Marketing Strategies Of Insurance Sector Commerce Essay

Marketing Strategies Of insurance Sector Commerce EssayThe newborn detarotted determine regime requires an altogether different underwriting sit. None exists now. A new model has to be put in place with no prior examine. Underwriting, that was done by the tariff book till now, needs the application of a sharp human mind, professional expertise, keen acquaintance of a particular risk, a keen analysis of risk factors and their evaluation, a reflection of the insurers own past claim experience in respect to similar risks accepted to predict the future redness potential of the risk assumed and a cultivated ability to build a rate model that provides a margin to the insurer.With no past experience to guide their efforts, how will the insurers now pick-up these underwriting skills, expertise and knowledge base in a short time? How can the employee mindset, that flavoured to tariffs for the premium rates be persuaded to look at and collect the vast data that is required to price ri sks to fit the perceived risk factors? What be insurers doing to make their pickyized underwriters acquire these levels of skills, expertise and knowledge? It takes time to build expertise and experience only when a beginning has to be made.An insurer is likewise forced now to redefine his identity e real as a low-cost insurer and cut premium rates to stay in business or consciously build price differentiators, because he provides and delivers superior customer-perceived value. Such delivered value may not be financial, besides it is highly efficient impelling and convenient to an insured, due to the insurers specialized expertise, his particularized.PLACE OR DISTRIBUTION CHANNELSDistribution refers to the executements by which the product after manufacturing is moved till it reaches the customer. There are various intermediaries in every business like wholesalers, retailers, and so forth In the swear out business, operators and brokers are intermediaries in the transactio n. Insurance business is sold through agents as intermediaries. In India, the regulation provide that an redress agent can repre displace only on living and one non-life insurer. An agent has to obtain a clear from the IRDA.Brokers also act as restitution intermediaries. that they are different from agents in the sense that they are independent businessmen either drop deading alone or in partnership. Brokers may be erect in the non-life insurance business easeing customers whose insurance requirements are complex. They handle big risks and need superior financial and analytical skills.Intermediaries play a very significant role when the claim has to be settled. They have to see that the legitimate claim is duly paid without delays. The other intermediaries at the stage of the claim areIn the case of general insurance, surveyors and loss assessors, who are independent professionals, who are c alled upon to inspect the damages and losses claimed against.Motor accident claims t ribunal to adjudicate on the quantum of compensation that should be paid to the victims of motor accidents.Lok Adalats consisting of judges, to enable expeditious summary disposal of want-pending disputes regarding claims.Review committees (in the LIC) at different levels, the top most creation headed by a high court judge, to review claims which have been repudiated on grounds of misrepresentation of fraud.Other organizations like hospitals (for healthcare and medical examination insurances) or garages (for motor repairs) who make haste the claims settlements. subscribe to MarketingMarketing of insurance products can also be done directly. The media used for direct mart placeing areDirect mail. Letters sent to consumers on the basis of addresses available from informants like telephone directory, membership lists of clubs and professional associations, stock exchange brokers or registrars to companies.Telephone contactsTelevision programmes of relatively yearner distanceAdv ertisements and loose insertion in main line as well as professional and trade journals.Displays in conferences, services for specialized products linked to the themes of the seminars.Direct contact from the Insurers salaried staff.Stalls in exhibitions and sole exhibitions in remote areas.Call centres or Service centresKiosks with touch technologyOver the counter in big stores.In India, direct marketing is done by the LIC for its group gratuity and superannuation business.In non-life insurance business, almost the entire business from bodied bodies had been done through direct marketing. This business was solicited by the officers of the insurers and not through agents.The internet has opened up new possibilities in direct marketing. Insurance is being used for the following purposes.To provide basic information about available plans to prospects.To provide answers to frequently asked questions about insurance.To provide details of nearest location of insureds typicalTo provide q uotations for premium and for loansTo provide information to policyholders about policy status, pending requirements, etc.For premium collectionTo sell simple policies like personal accident, medical householders pure endowment, annuities, etc.Work Site MarketingThis area needs to be tapped, as in any country one of the biggest markets is through the work point. With changes in human resources management policies and compensation packages, group products or work site products do have a definite market that cannot be ignored. here the advantages would beCaptive customer basePotential to sell individual insurance and group insuranceHigh trust factorHigh photograph ratio for the intermediariesThe challenges would be the cost effectiveness, product customization and efficient post-sales servicing, which would determine continued business. Technology has a key role to play in work site marketing to ensure cost emoluments. Banks and financial institutions have been successfully marketi ng credit cards and other financial products utilise this channel. If not an identical model a similar approach can be used for selling insurance.InternetThrough India is joining the fast growing breed of net users, using net for transactions has not yet caught up. Though a few banks provide online banking the usage is still a small fragment. The insecurity associated with transactions oer the net is still an inhibiting factor. At present, most of the insurance companies have product information and/or illustrative tools on the Web.We do not see the meshing evolving into a means for direct selling of insurance in the current scenario. In the Indian market, where insurance is sold after considerable persuasion take down after face-to-face selling, the selling over the net, which must be initiated by the client, would take some more time.While the technology capability is there, improvements in bandwidth and al-Qaida are needed. Also needed are simpler products where auto-underwr iting is possible. Automobile insurance, one of the segments of insurance purchased off the shelf in India, would be the ideal segment to start with. On the life side, term assurance for standard lives with simplified underwriting is a possibility.These channels by themselves will not be able to overcome the mindset of the people, but rather can only be enablers for the human channels.Invisible InsurerIn this model, the insurance company or its representative is not the entity marketing the products. The insurance cover is sold by an automobile/credit card company as an add-on product leveraging the brand of the retailer. The risk is carried by the insurance company, which underwrites it. Products like creditor insurance, automobile insurance, and credit card related insurance could be distributed using this channel. This model can be adopted in all market segments for the lines of business mentioned. It is already prevalent in some areas like credit card insurance and crop insuranc e for agriculture loans.The new players are also attempting this model. The venture of Maruti9 into insurance by setting up two subsidiaries MIDS10 and MIBL11 to sell automobile insurance is a case in point. These firms will largely arrange insurance cover for Marutis captive base. MIDS has been registered as a corporate agent with an exclusive arrangement with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, while MIBL has linked up with state-owned National Insurance Company Limited.What makes these arrangements attractive is the low distribution cost and captive customer base. However, repeat business or renewal business cannot be assured. In the life segment, group creditor insurance may be the most suitable product for this channel.The postal department started selling life insurance policies way back in 1884 to people working in world empyrean undertakings and government departments. In 1995, postal department was allowed to sell policies to the general public living in uncouth areas. The postal life insurance ranks second only to LIC in transacting life insurance business. Last year, business of postal department was higher than of all confidential life insurers put together. On an all India basis, they sold 27 lakh policies and earned a premium income of Rs. 650 crores. USP is a lower premium and higher bonus, but what is unique is that they dont have any insurance agents selling postal life insurance policies. The business is promoted by a few designated staff and is managed by a separate directorate.PROMOTIONThe purpose of promotion is to communicate with the market. Promotion tries to influence attitudes and receptivity to eliminate misconceptions and thus to more sales.The IRDA has issued guidelines about adverts by insurers and the agents or brokers in newspapers, magazines, sales talks, bill boards, hoardings, panels, radio, television, websites, e-mail, portals, leaflets, literature, circulars, sales and flyers, telephone solicitation, business cards, vide os, faxes or other parley with a prospect or policyholder urging him to purchase, renew, increase or diversify a policy of insurance. The main requirements areThe advertisement programme has to be overseen by an officer responsible for compliance with the regulations.A copy of every advertisement should be filled with the IRDA.Advertisements should disclose the full particulars of the insurer, as well as the form number and type of coverage of the policy referred to.Display the registration/licence numbers on their websites.No third party, other than insurer or authorized intermediary can distribute information or recommended purchase of particularized insurance products.Advertisements should not be unfair or misleading.Along with the advertisements, publicity is also an equally strong medium of promotion. In the case of services, the most effective form of publicity is the word of mouth. But both advertisements and publicity can create sentience and also arouse curiosity or int erest. These are not powerful enough to generate desire or to provoke action. Thus public relations become important. Public relations refer to separate, planned and preserve efforts made with a view to establish and maintain mutually beneficial kinships between an organization and its prospective customers. PR tools include all the tools of publicity, lobbying, journals/newsletters, sponsorship of sports and other activities, special drives, entertainment, lunches and dinners, etc.PEOPLEPeople are the most critical resource in any organization. Without people, no other resource can perform. An employee, who is dissatisfied or worried, may not apply himself fully at work. At the same of interaction with the customer, the employee is alone. The insurance service is judiciary in nature. Thus credibility or trustworthiness, in the perception of the customer, is crucial. The employee can strengthen or erode this.Critical Success Factors for InsuranceChange in the Attitude of the Popul ation. There is need for a change in the attitude of the people towards insurance. Insurance is interpreted just as a tool for tax-saving. But insurance can be taken as shield around their families and business for any unknown calamity and also now-a-days insurance provides good investing opportunity. Thus people have to be made aware about the risk coverage and investment part of the insurance.Open and Transparent Environment created under the IRDA. Insurance as a sector requires players who are financially strong and are willing to wait for returns. Their confidence can only be boosted only if there are open and pellucid policy guidelines. This will also help the consumers feel stage that the regulatory is an active one and cares to do everything possible to keep things under control and help the insurance environment grow maturely.Well- set up Distribution Network. Bancassurance is becoming more and more popular. Public sector banks like SBI, PNB, etc. have huge network because of their long existence. Therefore they can be successful.Trained Professionals. Initially only insurance agents were considered to be the best salesmen for insurance products. But now with Privatisation and Globalisation more and more