The document outlines the advantages of implementing technology in agencies, emphasizing improved communication, sales processes, and workflow automation. It discusses various tools for collaboration, enhancing sales, and creating accountability while also noting the drawbacks of reliance on technology such as security concerns and employee wellbeing. Best practices for adopting technology include careful selection, gradual implementation, and involving staff in the process.

1. Implementing Technology
in Your Agency
Be the nerdiest agency in town!
Laird Rixford / @lrixford
President

2. Any sufficiently advanced
technology is
indistinguishable from
magic.
Arthur C. Clarke

3. What can technology
do?
How technology helps your agency.

4. Technology's Advantages
• Improves communication and collaboration
• Improves the sales process
• Saves time by automating mundane
processes
• Creates accountability
• Mobilizes the workforce

5. Communication &
Collaboration
Across the hall or across the world.

6. Communication &
Collaboration Tools
• Email
• Microsoft Exchange (via Office 365)
• Gmail (via Google Apps)
• Chat
• Skype for Business (formally Lync)
• Google Hangouts
• File Sharing
• SharePoint
• Google Docs
• Video conferencing
• Screen share
• White boarding

8. Communication &
Collaboration Tools
• VOIP
• RingCentral
• Vonage for Business
• Mobile Access
• Access to resources on the road

9. Improving Sales
Workflows
Faster close means happier clients and owners!

10. Improving Sales Workflows
• Website
• Insurance Website Builder
• Lead management
• Velocify
• Comparative rating systems
• TurboRater (are there any others?)
• Automated marketing systems
• AgencyBuzz

11. Oh, This is SOOO
Boring!
Get rid of those mundane and boring processes.

12. The Boring Stuff
• Automate follow-up marketing
• Management system downloads
• Minimize data entry
• Stop filing, start scanning!
• Taking payments?
• Set up a kiosk at front desk to give easy access
to carrier payment pages.
• Notifications and alerts

13. Provide Accountability
Protect employees and the agency itself.

14. Create Accountability
• Track user’s workflows
• Prevent fraud
• Mitigate E&O exposures
• Office security

15. Mobilization
Technology is key to mobilizing your workforce.

16. Mobilization creates…
• …remote employees
• …the ability to work from home during
disasters
• …the ability to work after hours (or prevent
it)
• …a workforce able to work anytime and
anywhere

17. Drawbacks of
Technology
Reliance is a bad thing.

18. Drawbacks of Technology
• Creating open and collaborative
environments creates security concerns.
• Hacking
• Oversharing
• Abuse of oversight
• Over reliance on technology is dangerous.
• Never trust a backup
• Prevents employees from disconnecting.
Happy employees have a life.
• Must keep up with change.

19. Adoption of
Technology
Choose and implement wisely.

20. Best Practices for Adoption
• Pick technologies that will compliment your
workflow.
• Implement slowly, yet methodically.
• Don’t overdo a technology revamp. Let users get
used to the change. As they adopt, introduce more.
• Involve staff in the discussion of technology
implementation. They use it daily; get their buy-in.
• Develop an advocate for change.
• Don’t upgrade for the sake of upgrading.
• Upgrade technologies as they become obsolete.

21. Thank You
Don’t forget to fill out your surveys!
Laird Rixford / @lrixford
President