It’s simple, really. We do so many mundane tasks each day that help our clients, and the right tools can make all the difference. Every day seems to begin the same as the last. Log in, view your email, answer a question or two, and then start to work on the more complicated issues. Twenty-five years ago, the tools we used were a spreadsheet and a phone book. That was hi-tech. If I had to run a business exclusively from Excel today, I would likely find myself balding with two large fistfuls of hair, and I could handle far fewer client issues than I can now.
You have heard the horror stories and likely had many of your own no matter what arrangement you are using to access data. A document goes missing or was never properly stored, a colleague accidentally deletes something, or your system is just complicated to navigate. All these things are still possible with even the best resources but can be, for the most part, avoided.
“When I was first starting in the business, my computer crashed, and I had to rebuild all my client data from paper files and by contacting the carriers to gather information. That is when I realized I needed a cloud-based system with Microsoft storage. Much safer and better backups.”– CA Based Insurance Broker
Simply tracking data is complicated stuff, but more importantly, it’s your business. When you are tracking groups, employees, dependents, benefits across the board, and even notes regarding client issues or renewals, you must be sure you follow a few simple rules:
1: Use cloud technology: Having client data stored in an online format ensures that your data is available to you wherever you are, and likely far more secure than a file cabinet in your office.
2: Consolidate: Keep your notes and data in one simple place. Jumping from program to program is not only challenging but is sure to create confusion between yourself and your team. We have heard that many large brokerages have complex and convoluted storage systems. You can gain an edge over them.
3: Be Thorough: Information is knowledge. So long as your system can store it, any information on the group, employee, dependent, or carrier is useful information. If a client calls, you don’t want to say, “What policy did I sell you again?”
What agency management system do you use, and how well does it work? What feature do you like the best or the worst? Do you wish you could do more for your clients in less time? I’d like to know! Cheers to you all and have a great week retaining and growing your business!