As an insurance agent or broker, it’s important to consider how you will effectively support customers and manage operations during an unforeseen event. Your business cannot afford prolonged downtime. According to Business News Daily, small businesses can lose $3,000 a day from being closed.

Even more troublesome than the debilitating financial effects, a disaster can lead to:

Leveraging Technology to Protect Your Agency’s Business’s Most Critical Assets

To reduce loss and mitigate risk associated with potentially crippling situations, agencies and brokerages need to develop a business continuity plan (BCP). Being prepared and having the right technologies in place will allow you to continue to operate and support customers when the unexpected happens.

For business continuity during an unforeseen event, build your business on a strong digital technology foundation that provides:

With “always-on” cloud, mobile and online customer self-service technology, your digital business can:

• Safeguard your data assets and operations against any threat
• Remain operational and continue service to customers
• Proactively communicate with customers and staff
• Access policy and claims information 24/7
• Eliminate downtime that leads to lost revenue

Cloud benefits can be particularly useful during a natural disaster or other crisis, helping insurance agencies and brokerages reduce downtime and minimize the financial and reputational losses that can be caused by such event. It provides major cost and customer service advantages over competitors who suffer days of downtime waiting for generators or new computer equipment. Having infrastructure, tools and critical data running in the cloud ensures your data is safe and accessible no matter what. Essentially, the cloud supports continued operational resiliency by removing the need to immediately reinstall software or restore critical applications, data or files, allowing for faster recovery.

For business continuity planning, mobile provides an essential communication channel when other channels, such as landline phones, may not be functioning or accessible. Mobile provides customers with greater access to resources during critical times when they need their insurance agency. Mobile extends beyond servicing customers, however. It allows agents and brokers to conduct business from anywhere – whether at the office, a disaster site or at home – providing for faster workforce recovery following an event.

Prepare for the Unexpected

Today, customers expect the ability to communicate with their agent or broker and receive key information regardless of the circumstances. Providing connectivity, continuous customer service and the quick dispatch of information during unexpected events has therefore become increasingly important for the successful operation of an insurance business. Integrating cloud solutions and emerging communication channels helps reduce downtime and bolsters connectedness during events that could otherwise cripple the business. Ultimately, a BCP safeguards your business’s most important assets: your relationships with loyal customers and employees.

If you’re an Applied Cloud customer, visit Applied University for additional resources and training available to you.

If you’re interested in how we can help you with your business continuity strategy, let’s connect: