A company that powers many insurance industry information systems says technology can power an insurance agency through the COVID-19 crisis.
The company, Vertafore Inc., delivered that message last week, by working with a user group affiliate, the Network of Vertafore Users (NetVU) to convert what was going to be a major in-person user conference, in Minneapolis, into the Summer of Accelerate “virtual kickoff event.”
Vertafore and NetVU used livestreaming technology to keep their own business moving forward.
For the kickoff event, Vertafore and NetVU tried to replicate the atmosphere of an in-person event by offering a mix of keynote sessions, interactive workshops, and virtual breakout sessions.
Vertafore and NetVU have tried to take the event to another, higher level, by adding a series of weekly webinars, with topics such as improving remote worker effectiveness, using online reviews to drive leads, and dunning letters.
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Amy Zupon, Vertafore’s chief executive officer, said in a statement about the the company’s strategy that companies need to find ways to serve clients even when they can’t be in the office.
“As agencies plan ahead for what the ‘new normal’ might look like, having a modern, digital-first approach will be essential,” Zupon said.
The Summer of Accelerate is Vertafore’s effort to serve its own clients when it can’t be in the office, or in a Minneapolis convention center.
Vertafore is working to position itself as a source of solutions that agencies can use to cope with the crisis.
A new promotional video for the company’s AMS360 agency management system reflects that strategy.
“AMS360 can help your agency be more resilient in a tough market, and put you ahead of the pack as the economy picks up,” Robert Blackett, an AMS360 trainer, says in the video, which was released as the virtual kickoff event ended. “While those other agencies are hunkering down, you’ll have all the systems in place to build your business and take your agency to the next level.”