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The journey toward greater
customer centricity
Ernst & Young2
The journey toward greater customer centricity 3
01 Executive summary
03 Introduction: evolving consumer dynamics
	 	 •		Consumer	demands	and	expectations
	 	 •		Influencing	persistency	and	retention
	 	 •		Insurers	are	not	meeting	customers’	expectations
05	 	 Core	principles	for	redefining	customer	relationships	
07	 	 Protecting	the	core:	becoming	more	customer-focused
	 	 •		Customer-centric	models
	 	 •		Data	for	competitive	advantage:	advanced	segmentation	and	data	analytics
	 	 •		Harnessing	the	power	of	digital	as	part	of	an	integrated	channel	strategy
15	 	 Customer-centric	innovation	
	 	 •		A	significant	cultural	shift
	 	 •		Develop	a	culture	of	innovation
16	 	 Practical	steps	on	the	journey	
19	 	 Conclusion	
Contents
Ernst & Young4
Advances	in	technology and communication,
combined	with	the	explosive growth in data
and	information,	have	given	rise	to	a	more	
empowered global consumer.
The journey toward greater customer centricity 1
Executive summary
Advances	in	technology	and	communication,	combined	with	the	
explosive	growth	in	data	and	information,	have	given	rise	to	
a	more	empowered	global	consumer.	Recent	economic	and	political	
events	highlight	the	need	for	insurers	to	understand	how	consumers	
view	the	world	and	the	most	important	attributes	for	their	
purchasing	decisions.	
Our	discussions	with	global	insurance	executives,	non-executive	
directors	and	regulators	corroborate	this	view	and	demonstrate,	
without	exception,	that	the	challenge	of	responding	effectively	to	
rapidly	changing	consumer	needs	is	one	of	the	top	strategic	agenda	
items,	alongside	regulatory	change	and	talent	management.	
In	our	Ernst	&	Young	Global	Consumer	Insurance	Survey	2012	
report,	Voice of the customer,1
	we	learned	about	the	value	of	
customer	centricity	and	why	it	is	so	important	to	an	insurer.	Our	
survey	probed	customer	attitudes	and	behaviors	to	determine	
how	customers	view	and	interact	with	the	industry,	as	well	as	their	
expectations	for	the	future.	Our	findings	confirmed	that	those	
insurers	who	respond	best	to	what	customers	want	now	are	most	
likely	to	succeed.	A	clear	understanding	of	customer	needs	and	
behaviors	across	the	organization	will	help	drive	profitable	growth	
strategies	and	provide	the	confidence	to	invest	in	opportunities	at	a	
time	when	staying	within	budget	is	extremely	difficult.	
In	this	paper,	we	explore	how	technology	is	changing	consumer	
dynamics	and	show	how	insurers	have	an	opportunity	to	influence	
persistency,	retention	and	expectations	through	improved	
customer	engagement.	We	discuss	the	strategic	paradigm	and	
operational	areas	where	insurers	can	become	more	customer-
focused:	developing	customer-centric	models,	applying	advanced	
segmentation	and	data	analytics	to	design	an	effective	customer	
experience,	harnessing	the	power	of	digital	in	an	integrated	channel	
strategy,	and	shifting	to	a	new	culture	of	innovation	that	will	drive	
growth	and	competitive	advantage.	
The	journey	to	customer	centricity	will	not	be	an	easy	endeavor.	
In	building	a	strong	foundation	for	the	future,	insurers	will	need	to	
focus	on	a	new	set	of	core	principles	to	redefine	relationships.	There	
will	be	many	challenges	in	developing	the	critical	new	capabilities	
that	align	objectives,	targets,	rewards	and	recognition	with	
customer needs.
We	offer	practical	steps	for	insurers	to	consider	along	the	way	
as	they	build	momentum	for	customer	centricity	across	their	
organizations.	Some	of	the	topics	will	be	presented	in	greater	detail	
in	the	months	ahead.	Look	for	a	discussion	of	how	insurers	can	
harness	digital	more	effectively	in	an	upcoming	2013	report.
