The rise of Insurance Technology has come as a surprise to those who view the industry of lacking forward thinking. However, in recent years the growth in FinTech and InsurTech startups have provided new ways to tackle industry problems. With new customer demands and expectations, the need to innovate is being met by many startups who can leverage a range of current market trends quickly.
With some promising contenders for 2016, here are some of the ones to watch:
1. Cuvva
Taking advantage of the growing need for short term car insurance, Cuvva has mobilised its unique offering where hourly car insurance can be purchased through its user-friendly app. Set up and based in Scotland, Cuvva tackles the historically labour intensive task of getting short term car insurance. The built-in capability allows quick cross checking of your DVLA records, while verifying your identity, which cuts out a lot of the legwork for the user. With seed funding from a Scottish angel syndicate, the future is looking bright for Cuvva.
2. Cocoon
This sophisticated home security device was developed by Sanjay Parekh, who wanted to give himself peace of mind whilst away on holiday. Simple to setup and easy to use, it is controlled by your phone and alerts the user of any unusual activity prompted by sound-based technology. The size of a tennis ball, it detects low-frequency sounds in order to detect movement. If an alarm is raised, the user can view 30 seconds of video, and alert the police if necessary afterwards. Zurich Insurance has teamed up with Cocoon, linking the value of insurance with that vital reassurance consumers are looking for. Giving quick and easy peace of mind is proving a popular solution when users are away, and having the technology to do so makes Cocoon one to watch over the coming years.
3. Brolly
Labelling itself an “insurance concierge”, Brolly is taking big steps in the world of artificial intelligence. Split into three products, Brolly Advisor, Brolly Locker and Brolly Shop; each one targets a distinct need and solution. Brolly Advisor can tell you whether you are over or under insured, and highlights where you may potentially be going wrong with your cover, based on your needs. Brolly Locker is a storage system for insurance documents, making them easy to access and find. The Brolly Shop will launch next year, acting as a price comparison tool for insurance, but updating automatically which will allow ease of reinsuring when renewal dates are approaching. Transforming insurance tasks which have been labour intensive and unorganised in the past simple, easy and user-friendly is at the heart of Brolly’s growing popularity and the potential for the future. Having a user experience with everything in one place is a unique and exciting proposition for the insurance market as it is.
4. Spixii
A chatbox which acts as an insurance advisor, Spixii is enabling customers to get quick, easy and personal insurance advice. Converting the task of comparing insurance providers into a private conversation is making the user journey one of ease. A simple interaction without the form filling, the WhatsApp-like conversation uses AI technology and machine learning, and can even detect when you are abroad and might not be covered by your insurance for particular activities. The key to the success of Spixii will rest on its software quality, but the concept is one which gives an ever more personalised experience to the customer and is looking like a great contender in the Insurtech space.
5. Fitsense
With the health trend and use of wearables on the up, the Fitsense is adding value to the insurance market by using technology to help insurers understand their customers even better. Combining data from these health wearables with other device data allows insurers to create even richer customer profiles from which they can build insurance products and services to serve specific client needs. Combining the value of big data with insurance products is an invaluable opportunity for them to accelerate revenue streams and maximise the effectiveness of their product offers. The combination of three major market trends in big data, health and personalisation, is one that gives Fitsense a great chance at making a mark in the insurance sector.