Being Mobile in a Mobile World by RedHead Mobile Apps
B en Franklin may have said it best when he said,“ When you’ re finished changing, you’ re finished.” Franklin may not have been speaking to today’ s independent insurance agent, but his words should be internalized by everyone looking to keep in forefront of today’ s consumers and their constantly changing needs. When one are finished changing to meet your consumers’ needs, they will likely be finished as an agency.
Today’ s consumer wants more than just a warm smile and friendly handshake- their needs have moved mobile. Today’ s consumer has a growing expectation for selfservice. This doesn’ t mean consumers don’ t want to speak on the phone to a real person now and again, but people have the expectation to take care of what they want when they want. Today’ s consumer expects to be kept in contact with regularly. They don’ t want the contact to be overbearing, but they want to build familiarity with those they do business with, which builds loyalty. Today’ s consumer expects those they do business with to be mobile. Consumers spend multiple hours every day on their phones and prefer most tasks be done on their mobile device rather than their desktop.
How can an insurance agent meet today’ s consumers’ evolving needs? A mobile app is a great place to start. The mobile app gives customers the ability to self-serveview ID cards, initiate policy changes, make payments, submit claims and more. An insurance agent can keep in constant contact with their customers through the use of push notifications, messages sent directly to their customers’ phones. In addition, having a mobile app shows customers the agency’ s ability to adapt with them, that the agent can be a long term partner with them. Many of today’ s consumers decide on an insurance provider by whether or not they offer a mobile app.
It is imperative for independent insurance agencies to embrace mobile technology and create a mobile app for their agency. In a world where large insurance carriers promote the ease of use of their mobile app, it increases the need for an independent agent to find ways to stay in the game and get on their consumers’ phones.
| September- October 2016 | KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER
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