AGRIBUSINESS DOWN LOAD, THE

MOMENTUM IS BUILDING

Ag for business standards and the forms have been around for a number of years, but there hasn’t been a significant focus, putting it all together in download. That’s starting to change. Some agency management systems are getting ready to incorporate this feature when carriers get onboard. State Auto is already offering it to a few of their agents and Nationwide is working towards it. The goal for AUGIE Group is to keep the ball rolling and to get this capability added to all systems and all carriers.

FOR YEARS, WE’VE DEALT WITH WORKAROUNDS

• Today, many carriers that are offering agribusiness are doing it as a commercial lines package. But by using a commercial lines package, it doesn’t include all the documents and everything else the agent needs to service their customers.
• Some carriers have asked if agents would prefer to get ag-download right away as part of a commercial package or if they would rather wait for true ag-download. The general consensus is that if you give agents a workaround that doesn’t solve all of the problems, it will turn agents off of download and delay access to a real solution that could really improve workflows. Given that Ag involves both commercial and personal policies, a commercial lines package won’t cut it. Agents are willing to wait for a true ag-download solution.

THE IMPACT IS BIGGER THAN YOU THINK

When thinking about agribusiness policies, many people just think about large corporate farms. But there are a lot of family farms in the country that also need coverage. And agribusiness policies – no matter the size – involve a lot of data. Agents are trying to insure the personal needs and business needs in one policy. And it is with these smaller accounts where there is really a need to expedite the insurance process and make this a valuable product for agents.

THE OPPORTUNITY

There are many benefits to separating agribusiness from the commercial package and having a true Ag-download. It will be able to capture the personal and commercial lines aspects that are involved in an ag policy. It can limit E&O exposures by reducing the risk of human error since the data is downloaded directly into the form. Agents have more time to spend with their clients. And there is less room for interpretation as the download will put the coverage information on the correct contract rather than where it is convenient for the agent.

THE ROLE OF AGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

Agency management systems that can offer true Ag download are:

o  Agency Automation Team

o  AgencyPro – Agency Software

o  Agent Desk

o  Client Dynamics

o  Easyapps Pro – Agency Software

o  Hawksoft

o  JenesisNow

o  NASA Eclipse

o  Newton

o  NowCerts Momentum

o  PowerManage by Quomation

o  QuikFuzion AMP

o  Xanatek.

The two big industry players currently don’t offer it. If an agent’s agency management system provider does not offer it, they need to talk with their provider. They also need to talk to their user groups and have the user group talk as a whole to management. AUGIE ‘s goal is to get this capability on agency management systems lists for 2025.

OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES IS KEY

• One of the challenges that could be holding carriers back is how they classify agribusiness. How they delineate between a farm policy or an agribusiness policy is up to the individual carrier, so there needs to be some sort of standard vernacular to get carriers on the same page.
• The second challenge is after it is built, how do you get agents to use it? While those on AUGIE are early adopters there are tens of thousands of agents who are more hesitant to adopt new solutions for fear of it messing up their data.

NEXT STEPS

• Coordinating a roundtable with agency management system providers and a town hall with carriers to have a conversation around what is holding them back. Is it a technology issue? A design issue? A forms Issue?

• Create a communication/email template that agents can use to send to agency management system providers outlining the key benefits of true Ag-download and why agents want this capability.

• Develop some sort of common vernacular to share with carriers to help get them on the same page about what agents want from Ag-download.

• Continue the discussion on Workstorm. If you are not currently using it, click to

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