Outsourcing functions in risk management can help companies improve processes and save in terms of costs. At core is insurance underwriting, affecting profits and development of new products immensely.
Underwriters analyze the amount of premium to policyholders should pay and assess the risks with new products. The talent available in the field of underwriting has become rarer for introducing new products. In North America, the shortage in talent is pegged at 40%-50%. There is a shortfall of resources with proper training as not many companies can have enough money to pay for training.
Health and life insurers are considering the establishment of a readily accessible pool of resources through outsourcing. This allows them to secure critical talent in underwriting for new product launches. For periods when work is at its peak, it is not pragmatic to train temporary staff. Additionally, they cannot maintain staffing levels at their peak throughout the year due to mounting cost pressures.
The issues that are to be resolved through outsourcing should be clear from the initial stage itself. The question then arises that why outsourcing insurance should be resorted to by a company. Reductions in backlogs in the gathering of data, processing of too much paperwork, reductions in overloads of administrative work and expansion in numbers of personnel are among the bottlenecks that could be cleared through outsourcing.
Understanding the Insurance Underwriting Slump
Before delving into how outsourcing can boost the insurance industry, let’s first understand the underwriting slump. In the past, underwriting was largely a manual and time-consuming process. Underwriters relied heavily on historical data, actuarial tables, and their own expertise to evaluate risks and set premiums. However, the modern insurance landscape has become more complex. With the advent of big data, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics, insurers are now inundated with vast amounts of data and must adapt to new risk factors. This has created a gap between traditional underwriting methods and the demands of the digital age.
The Benefits of Outsourcing in Insurance
- Cost Efficiency: One of the primary reasons insurance companies turn to outsourcing is cost efficiency. Maintaining an in-house underwriting department can be expensive, particularly when considering the costs of hiring and training skilled underwriters, as well as investing in the technology required for modern underwriting. Outsourcing allows insurance firms to access specialized talent and technology without the overhead costs.
- Access to Expertise: Outsourcing companies that specialize in underwriting bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. They often have underwriters with experience across various domains, including property and casualty, life insurance, and health insurance. This expertise can prove invaluable in accurately assessing risks and improving underwriting processes.
- Scalability: The insurance industry experiences fluctuations in workload, often tied to seasonality or economic factors. Outsourcing provides scalability, allowing companies to quickly adjust their underwriting capacity up or down as needed, without the complexities of hiring and laying off staff.
- Data Analytics and Technology: Many outsourcing firms leverage advanced data analytics and technology tools that can enhance underwriting accuracy. These tools can sift through vast amounts of data, identifying trends and risk factors that human underwriters might overlook.
- Focus on Core Competencies: By outsourcing non-core functions like underwriting, insurance companies can free up internal resources to focus on their core competencies, such as customer service, product innovation, and market expansion.
Challenges of Outsourcing in Insurance
While outsourcing can bring numerous advantages, including heightened underwriting excellence, it’s not without its challenges. It’s essential for insurance companies to select the right outsourcing partner and establish robust communication and data security protocols. Additionally, there may be concerns about data privacy and compliance with industry regulations, which must be addressed through careful vetting and contractual agreements.
Conclusion
In the face of the underwriting slump and the evolving landscape of the insurance industry, outsourcing has emerged as a potent strategy for insurers looking to revamp their underwriting processes, stay competitive, and provide better value to their customers. By leveraging the expertise, technology, and scalability offered by outsourcing partners, insurance companies can streamline underwriting, improve risk assessment accuracy, and adapt to the demands of the digital age.
As the insurance industry continues to evolve, embracing outsourcing could be the key to conquering the underwriting slump and achieving long-term success in this dynamic sector. So what are you waiting for? Contact our experts today.
