Online is the new platform for doing business. Insurers are already changing their offerings to meet the demands of clients who want the option to submit electronic claims or get paid via e-transfers.
Desjardins is one insurer that has recently jumped on the digital bandwagon. Clients can now view a quote, choose coverage and buy a policy online, and use a mobile app to send photos of damage done to their cars after an accident directly to an auto appraiser.
That doesn’t mean the traditional ways that customers could keep in touch with their insurer are going away, however.
“It’s clear that consumers want to do business with us in a variety of ways, whether that be in person, on the phone or online. We understand this and have taken steps and are allotting dedicated resources to improving our products which include digital and technological tools and innovations that benefit our clients,” said John Bordignon, Desjardins spokesperson.
“For example, making and submitting information about an auto insurance claim can be stressful so having options available online can be more convenient and faster for some of our clients and helps them get back to a sense of normalcy more quickly. It’s important to ensure that our products and services are available wherever consumers wish to access them.”
A stronger digital presence necessitates more cyber security measures. Desjardins has considered those cyber risks and strives to protect client information.
“In the course of continually improving and evolving our products and the way we do business, cyber risk and the threat of cyberattacks are certainly a concern. We have seen other organizations encounter incidents of fraud, theft of information, or being the victims of ransomware,” said Bordignon.
“We take these threats very seriously because our clients rightly expect that the information they have provided us remains confidential – this is paramount to maintaining a trusting and ongoing relationship with them. We use technology and dedicated resources to update and maintain cyber- security measures to help identify and prevent such attacks.”
The insurance company has also introduced a weather alert system for hail, windstorms, torrential rains, and, eventually, hurricanes and tornadoes. This feature is accessible to Desjardins clients across Canada using its mobile apps, and is sure to be helpful as natural disasters increase in number and severity.
“Primarily, our hope is that our clients use these alerts as an informative and educational tool that provides valuable, local and precise weather data that will help to keep them informed and safe,” explained Bordignon. “The importance of which is to allow them to act more quickly to severe and rapidly changing weather patterns so they can get to safety if necessary or to help mitigate personal property damage before it happens.”
