In recent years, previously conservative industries, from legal to finance, have realized the benefits of digitizing their operations. As part of this process, some tools have been widely adopted to make it easier to conduct business remotely. The life insurance industry is no exception, and when the pandemic hit, it had to adapt quickly in order to continue doing business remotely. This evolution has allowed old technologies to be refreshed and new software to be introduced to fill the gaps that teleworking has created in professional activities. In this blog, we’re showcasing tools that can help Consultants in everything from building a
Video conference:
Teamwork, team building and bonding require some level of physical presence to enable effective decision-making, exchange of ideas, strategies, planning and execution. Teleworking has revolutionized this aspect of work. Therefore, the sessions have become digital. The main tools that have facilitated this transition are Skype , Slack , Zoom , Microsoft Teams , Webex , and Google Meet . These applications all share features that have made it easier to connect between teams:
- They offer the possibility of meeting with a large number of people with access to audio and video.
- They are accessible by computer and telephone.
- They allow content to be shared so that everyone is on the same page.
- They have recording functions so that the team can refer to the discussion later.
- Video conferencing tools also make it easy to share files, presentations, and artwork during meetings. They are used in the life insurance industry throughout the value chain.
Project management:
There are many ways to manage projects, from jotting down lists on paper to blocking out time for tasks on a digital calendar. However, when teams (or multiple projects) are involved, it becomes easier to manage everything by grouping all tasks, deadlines and collaborators in one place. Some apps that can help keep things organized include Trello , Basecamp , Notion , Asana , and Microsoft Project.. These are all great tools for Consultants to organize tasks, optimize productivity, and visually manage projects, especially when multiple parties are working together.
For organizational and administrative purposes, some good tools to consider are Microsoft Outlook, Teams, and OneNote .These tools are great for blocking calendars, creating lists and reminders, to name a few aspects. Depending on the needs, there are several project management tools, each with unique features to meet the requirements. It can be difficult to be organized, especially when working remotely and in varied environments. Project management tools help the life insurance industry manage tasks and relationships by tracking communication plans, scheduling virtual events, participating in branding projects, and even more !
Cooperation:
Collaboration tools allow teams, no matter where they are, to work together on projects. Two notable tools are SharePoint and Google Drive . These two tools have a few things in common: documents can be consulted, modified, commented on and shared by team members in real time, without the need to call a meeting. They are great for content management and organizing all types of files. Additionally, team members can be assigned varying degrees of access to each folder or file, depending on the level of collaboration required.
Planning:
Keeping track of all parties involved with only a pen and paper, or through the default calendar app on a mobile phone can be overwhelming. However, it’s easier than ever to schedule appointments, meetings, and tasks, whether in the office or remotely. Tools like YouCanBook.Me and Calendly connect to existing calendars to share real-time availability. These are great tools that make it easier for Advisors to connect with customers. Customers can easily view and select available times to meet, then receive notifications and reminders to stay on schedule.
These innovative tools bring teams together and optimize remote productivity by facilitating the transition between working in the office and teleworking or a hybrid model. In life insurance, progress has been made as technology continues to change the landscape of the industry. Innovations within the RGA/RGAX ecosystem include TAI Treaty , which uses artificial intelligence to digitize paper treaties; AURA NEXT , the most advanced digital underwriting platform for life insurance companies; and, of course, APEXA software , which digitizes Advisor compliance and suitability checks as well as industry contracting.