Monday, February 23, 2015

Important Factors To Think About Before Buying Insurance Agency Management Software

By Beryl Dalton


To have lasting success in the insurance industry, agencies today are more reliant upon superior computer programs than ever before. Data is everywhere, and the sheer volume of it is simply too much to manage without the best program on hand. For those agencies seeking just the right insurance agency management software for their office needs, here are a few important factors that should be considered prior to any purchase.

The best programs have superior client data management features. This type of customer relationship management program should be able to not only house client and prospect data, but should also have features that enable the agent and his or her employees to quickly phone or email those customers. In addition, features that enable the creation of quick policy proposals can be tremendously beneficial.

Leads need managing as well, since the growth and stability of an agency is reliant upon maximizing the potential for new customers. Good CRM can track every contact with every prospect, schedule each point of the contact process, and manage each proposal. Centralized storage is important too, so that agents can access data from an online portal even when they are visiting prospects or clients in the field.

Reporting features are also tremendous time-savers, and enable agencies to better track their success in reaching various sales and client acquisition goals. Many of today's top programs help to track lead costs, provide details on sales conversion rates, and accurately record the ROI for any lead source.

Modern programs provide document features that were scarcely thought of years ago. Agents would be wise to choose a program that can electronically create the various documents needed for following up on leads, compile policy proposal details, and deliver that information to prospects and customers. Brochures, rate plans, and other types of documents should also be included.

Obviously, these agents are entrusted with a great deal of personal and professional information that must be safeguarded from criminals and others seeking unauthorized access. That data needs to be as safe and secure as possible, so every office should focus on using CRM programs with top of the line security features. The best systems use complex encryption and continuous network monitoring to prevent data incursions and protect customer information from prying eyes.

Obviously, there are very few programs that will be able to meet every office's diverse needs. One good way to determine whether an agency needs a secondary program for its lesser coverage is to check to see whether there is a dedicated employee charged with managing those accounts. If there is, that's a good sign that a second program may be needed.

With the right computer programs, any agent can more effectively manage the many and varied tasks associated with these types of agencies. The most difficult part of achieving that goal is finding the right program to best meet those different needs. By considering these important elements, every insurance agent can more easily identify the right type of customer and office management system for his business.




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