professionalism is required in sales efforts. Private players have professional qualified sales force.Rationale Approach to the Investment Criteria. IRDA has guidelines for the investment pattern of the insurance companies to gibe its social obligations. But the players feel this compulsion to be unjust and it affects their return on investments. The more the people insured, break down the revenue, discontinue the security and ultimately better the morale and productivity.Stringent Accounting Practice to Prevent Failures amongst the Insurers. Insurer has the hard-earned money of the masses. Failure of any of the insurer for any reason can have dim effects. To prevent such possibility, a stringent accounting practice is imperative.Level Playing Fi eld for all Insurers. Government should provide unbiased environment to all the insurance players, so that everybody has equal opportunities. With coming of private players, LIC is also focusing on advertising and has become one of the biggest advertisers of its products via using wide range of products, i.e., patsy and electronic media, sponsoring events, road shows, etc.LIC is focusing both on mass marketing and segmentation strategy.Main focus of promotion activities is one tax benefit and returns from insurance.LIC is focusing on CRM.Challenges for Public and Private Sector CompaniesPublic Sector CompaniesPrivate Sector CompaniesIdentity is well established, but the perception of poor service providers is a stigma.Products are not attractive and flexible enough but expensive.To retain their creamy layer clientele who are the most likely to be wooed by the new companiesRetain and attract good intermediaries.Match the aura created by the new companies in the urban market.Have to build their identity in a market where the public does not distinguish them.Remove the perception that anything that looks good as expensive.Work against the peoples mindset that they are not here for the long term.Attract intermediaries especially agents with the requisite qualifications and attributes who can market the company and the product.Run the risk of tapping an already insured market for repeat insurance instead of tapping new virgin pockets in the market.MARKETING STRATEGIES OF INSURANCE PLAYERS IN INDIAIntroduction of innovative products and services focusing on targeted customer segment.Use the concept of CRM and develop relationship with customers to retain the existing customer and make new customers.Availing the products and services at low cost and with short times.Insurance players have to focus on employees by focusing on their skills and motivating them for continuous improvements in process capabilities, quality and response times.Taking the help of information technology, database and systems in an optimum manner.Punch delimit of Some PlayersLife Insurance corporation of IndiaICICI PrudentialING VyasaBirla Sun LifeHDFC StandardOM Kotak MahindraTata AIGMax New YorkBajaj AllianzAMP SanmarLife is Beautiful. Zindegi ke sath bhi, Zindegi ke bad bhi.We cover you at every step in life.Adding life to insuranceYour dreams, our commitmentMaking life easier for youJeene ki AzaadiWith you alwaysYour Partner for LifeWe cover almost everythingCreating better futuresMarketing Strategies of Prominent Insurance PlayersLife Insurance Corporation of India LIC is the leader in the insurance sector with around 83% market share.LIC has tied up with corporation bank and Vijaya Bank for distribution of its product.LIC has computerized and linked all 2,048 branches.LIC was the first to introduce online premium payment facilities.LIC is focusing on rural market because of its established brand name.ICICI Pru Life. ICICI Pru is the major competitor of LIC. It has the maximum market share among private players.Companies using tools like workstation marketing, corporate marketing, road shows and stall in trade fair, loading, etc.Its strategy is to achieve scale in premium income and distribution force in shortest time.Focus is more on direct selling apart from communication and building personal relations.Company is marketing at worksite and for corporate customers ha adopted a multichannel distribution model.Company is selling its products as long-term investment plans.Max New York Life (MNYL). Max New York Life is operating with 2,500 agents spread in activities in India.It is using individual agents as its primary source of distribution.It hug drugs flexible products with many options, and riders.The company is using various methods like media advertising, event sponsorship, etc. and tools like direct marketing relationship building to generate awareness and build customer base.The company focuses on the quality of its first sales personn el, i.e., agents.MetLife. MetLife is a global leader in the financial services and it has tied up with Geojet Infolin technologies for marketing and distribution of its products in India.It has followed the strategy of phase-wise introduction of products in the market.It has Bundle method of offering products which includes investment options ranging from insurance, equities, derivatives, mutual funds and TPOs.The market segment on which MetLife is focusing is South India and JK.Tata AIG. The company is following mass marketing to cover as many as lives as possible in the initial eld of its operation. It has expertise in assessing the risk covered.Bajaj-Allianz. It is giving competition to public sector general insurance companies.Its main focus is on automobile.Its advertisements are appearing in local newspapers, television and hoarding.Birla-Sun Life. It is focusing mainly on high net worth people so that higher sum assured can be taken up.SBI Standard LifeIts products are simp le.It is doing branch-wise segmentation.Average size of the policies is smaller.HDFC Standard Life. HDFC is the leader in housing finance in India and Standard Life is the UK market leader. The company is using direct marketing tactics to build HDFC brand and convincing the customers insurance as a protection tool.The insurance sector has gained nervous impulse with the entry of private players. Rather than taking away the market share of existing players, the new players have actually helped expand the insurance market. Their ability to offer innovative products aggressive marketing, as well as the general uptrend in economic growth, have given a boost to the industry. In fact, more players, with public sector banks and leading industrialists jumping into the fray. We take a look at the two major segments life and general to see how the major players are faring.