Maximising growth with profitability by focusing on Corporate Automobile Tie-ups, promoting sale of policies through online portal of the company, rational pricing of our motor products based on analysis, product development, product diversification and fine tuning of existing products are but few factors that have contributed to the motor insurance portfolio of NIC.
It has increased its outreach in semi-urban and rural areas by opening new business centers across the country. Insurance-on-Wheels (IOW) and online portal have recorded immense success as these offer special incentives to its customers. This is complimented by formation of countrywide Centralised Motor Claims verticals. It has made extra efforts to minimise grievances by maintaining turnaround time (TAT) for settlement of claims and providing alternate online support to customers through Web Portal and toll-free call centers. In addition to the above, the company has recruited specialists – automobile engineers and investigators – for handling specific requirements of the motor portfolio.
Starting in 2002-03, with Rs 1.3 billion premium, NIC’s share of business from strategic alliances has grown to whopping Rs 21 billion. Following factors have contributed to the achievement of this segmental growth and continuation of the same for such a long period:
With an aim to provide enhanced customer service, NIC has tied-up with 3,500 garages that provide cashless facility. Complimentary emergency road assistance services in case of breakdown of vehicles, specialised tie-ups with service providers for repair of damages to or replacement of windshields of all types of vehicles and for multi-brand repairing of all ‘private car’ type of vehicles, insured by NIC, are some of the other facilities extended to all customers of NIC.
It has made extra efforts to minimise grievances by maintaining turnaround time (TAT) for settlement of claims and providing alternate online support to customers through Web Portal and toll-free call centers. In addition to the above, the company has recruited specialists – automobile engineers and investigators – for handling specific requirements of the motor portfolio
Through its bank tie-ups, it extends cover to vehicles that have been financed by these financial institutions. A similar cover is also extended to customers of specialised motor financing institutions, with whom NIC has tie-ups, such as ‘Magma Finance’, ‘SREI Finance’, and, ‘Tata Motor Finance’.
The lOWs are mobile vans, which move around the city on designated routes, thereby providing an easy way for insureds to buy / renew their insurance policies.
NIC has maintained the leadership in motor segment by growing at a rate of about 14.36%, higher than the industry average of 13.73%
Contribution of motor insurance to the Company’s GDP Iincreased from 46% in the FY 2012-13 to 48% in the FY 2013-14
Contribution of motor insurance to the Company’s GDP Iincreased from 46% in the FY 2012-13 to 48% in the FY 2013-14
Focusing on key business sources, based on data analysis, attractive pricing options were made available to the profitable classes of vehicles and special focus was given on business generated through strategic alliances and bancassurance. In addition, specific emphasis have been laid to improve the online service thereby expanding reach and reducing administrative costs. A specialised technical team is helping the company to secure a robust top-line through high level of customer satisfaction as well as maintenance of a healthy bottom-line through better claims management. Dependence on external expertise has reduced by recruiting specialised work force, which has helped in curtailment of time taken in processes as well as diminishing financial outgo, better claims control, faster settlements and reduction of claim ratios.
The net effect of all these measures has been that the NIC has registered a steady growth in premium despite the slowdown in the automobile industry in India in the past two years.
Increased interaction with the consumers, intermediaries, regulators and internal customers have enabled NIC to understand and develop a strategy for business growth, development of better priced models, improvement and motivation of its internal customers leading thereby to better customer service.
There is a need for a well-defined strategy for customer education regarding various aspects of insurance to enable them take informed decisions about various policies. This will not only help society at large but will also generate business from the untapped markets.
With increasing levels of awareness amongst the customers, there is growing demand for more innovative products and options in the market. This has been one of the key learnings for NIC and it intends to develop better options for the customers on a priority basis.
Training programmes and interactive sessions have helped in improving performance levels of the intermediaries as well as NIC’s internal customers to a great extent. NIC aims to increase these interactions and to make them more meaningful and informative for its customers.
The thrust of all NIC’s activities has resulted in development of excellent relationships with its customers, tie-up partners and intermediaries. A strong sense of loyalty from the customer has been the highlight of this success and special focus on customer relations is the most distinctive feature of the company’s transactions and dealings. Some of its initiatives are distinct in the way they have been implemented with a goal to provide a better experience of insurance, which makes these initiatives more deserving than all other initiatives.
The way of implementation of the concept of claims verticals is distinctive. Unlike NIC’s competitors, it has claims verticals not only at the Head Office but also at Regional Offices enabling it to provide improved claims settlement facilities at the doorstep of the customer. It keeps improving the working of its existing claims verticals while increasing the number of these verticals with appropriate professional staff to achieve better claims management and to minimise the TAT for claims settlements further. NIC is moving forward to make insurance products even more inclusive.
Some of the major tie-ups of NIC include:
Easy car insurance
Through its bank tie-ups, it extends cover to vehicles that have been financed by these financial institutions. A similar cover is also extended to customers of specialised motor financing institutions, with whom NIC has tie-ups, such as ‘Magma Finance’, ‘SREI Finance’, and, ‘Tata Motor Finance
Doorstep service
The lOWs are mobile vans, which move around the city on designated routes, thereby providing an easy way for insureds to buy / renew their insurance policies. Focusing on key business sources, based on data analysis, attractive pricing options were made available to the profitable classes of vehicles and special focus was given on business generated through strategic alliances and bancassurance. In addition, specific emphasis have been laid to improve the online service thereby expanding reach and reducing administrative costs. A specialised technical team is helping the company to secure a robust top-line through high level of customer satisfaction as well as maintenance of a healthy bottom-line through better claims management. Dependence on external expertise has reduced by recruiting specialised work force, which has helped in curtailment of time taken in processes as well as diminishing financial outgo, better claims control, faster settlements and reduction of claim ratios. The net effect of all these measures has been that the NIC has registered a steady growth in premium despite the slowdown in the automobile industry in India in the past two years.
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