In	this	paper,	we	explore	how	technology	
is	changing	consumer	dynamics	and	
show	how	insurers	have	an	opportunity	
to	influence	persistency,	retention	and	
expectations	through	improved	
customer engagement.
1. Voice of the customer: time to rethink your relationships,	Ernst	&	Young.	Download	at	www.ey.com/insurance.
Ernst & Young2
By	2020,	it	is	anticipated	there	will	be	
more	than	50 billion connected devices
globally,	with	mobile	being	the	primary	
internet	device	for	most	individuals.
The journey toward greater customer centricity 3
Introduction: evolving consumer dynamics
Technology	is	growing	at	an	exponential	rate,	influencing	consumer	
behavior	and	insurance	marketing	strategies.	By	2020,	80%	of	
the	global	population	will	have	access	to	mobile	telephony	and	
more	than	60%	to	smartphones	or	low-cost	tablet	computers.	It	is	
anticipated	there	will	be	more	than	50	billion	connected	devices	
globally,	with	mobile	being	the	primary	internet	device	for	
most individuals.
Social	media	and	unprecedented	access	to	information,	such	as	
peer-to-peer	product	and	service	reviews,	are	giving	greater	power	
to	consumers,	creating	more	informed	and	demanding	customers.	
These	experiences	are	shaping	consumer	expectations	across	all	
sectors, including insurance.
Consumer demands and expectations
Although	technology	is	changing	the	way	customers	engage	with	
insurers,	our	survey	indicates	that	personal	interaction	is	still	highly	
regarded.	The	complex	nature	of	insurance	products	and	customers’	
need	for	advice	mean	that	some	level	of	personal	interaction	will	
remain	an	important	component	of	overall	channel	strategy.	
Customers	prefer	products	to	be	simpler	and	more	transparent,	so	
it	is	easier	to	make	informed	choices.	This	has	implications	for	the	
role	of	insurance	agents.	In	an	industry	where	margins	are	coming	
under	increasing	pressure,	insurers	need	to	choose	where	they	
invest	across	the	value	chain	to	avoid	adding	extra	cost	while	still	
paying	agents	for	services	customers	may	prefer	to	do	themselves.	
These	changes	are	forcing	a	dramatic	change	in	the	business	
operating	model,	as	insurers	need	to	focus	on	where	their	sales	
channels	add	value	to	the	end	customer.	This	will	be	helped	by	
greater	transparency	in	the	sales	process	and	in	product	design.
Overall,	customers	are	looking	for	value	to	be	clearly	demonstrated,	
reflecting	a	balance	of	price,	product	features	and	service	tailored	
to	their	needs.	They	prefer	to	buy	more	products	from	companies	
they	trust.	Once	they	have	made	their	choice	and	established	a	
relationship	with	an	insurance	provider,	they	expect	the	provider’s	
products	and	services	to	meet	their	expectations	—	and	through	
their	channel	of	choice.	
More demanding
Increased	expectations:	
convenience,	flexibility	and	
personalization	are	a	given
More diverse
Global	growth	of	women	
in	the	workforce
More sophisticated
Emerging	middle	classes	want	
more	financial	services
More hedonistic
It’s	all	about	me
Ernst & Young4
Influencing persistency and retention
Recognizing	the	value	of	the	customer	relationship	is	vital	—	at	
the	point	of	initial	sale	and	over	the	customer	lifetime.	Customer	
segmentation	models,	which	identify	those	who	have	the	highest	
propensity	to	purchase,	can	improve	customer	satisfaction,	
compared	to	traditional	unfocused	“product	push”	cross-sell	efforts.
Insurers	also	have	an	opportunity	to	influence	persistency	and	
support	retention	through	improved	engagement	with	existing	
customers.	This	must	be	backed	by	flexibly	designed	products	that	
respond	to	changing	customer	needs	and	financial	incentives	to	
reward	customer	loyalty	—	over	the	customer	life	cycle	rather	than	
just	at	the	point	of	lapse.	
