series: Build a Better Foundation With Your Agency Management System
Every day we hear from our customers that their business is becoming more complex, with nearly every agency diversifying into a range of new lines of business.
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Industry Trends
Next-Gen Is Now: Embracing Emerging Technology to Build the Agency of the Future
In any industry, planning for the growth of technology and innovation to come is critical, and in the insurance industry, it’s even more important.
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Industry Trends
It’s a Good Time to Be in Insurance – and 2016 Is Looking Even Better
Today, the insurance industry is healthy and strong, with high levels of organic revenue growth and rising profit margins across the independent agency and brokerage channel.