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Do You Speak Digital?

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It has been proven time and time again that communication is a pivotal and essential cornerstone of business and individual professional success. Throughout business, whether in presentations to the board or chatting with co-workers around the Nespresso machine, communication can make or break a relationship. Often, the key to building that relationship is making an effort to learn another discipline’s language.

Today, no matter what industry your company may be in, executives are increasingly focusing on the technological advances that can help achieve a competitive advantage. And just as the insurance industry has its own unique language (and a plethora of acronyms—don’t get me started on that), so too does the digital world. If risk managers want to continue rising in the executive ranks, we will need to get on the same page as the technological innovators changing our world. That means learning to speak digital.

You don’t have to be a developer or coder to have a tech-based discussion. But, you do need to make the effort to understand some key terms and concepts in order to successfully communicate, particularly within your organization.

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You can start simply—find a colleague in your IT group to help bridge the language gap. It can not only help you understand the tech world, but it can also allow others to better understand yours.

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Call it a beneficial opportunity for mutual mentoring.

In my own experience over the past year working with insurtech start-ups, I have found the tech community to be extremely open and receptive, regardless of whether you are speaking with the CEO, co-founder, data scientist or developer.

It can be daunting at first. When I was first asked to review wireframes (website structural plans) or user story mapping (outlines of website visitor behavior) or when they said they’ll “Slack me” (contact me via the popular messaging and file-sharing app Slack), I have to admit, there was a bit of Googling involved. But, what I have found is that they are just as eager to learn about the risk management world as much as they are to impart knowledge and understanding about the technology ecosystem.

If you are still somewhat intimidated about diving into the deep end at the office, get your feet wet by starting small. Read an article on a technology that may resonate with your company’s strategy, current business plan or operational initiative. Attend an industry event that has insurtech or risktech (or whatever-tech) on the agenda. There are events in every geographical jurisdiction from formalized conferences to social meet-ups. If you can’t find one in your backyard, webinars and podcasts are also great resources.

No matter what, it is important to take that first step. It may be scary or uncomfortable, but that’s a good thing.

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You will soon find yourself wading outside of your comfort zone, which means you will be growing professionally and will be on your way to learning that new language.

Reducing Inspector Risks During Catastrophic Response

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The risks associated with disasters extend far beyond the initial destruction. For insurers, disaster damage assessment and claims processing can pose both significant financial risk as well as introduce personal risks for claims inspection teams. The safety of these teams is dependent upon a strong understanding of the situation on the ground. As a result, insurers need to take steps to maintain visibility of the situation, efficiently handle damage claims processing, and, above all, limit the risk exposure of claims and response teams on the ground.

Utilize credible catastrophe information
Having accurate geographic information to pinpoint potential asset damage before deploying inspection teams can aid faster claim resolution and provide more efficient claim processing. Looking to trusted resources that offer key data on approaching catastrophes can help teams better prepare for the situation at hand. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers constant information and updates on pending and current weather conditions, storms and other catastrophes to allow organizations to stay up-to-date on the latest conditions. Likewise, the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) can also offer deeper insight into disaster recovery efforts so that adjusters are prepared for the situations they walk into.

Knowledge is power when it comes to efficient claims processing and safe deployment of inspection agents. Data from credible resources allows adjusters to more safely maneuver through potentially hazardous conditions. But even the wealth of knowledge offered by NOAA and FEMA is often not enough to minimize an organization’s post-disaster risk profile.

Emphasize image collection of disaster areas
When disaster hits, roads can become impassable, buildings can become structurally unsound, and areas can become impossible to access. The last thing an insurer wants to do is send its claims adjusters into a hazardous zone unprepared.

Preparation is key to effective claims inspection that minimizes time in the field and the risk of unforeseen, hazardous circumstances. To that end, satellite and drone imagery have become key technologies used by insurance companies to improve processes and protect claims adjusters.

The concept of satellite and drone imagery to assist in claims processes and reduce inspector risks is hardly a new concept. Novarica recently estimated that nearly 20% of P&C carriers are pursuing imaging solutions. In fact, PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasts that drones alone will have a $6.8 billion impact on the insurance industry in the coming years.

Satellite imagery provides wide-area, high-resolution analysis of damaged areas to help organizations understand the breadth of the damage, while drones can be deployed to specific sites to conduct detailed damage evaluations at a micro-level. Combining satellite and drone imagery can give teams a full view of the extent of catastrophic damage so they know exactly what to expect upon on-site inspection.