But	the	key	to	improving	persistency	is	removing	the	reasons	why	
customers	consider	leaving	in	the	first	place.	Use	of	predictive	
models	can	target	customers	based	on	likelihood	of	lapse	and	the	
value	of	retention,	but	“test	and	learn”	approaches	are	essential	to	
determine	which	interventions	are	most	effective.	
Customers	are	willing	to	build	long-term	relationships	with	their	
providers	and	purchase	multiple	products.	However,	insurers	must	
improve	the	effectiveness	of	their	communications,	as	well	as	
recognize	and	reward	the	value	of	the	relationships.	
Insurers are not meeting customers’ expectations
Our Voice of the customer survey	indicates	four	dimensions	where	
insurers	are	failing	to	meet	customers’	expectations:	service	quality,	
rewarding	loyalty,	communication	and	product	transparency.	
Consumers	have	a	strong	sense	that	insurers	could	do	more	to	earn	
their	trust.	They	tend	to	judge	insurers	against	other	consumer	
industries,	expecting	comparable	standards	of	service	and	
rewards	for	loyalty.	Yet,	in	our	client	experience,	insurers	typically	
benchmark	themselves	against	their	peers	in	the	industry.	That’s	
a	big	disconnect.	Insurers	need	to	continually	evolve	customer	
propositions	to	meet	changing	needs	and	expectations,	particularly	
by	improving	information	and	transparency,	and	they	need	to	look	
outside	the	industry	to	do	this	effectively.
The	need	for	clarity	and	transparency	is	also	driven	by	regulators	
protecting	consumer	interests	more	than	ever	before.	Insurers	that	
align	themselves	to	a	customer-centric	model	of	operation	will	find	
the	transition	to	the	new	regulatory	environment	less	painful,	and	
they	may	even	gain	a	competitive	advantage.
Customers	are	willing	to	build	long-term	
relationships	with	their	providers	and	
purchase	multiple	products.	However,	
insurers	must	improve	the	effectiveness	of	
their	communications,	as	well	as	recognize	
and	reward	the	value	of	the	relationships.
The journey toward greater customer centricity 5
In	this	fast-changing	environment,	insurers	need	to	focus	on	
a	new	set	of	core	principles	to	redefine	relationships	with	
customers	and	transform	business	models.	To	achieve	this	
new	strategic	paradigm	—	and	the	first	step	on	the	journey	to	
customer	centricity	—	insurers	need	to	take	the	following	steps.
Protect business against disintermediation:	Insurers	unable	to	
understand	or	deliver	against	current	and	future	consumer	needs	
and	preferences	face	the	prospect	of	losing	the	connection	with	or	
being	pushed	further	away	from	the	end	customer.	Insurers	need	
to	make	sure	they	retain	a	strong	influence	on	how	customers	view	
their	products	and	services,	regardless	of	overall	channel	strategy.	
Redefine customer relationships:	Insurance	has	traditionally	been	
a	product-centric	business,	focused	on	developing	the	best	products	
for	a	given	risk	and	delivering	those	in	the	most	cost-effective	
manner.	Now	insurers	need	to	better	understand	the	true	needs	of	
their	customers	in	order	to	redefine	the	products	and	services	they	
offer	and	the	ways	in	which	they	interact	and	serve	them.	They	need	
to	know	their	customers	better	than	ever	and	use	the	information	
and	knowledge	as	a	source	of	competitive	advantage.
Increase productivity to gain a competitive advantage:
Historically,	productivity	improvements	were	viewed	as	a	response	
to	adverse	market	conditions.	Insurers	typically	curtail	spending	in	
times	of	shrinking	revenue	or	increasing	cost	pressures.	However,	
those	insurers	who	are	able	to	view	productivity	enhancements	
with	the	dual	lens	of	improving	the	expense	position	while	growing	
the	top	line	will	achieve	a	competitive	advantage.	As	consumer	
expectations	for	better	levels	of	customer	service	grow,	insurers	
will	need	to	navigate	the	challenges	imposed	by	large-scale,	
paper-based	legacy	systems.	Those	carriers	that	are	able	to	
increase	productivity	through	streamlined	business	processes	and	
technology	improvements	will	be	able	to	enhance	their	expense	
positions	and	increase	the	quality	of	their	customer	service.
