Mobile app resolves Aviva’s auto claims 20-40% faster in trial tests
March 5, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorAviva Canada auto policyholders whose vehicles get damaged in accidents can get their claims processed by taking pictures and uploading them to a mobile app, Aviva Canada announced recently. The app, AvivaExpress, was developed by Chicago-based Snapsheet and is available…
How AI increased this brokerage’s sales leads by 13%
March 1, 2018 David Gambrill, Editor-in-ChiefUsing artificial intelligence (AI) to understand the likelihood of individual consumers making an auto insurance purchase, insurance broker Kanetix Ltd. was able to achieve a 13% lift on its call volume and lead generation. “AI is something that the Insurance…
The broker’s challenge in giving decent customer service
March 1, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorBrokers tend to forget that insurance is often a “grudge purchase,” and that companies selling goods other than insurance tend to provide the best examples of customer service, speakers said Tuesday at the Insurance-Canada.ca Technology Conference (ICTC). “We [brokers] quickly…
At least two cool ways that AI can help insurance companies
February 28, 2018 by Jason ContantMachine learning could be used to underwrite faster, reduce fraud and assess vehicle damages more accurately, Lawrence Wong, Munich Re Canada’s director of application development, said Tuesday. Speaking at the 16th annual Insurance-Canada.ca Technology Conference in Toronto, Wong said that…
Numbers don’t show that safety technology leads to lower repair costs
February 25, 2018 by Jason ContantIt’s a common thing to hear in Canada’s P&C insurance industry: Although auto repair costs will increase in the short term because of advanced safety technologies installed in today’s vehicles, over the long haul, the frequency of incidents should decrease…
Hot coffee scalds your client in a drive-through. Is that an auto “accident”?
February 23, 2018 by Greg MeckbachOntario auto insurance policies will have to cover a much wider scope of risk if the Supreme Court of Canada does not overturn a recent court ruling against Aviva Canada, Aviva’s lawyer argues. In Dittmann v. Aviva Insurance Company of Canada,…
How a new breed of car repair technician can drive down insurers’ repair costs
February 21, 2018 by Jason ContantNewer technology in vehicles is creating the need for a different skill set in collision repair facilities, something that could ultimately affect vehicle repair times for insurers. “This technology that is in the car now from a safety perspective brings…
Flooding prompts state of emergency and evacuations in Brantford, Ont.
February 21, 2018 The Canadian PressBRANTFORD, Ont. – Residents of a southern Ontario city were forced from their homes and businesses on Wednesday as rising flood waters from a local river prompted a state of emergency. Days of mild temperatures and torrential rain caused an…
Why it costs more to fix your insured’s car (Hint: it’s not just the gadgets)
February 20, 2018 by Jason ContantAddressing the entire vehicle safety system after an auto collision, and not just one component like a sensor, may be contributing to longer auto repair times and higher costs for insurers, Mitchell International said Thursday. Jerry Gastineau, content manager with…
“No question” that Aviva Canada plans to hike auto rates: CEO
February 20, 2018 Greg Meckbach, Associate EditorThere is “no question” that Canada’s second-largest insurer, Aviva Canada, is contemplating country-wide rate increases in personal auto, Greg Somerville, the company’s president and CEO, told Canadian Underwriter Thursday. The cost of repairing vehicles with advanced technologies is one factor…
Pot legalization could increase auto accidents, top insurer warns
February 13, 2018 by Greg MeckbachAs Canada’s senators debate a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana, Canada’s largest property and casualty insurer is concerned about the “potential” for more auto collisions arising from the actions of stoned drivers. In its management discussion and analysis of…
GM brings Maven car-sharing startup to Toronto
February 13, 2018 David Paddon - THE CANADIAN PRESSTORONTO – General Motors Co. is bringing its Maven car-sharing business to Canada for the first time as part of the Detroit-based company’s broader strategy for navigating through a rapidly changing automotive world. Toronto will be the first city outside…