Aggregators
Price-comparison model questioned as Admiral casts off Italian Chiarezza
Admiral's sale of its Italian aggregator Chiarezza on Monday demonstrates a failure adequately to invest in overseas ventures, and further withdrawal from European aggregators is a possibility for the insurer, according to one analyst.
In series Competitive edge: Big data, big deal
Insurers welcome the availability of more information on their insureds, but the handling of so much data presents many challenges.
Editor's comment: Shaking up the market
Two of this week's market stories - emanating from opposite ends of the insurance supply chain, and arising from both home and abroad - carry the potential for significant shakeup in the months to come.
Post magazine - 19 April 2012
The latest issue of Post is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Confused creates home cover Facebook app
Confused has launched a Facebook video app called House of Horrors to raise awareness of the importance of home insurance, coinciding with the launch of the aggregator's Nectar campaign.
Admiral sells Italian aggregator Chiarezza
Admiral has sold its Chiarezza price comparison operation in Italy to BlackFin Assurance Courtage.
QBE move for Brit secures broker backing as deal doubles regional GWP
Acquiring Brit UK's renewal rights is Australian insurer QBE's biggest UK deal in more than 10 years, and signifies its commitment to becoming a major player in the regional broker market insuring SMEs.
Aggregator analysis: price comparison evolution reaches tipping point
With signs pointing to a soft market, questions abound about what will now drive a customer to use an aggregator to switch insurer.
Post magazine - 5 April 2012
The latest issue of Post is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.
Post Blog: Banking on search ranking
With Google never revealing how to rank highly in its search results, it's tough for insurers, brokers and aggregators to appear on the first page.
Non-standard risks: looking for an alternative
With a large number of insurers wary of taking on non-standard personal lines risks, specialists are carving their own niche.
Caravanquoter insurer and broker panel expands to 19
The price comparison website has reported that an increasing number of insurers and brokers are keen to join its panel of providers.
ISE 2012: Ageas says multi-channel distribution is essential for European insurers
Keynote speaker at Insurance Strategy Europe Bart De Smet, group chief executive officer at Ageas, told delegates how multi-channel distribution is essential for insurance in Europe and how his firm has restructured to reflect this.
Esure CEO Stuart Vann says broker businesses will grow this year
Esure boss Stuart Vann, pictured, pinned his firm's fourfold increase in profits on walking away from bad risks in 2010, raising prices by more than 20% and pocketing £16m of identified fraud savings with the insurer's 33-strong anti-fraud team.
Application fraud: prevention is better than cure
The industry is beginning to tackle fraud at the application stage, effectively stopping fraud from taking place before a claim can be lodged
Roundtable: Technology collaboration - will the industry ever learn?
Could insurer and vendor fears over losing unique selling points be hampering the wider good of the industry?
Application fraud: deliberate use of inaccurate information on the rise
The number of opportunistic fraudsters has rocketed with the use of aggregator sites, as some customers deliberately provide inaccurate information in an attempt to get cheaper premiums.
Affinity: Managing relationships is vital
Affinity business is a growing area for insurers, but how can the industry avoid its pitfalls while making partnerships work?
Ancillary income still under scrutiny, despite boost to Admiral profits
After easing the pressure built up during a bodily injury claims-ravaged third quarter, bosses at Admiral have been warned that this year's hot topic of ancillary income could yet provide a sting in the tail.
Digital Insurance Strategies: Boards need to see ROI from digital innovations
RSA direct arm More Than has delivered "six-figure" savings in a matter of months with its online renewal system, driving "huge benefits" for the business.
All in the execution: Interview with Zurich's Stephen Lewis
Having "fixed the fundamentals" and realigned Zurich into three distinct divisions, Stephen Lewis is now seeing his plans come to fruition. So where does he go from here?
Popularity of price comparison sites paves way for master aggregator
The long-tipped 'aggregator of aggregators' is closer to happening than ever, with the proliferation of price comparison brands and online insurance offerings that shun these sites.
Editor's comment: Insurers must be socially mobile
Joining a party too late can be disastrous. Not least because the early attendees may have drunk the place dry.
Post magazine – 8 March 2012
The latest issue of Post magazine is now available to subscribers as a digital and interactive e-book.