Diversify sources of revenue:	Insurance	by	nature	is	cyclical.	
Non-life	insurers	face	hard	and	soft	pricing	cycles,	while	life	and	
pension	sales	and	profit	performance	are	affected	by	interest	rate	
movements	and	equity	market	volatility.	Insurers	need	to	diversify	
to	sustain	stable	top-line	growth	and	earning	fluctuations.	This	
also	affects	customer	centricity,	as	it	recognizes	that	product	
performance	and	consumer	needs	shift	with	market	conditions	and	
life	events.	
Collaborate with new partners across the value chain:	The	
shift	from	pushing	products	to	delivering	solutions	often	requires	
insurers	to	develop	new	capabilities	or	provide	products	outside	
the	current	portfolio.	In	addition,	the	adoption	of	new	technologies	
(SOA,	web	services,	etc.)	is	opening	opportunities	to	outsource	
non-strategic	functions	to	improve	the	efficiency	and	effectiveness	
of	business	functions	across	the	value	chain.	Successful	insurers	will	
be	those	that	develop	capabilities	to	identify	and	manage	strategic	
business	partnerships.
By	focusing	on	these	core	principles,	insurers	can	build	a	strong	
foundation	for	the	future	while	improving	top-line	growth	and	
profitability	over	the	near	term.	To	truly	succeed,	they	must	
embrace	and	embed	the	concept	of	innovation	within	their	
organizations.	Future	industry	winners	will	be	nimble	and	able	to	
respond	quickly	and	effectively	to	changing	market	conditions,	new	
consumer demands and emerging regulations.
Core	principles	for	redefining	
customer	relationships
Ernst & Young6
The challenge	is	how	to	transition	
from	existing	product	and	traditional	
distribution	models	to	those	that	
deliver what customers want.
The journey toward greater customer centricity 7
With	these	core	strategies	in	place,	the	focus	can	shift	to	operational	
issues	that	will	enable	change.	Insurance	companies	can	drive	
growth	in	revenue	and	profit	by	improving	their	businesses,	
attracting	customers	and	strengthening	relationships.	However,	
implementation	is	not	easy,	particularly	where	insurers	have	
extensive	legacy	systems	and	operations.	The	challenge	is	how	to	
transition	from	existing	product	and	traditional	distribution	models	
to	those	that	deliver	what	customers	want,	as	well	as	how	to	develop	
the	critical	new	capabilities	to	enable	this	transformation.
We	believe	there	are	three	essential	steps	along	the	journey	to	
customer	centricity.	Insurers	need	to	focus	on	customer-centric	
operating	models,	advanced	segmentation	and	data	analytics,	and	
harnessing	digital	to	better	engage	with	customers	at	a	lower	cost.	
Customer–centric operating models
A	customer-centric	organization	builds	an	operating	model	around	
a	deep	understanding	of	its	customers,	what	they	value	and	the	
contribution	each	makes	to	the	profitability	of	the	company.	
This	requires:
•	Designing	business	processes	that	recognize	different	customer	
segment needs
•	Delivering	a	positive	and	seamless	customer	experience	at	
every	touch	point	across	the	customer	life	cycle
•	Maintaining	an	active	dialogue	with	customers	(and	acting	
on	feedback)
•	Fostering	a	culture	that	places	the	customer	at	the	heart	of	the	
decision-making	process
Maturity model assessment
Assessing	an	organization	against	a	customer-centric	maturity	
model	may	provide	a	better	understanding	of	the	relative	
maturity	of	key	capabilities	such	as	segmentation	or	lifetime	value	
management,	as	well	as	offer	guidance	on	where	to	invest.	Through	
our	work	with	clients,	we	have	a	clear	view	of	what	constitutes	
different	stages	of	maturity,	from	undeveloped	to	leading	practice.	