In some cases, detailed imagery and analytics can often provide enough information to prevent adjusters from ever having to set foot on a property, allowing them to accurately and efficiently process claims from the safety of a desk. In fact, Cognizant estimated that drone usage can make a claim adjuster’s workflow 40% to 50% more efficient, which can be especially important when managing the high number of claims that come in response to a catastrophe. This can also decrease claims management costs, help protect the well-being of employees and significantly reduce adjuster accidents.

The amount and strength of natural disasters in the U.S. will not decrease anytime soon. But the use of credible information resources and thorough imaging technology can help insurers reduce their financial and safety risks, so they can better help others address their own.

Driverless Cars Not a Concern, Allstate Says

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Driverless car

Driverless cars are becoming more of a reality, with testing in full swing by Google and others, and software upgrades underway for existing models of Tesla cars. One industry that will be impacted by larger number of safe vehicles on the road is the auto insurance industry. One insurer, Allstate, is carefully following the progress being made, but emphasized safety over possible diminishing profits. In its annual report for 2015, Allstate wrote:

Consider what is happening with autonomous cars. Today, only modest levels of driver-assistance technology are available, and only on a limited set of vehicles. However, the technology for fully autonomous cars is advancing rapidly and the legal and regulatory framework will follow. At some point, the fleet of a quarter-billion vehicles could be smaller and will include technologically sophisticated vehicles that are safer, more effective and efficient. Fewer, safer cars would benefit consumers and the environment, but could affect demand for auto insurance.

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The financial squeeze that autonomous cars could put on the insurance industry has been expected for years, The Chicago Tribune noted. In 2012, financial technology consulting firm Celent published “A Scenario: The End of Auto Insurance: What Happens When There Are (Almost) No Accidents?

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”

While Allstate states that demand for auto insurance could diminish, it points out that this is not a concern. “Some industry participants are waiting to see how this will play out. Allstate is not,” the insurer said, adding:

We are moving forward into uncertainty rather than wait. Throughout our history, Allstate has led from the front on auto safety—for example, as an early proponent of seat belts and air bags. We support the introduction of new driver-assistance technology that makes driving safer, because this is about saving lives and protecting the hopes and dreams of those who depend on us. We are confident Allstate will thrive in whatever new world emerges because of a differentiated strategy, strong brands, passionate agency partners and committed employees. Preparations for a new and different future are well under way.

Lance J. Ewing, hospitality and leisure industry practice group leader with AIG, previously told Risk Management magazine, “With more than five million vehicle accidents in the U.S. resulting in over 30,000 deaths, any enhancement is welcome, but there may be collateral results from the driverless highways.”

Galaxy Quest: Assessing Space Commercialization

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Student-space
If a bunch of kids can launch a satellite into space, why can’t you?

As reported by the Washington Post, seventh-graders at St. Thomas More Cathedral School in Arlington, Texas are the first grade school students to send a satellite into orbit. The CubeSat – built by the children – was launched into space and will begin beaming photos from 200 miles above the Earth’s surface to an antenna on the school’s library.

This learning experience is remarkable for the kids, but what does it mean for the future of commercial industries in space? While commercialization of space tourism and satellite technology is already happening, is this emerging risk something that industries can afford to overlook?

The Space Foundation’s 2015 “The Space Report” found that commercial activities in space continue to increase and now make up 76% of the global space economy. The report adds that revenue from commercial space products and services was dominated by direct-to-home television services, making up more than three-quarters of the global commercial space products and services market.

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Space budgets

Allianz published an article that outlines some of the challenges of space insurance and space risks, from the pre-launch phases to in orbit operations and satellite insurance.

“Losing a spacecraft is by far not the only risk,” the article points out. “Potential interruptions of a satellite’s service in our globalized work are just as problematic for spacecraft users, individual transponders users such as TV channels and Internet providers, but also for banks, car manufacturers and large industries that use telecommunications networks.”

According to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA / AST) Annual Compendium of Commercial Space Transportation: 2016, “The size of the global space industry, which combines satellite services and ground equipment, government space budgets, and global navigation satellite services (GNSS) equipment, is estimated to be about $324 billion. At $95 billion in revenues, or about 29%, satellite television represents the largest segment of activity.”

The report highlights the progress China has made with its space program, noting the number of orbital launches conducted by the country has steadily increased each year since 2010, with a peak of 19 launches in 2012. The findings highlight China’s commitment to commercial space applications, specifically stating that the data “points to a robust future in Chinese spaceflight.”

For many industries, the idea of planning for the risks involved in a space expansion might seem too far off to devote resources. But, with commercial airliners, telecommunications companies, international markets like China and even a bunch of seventh-graders already investing in opportunities in space, it might be time to reconsider the possibilities and the risks.

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