Segment
Brokers
Why brokers are looking at personalized communication automation
April 2, 2024 by Jason ContantCanadian property and casualty insurance brokerages are gravitating towards personalized communication automation (PCA), an executive at brokerage automation company Pathway tells Canadian Underwriter. Nine years ago, only about 3% of insurance brokerages had adopted PCA into their operations, says Alek…
Tackling brokers’ Number 1 workflow pain point — eDocs
March 27, 2024 David GambrillImagine a brokerage having to hire someone just to open electronic documents (eDocs) from insurance companies to find out what they’re about. And yet, that’s exactly what happens when insurance companies send eDocs to brokerages with catch-all titles such as…
Can farm insurance coverage be delivered online?
March 25, 2024 Alyssa Di SabatinoThe words ‘technology’ and ‘farm insurance’ aren’t always mentioned in the same breath. Historically, farm insurance providers do most of their business through offer and acceptance — sending either online or paper applications to clients. Underwriters and brokers then use…
Brokers: how to advise rideshare drivers on their deductibles
March 15, 2024 Philip PoradoDrivers working for rideshare and delivery companies must be careful when setting deductibles on personal auto coverage. And they need to make sure their personal insurers know they’re doing rideshare work and carry the appropriate endorsements. A lot of drivers…
Do gig-driver clients have the right auto coverage?
March 11, 2024 Philip PoradoWith accident claims up sharply post-pandemic, transportation network companies (TNCs) like Uber, Lyft and others are aggressively managing the insurance coverage they offer to gig drivers to ensure they have a handle on fraud. “You’re going to get some claims…
Two firms complete Ontario acquisitions
March 8, 2024 Philip PoradoBrokerLink announced its acquisition of Owen Sound, Ont.-based Hanbidge & Bowman Ltd. Insurance Professionals. The deal was effective Mar. 1, the company said said in a Mar. 5 press release. Hanbidge and Bowman Insurance was established in 1947 and provides…
How auto theft, inflation and vehicle complexity boost claims costs
March 6, 2024 Philip PoradoLate last year, Toronto’s police department wrapped an auto theft intervention, codenamed Project Stallion, that recovered 1,080 vehicles stolen citywide with a combined value of $59 million. That works out to just shy of $55,000 per vehicle. Auto theft is…
FSRA’s plans for auto coverage regulation
March 5, 2024 Philip PoradoOntario’s auto insurers shouldn’t expect changes to the ‘take all comers’ or Unfair or Deceptive Practices Act rules, Michelle Dodokin, head of auto insurance supervision at Ontario’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), told a breakout session at Monday’s 2024 FSRA…
Why clients are missing insurance payments — and risk policy cancellation
March 4, 2024 by Jason ContantOne Ontario brokerage has seen an increase in the number of clients missing insurance payments as well as cancellation notifications from insurers for non-payment. For Mitch Insurance, the number of clients missing insurance payments has increased 104% since 2019. While…
Biggest barriers to selling cyber policies
March 1, 2024 David GambrillProduct complexity remains a huge obstacle to selling cyber insurance to neophyte business clients, brokers told Canadian Underwriter in a January online survey. A stronger emphasis on cyber education — to clients, brokers, and underwriters alike — is critical to…
Navacord’s first deal of the year
February 29, 2024 by Jason ContantCommercial insurance brokerage Navacord Corp. has completed its first transaction of the year with a partnership with Winnipeg-based Avant Insurance. Announced Wednesday, the deal with the personal and commercial lines brokerage was effective Feb. 1. Navacord said in a press…
Why brokers are embracing the ‘bots
February 27, 2024 by Jason ContantRobotic process automation (RPA) used to automate brokers’ repetitive tasks has become a much more mainstream technology over the past year or two, the co-founder of software robot tech company Quandri told Canadian Underwriter in an interview. “A couple of…