Explore key trends shaping the future of insurance, gleaned from a fireside chat with Rohit Kilam, Chief Technology Officer at HDFC Life:
The covid-19 pandemic served as a stark reminder of life’s impermanence, triggering a surge in life insurance demand across all demographics. This newfound awareness of financial security has transcended age and income brackets, with a significant rise in inquiries and policy purchases being observed. Rohit Kilam observes a growing focus on protection alongside investments. Consumers are no longer solely interested in wealth accumulation but also recognize the importance of safeguarding their loved ones in case of unforeseen circumstances. Younger generations, in particular, are seeking a balanced approach, prioritizing both financial security through life insurance and holistic wellness solutions that encompass critical illness coverage and disability riders.
An aging population with longer lifespans further emphasizes the need for long-term financial planning. Traditional retirement plans, often heavily reliant on a fixed income stream, may struggle to keep pace with rising healthcare costs and inflation. This necessitates innovative life insurance products designed to provide a steady stream of income throughout extended lifespans. Flexible withdrawal options and long-term care riders are becoming increasingly popular features, allowing policyholders to access a portion of their death benefit while still living to cover unexpected medical expenses or senior care needs.
Innovation for Well-being
The insurance sector is responding with a wave of product innovation catering to a more holistic view of well-being, as highlighted by Kilam. Life insurance is evolving beyond death benefits. Comprehensive plans now encompass critical illness, accident coverage, and retirement planning, offering a safety net for various life events.
Recognizing the link between healthy lifestyles and reduced risk, insurers are integrating wellness programs. Imagine receiving discounts or participating in gamified challenges to incentivize healthy habits.
Traditional pension plans are also being modernized to address the challenges of an ageing population. Products are being designed to ensure a steady stream of income, providing financial security throughout retirement.
Technology as the Engine of Change
Technology is the engine propelling these product innovations and transforming insurance delivery. Kilam shares 4 key trends:
Data-driven Strategies: Data analytics allow insurers to personalize offerings, understand customer needs better, and price products more accurately. Kilam emphasizes the importance of obtaining customer consent and adhering to data privacy regulations.
AI Solutions: Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize the industry. AI-powered chatbots can provide 24×7 customer service, while AI-driven underwriting can streamline the process and make risk assessments more efficient.
Embedded Insurance: This emerging concept seamlessly integrates insurance coverage into various aspects of daily life. Imagine purchasing micro-insurance for your phone alongside your new device, or travel insurance automatically activated when you book a flight. Kilam highlights the potential of embedded insurance to expand insurance penetration.
Open Insurance Frameworks: Open frameworks allow insurers to securely share data with third-party applications, fostering collaboration and innovation for creating new insurance products and services tailored to specific needs. Kilam envisions insurers transforming into “API factories” offering their products and services as building blocks for a broader financial ecosystem.
Beyond current trends, Kilam identifies blockchain as a technology with the potential to significantly impact the industry. Blockchain’s secure and tamper-proof nature can be invaluable for managing and sharing data across various stakeholders in the insurance lifecycle, such as hospitals, reinsurers, and policyholders. This can improve transparency, streamline processes, and reduce fraud.
Modernizing Core Systems
Modernizing legacy core systems is crucial for insurers to capitalize on these opportunities. Kilam describes 2 main approaches:
Bimodal IT: This strategy involves creating a completely new digital stack alongside the existing core system. The new stack can handle digital business processes, while the core system continues to manage essential functions like claims processing.
Core System Optimization: Kilam suggests a phased approach to optimizing core systems. Non-essential functionalities can be migrated to separate data platforms, while core functionalities can be gradually modernized.
A Transformed Landscape
The insurance industry is witnessing a period of unprecedented change. A growing demand for protection, demographic shifts, and technological advancements are all shaping a future where insurance is more personalized, accessible, and data driven. To thrive in this new landscape, insurance companies must embrace innovation, invest in digital transformation, and leverage emerging technologies. This digital revolution presents exciting opportunities for insurers to expand their reach, create new products, and deliver a superior customer experience, ensuring financial security and well-being for all.
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