.avif)
Humans get tired, especially when doing the same monotonous thing over and over, such as remarketing policies. That’s where Robotic Process Automation (RPA) comes in. Before you start thinking about Terminator bots in your office, that’s not what we’re talking about. RPA is a technology that imitates the way an individual engages with computer systems.
Think about having a reliable digital assistant that clicks, types, copies, pastes, and transfers data between systems 24/7, no breaks, no days off sick, no costly errors.
The good news about RPA is that it doesn't require you to rip and replace what you've got. These robots build on top of what you've already got – think your AMS, CRM, carrier portals, spreadsheets, you name it – and automate tedious, rules-based work that are consuming hours of your staff's time today. This can enable your agency to add capacity without adding another human and reduce burnout on your team.
What can RPA do for your insurance agency?
A lot. To start with, it can automate data synchronization and policy downloads. Tired of updating your AMS manually from carrier downloads? RPA can log into carrier portals, download files, associate them with the correct client, and upload the data where it belongs. In renewal prep, bots can pull a list of pending renewals every week, send pre-renewal notifications, flag accounts for review, and even help in creating comparison reports. For certificate of insurance requests, RPA can sort through the requests, verify coverage, generate standard certificates, and flag anything that deserves a closer look.
It doesn't stop there, as the problems RPA can solve are almost limitless.
How does all this automation benefit your bottom line? In more ways than one.
First, you expand capacity without hiring and training new employees. One bot can save enough hours off multiple staff to expand capacity and save you from hiring another full-time account manager. That immediately improves your cost ratio and revenue per employee, a key performance metric any agency needs to keep in mind.
Second, bots don't have typos. They input the data exactly as instructed, reducing E&O risk, client satisfaction, and your overall data hygiene (which pays back in marketing, cross-selling, and reporting).
Third, automation speeds things up. A faster service equates to improved retention, happier clients, and a better competitive edge. Finally, RPA can free up your employees from mundane tasks and allow them to have more time for what really drives your agency: building relationships, reviewing accounts, and writing new business.
Starting with RPA has never been easier. You don't need an army of programmers or a six-month rollout schedule. Many RPA providers now offer plug-and-play bots specifically built for the insurance industry and integrate with carrier portals, AMS systems, and CRMs.
Start small – with one or two pesky workflows – prove the benefit and expand from there.
Finally, RPA is not about automating people out of the equation. It's about freeing them up to work on high-impact tasks in the agency. With the high expectations and hiring woes of today's world, RPA gives you a way to grow strategically, get rid of operational drag, and enhance your bottom line.
So, the next time that someone tells you, “We’re too busy" or "We can't do any more," you should ask yourself: “Could a bot do this?”
The answer will probably be “yes” more frequently than not. And the results will impress.
