Importance of CRM in Insurance Industry

Anyone in business knows the importance of providing excellent customer service. In this increasingly competitive market, you need something that sets you apart from others in your field. Many businesses have come to realize the value of a CRM solution and how it can benefit their business. A CRM can provide you with a deeper knowledge of your clients, which in turn means higher sales and revenue. To read more about the benefits of a CRM solution, read our recent blog entry “Why CRM is necessary for Your Business Growth” In the last decade or so, many insurance companies have come to realize the many benefits of using CRM. Most have seen an immensely positive result on their ROI – practically 5 times!

Obstacles that Insurance Companies Face

• Increasingly Competitive Market:

The competition within the insurance market continues to become more and more fierce because of the growing number of businesses selling insurance. It seems that anyone that can sell insurance is. Banks are a good example. Many banks, as well as other businesses, are offering insurance in addition to the services they offer. With all the competition out there, providing exceptional customer service is the key. There are hundreds of people selling the same thing you are selling and doing what you do. You need to do something that sets you apart from the others. A CRM allows you to track important information and really develop the relationship with your client or prospective client. People are more likely to buy from someone they have a good relationship with and who really understands them and the needs of their company.

• Obtaining New Clients is Difficult:

People these days can do their own research, such as comparing prices, finding the best deal, etc. There is less and less need for an Insurance agent. There are more direct-writer insurance companies today, but there are some definite advantages to buying insurance through an independent insurance agent.

• Economic Downturn:

People these days can do their own research, such as comparing prices, finding the best deal, etc. There is less and less need for an Insurance agent. There are more direct-writer insurance companies today, but there are some definite advantages to buying insurance through and independent insurance agent. While some businesses are reluctant to make big investments in the wake of the current economy, the opposite is true of many insurance companies. Many of them have continued to invest in customer relationship management (CRM) technology and have worked even harder to build relationships with current customers, as well as prospectives.

A CRM system is a big investment, but with consistent execution, a CRM can really pay off! Like any other implementation in business venture, you have to plan, work and measure CRM to make it worthwhile. Many insurance companies have come to realize that your customers are your biggest asset. The more you invest into better meeting their needs, building relationships, and just providing great customer service, the more profitable your agency will be. Think of your CRM investment like you would think of riding a bike: if you don’t add air to the tires , what good is the bike to you? You also have to learn how to ride the bike and keep pedaling for it to go. (Much like you have to invest time and effort into learning and using the CRM).

Instead of spreading customer records, notes, and interactions across spreadsheets, all data can be stored in one easily accessible, easy to search place.
Another benefit to storing data in CRM rather than a spreadsheet is that in a CRM, it is updated in real time.
Sometimes, keeping up with all the regulatory challenges can be a chore for businesses- not with CRM! Most CRMs offer some sort of an archival system, making it easy to search for certain documents.