Protecting	the	core:	becoming	more	
customer-focused
Figure	1:	Compares	how	four	major	global	insurers	are	currently	
positioned	in	the	five	stages	of	development.	Defining	and	
understanding	what	it	means	to	be	“emerging”	versus	“advanced”	
can	be	a	process	in	itself,	even	before	mapping	your	company	
against	these	criteria.
Indeed,	understanding	and	communicating	the	scale	of	the	
challenge	ahead	is	the	first	step	of	any	journey.	It	is	important	to	
be	realistic	about	expectations	—	leading	customer	centricity	(the	
far	right	of	the	maturity	model)	may	be	unattainable.	However,	the	
process	of	considering	how	to	balance	customer-centric	principles	
with	financial	considerations	is	critical.	For	some,	the	trade-offs	
between	the	level	of	investment	required	and	realized	benefits	will	
determine	how	far	they	progress.
The	journey	to	deliver	a	mature	operating	model	may	take	years.	
Such	a	significant	organizational	transformation	must	be	broken	
down	into	a	manageable,	phased	implementation.	Focusing	on	
quick	wins,	key	technology	decisions	and	targeted	improvements	
initially	can	help	to	prove	the	case	and	garner	organizational	
buy-in.	Prioritizing	“high	touch,	low	tech”	changes	that	improve	
the	customer	experience	relative	to	the	cost	and	implementation	
effort	will	further	generate	momentum	for	more	extensive	
technology-enabled	change.
Barriers to successful transformation
Typically,	most	insurers	will	encounter	challenges	inherent	in	their	
current	operating	models	due	to	technological	and	operational	
limitations,	as	well	as	cultural	constraints.	Among	the	more	
obvious	are	strong	organizational	silos,	which	create	an	inability	or	
unwillingness	to	share	customer	data	or	cooperate	across	business	
units	and	functions.	
This	is	particularly	common	in	businesses	that	historically	have	
been	segmented	along	distribution	channels,	e.g.,	intermediary	
and	direct.	In	fact,	the	traditional	insurance	customer	engagement	
model	presents	significant	barriers:	in	many	cases,	initial	customer	
contact	and	ongoing	advice	are	controlled	by	an	intermediary	or	
agent	—	and	often,	provider	engagement	at	this	stage	is	purely	
administrative.	Legacy	systems	and	processes,	and	poor	quality	
or	insufficient	end-customer	data,	constrain	many	organizations
Ernst & Young8
Figure 1: Customer–centric maturity model
Brand and
market
positioning
Low	brand	equity	among	target	
customers	—	known	but	not	valued
High	brand	recognition	and	strong	positive	associations	
among	target	customers,	based	on	real	evidence	and	
reputation	for	customer	focus
Customer
segmentation
Broad,	undifferentiated	offering,	not	
specific	to	any	distinct	customer	segments
Clearly	defined	target	segments	based	on	robust	
understanding	of	current	and	potential	customer	
lifetime	value
Distributor
management
Distributor	relationships	driven	by	volume,	
little	or	no	provider	involvement	in	sale	or	
post-sale	customer	activity
Highly	selective	approach	to	distributors	driven	by	
customer	and	distributor	profitability;	partnership	
approach	with	selected	distributors	with	joined	up	
customers engagement model
Propositions Broad	range	of	traditional	life	products:	
complex,	inflexible,	opaque,	capital–intensive	
with	provider-financed	commission
Focused	product	range	based	on	insight	into	needs	
of	profitable	customer	segments;	flexible	design	with	
transparent	pricing,	supporting	fee–based	advise	
and/or	customer	self-service
Service
delivery
Transactional	and	admin–driven,	reactive	to	
customer	and	distributor	requests;	low-touch	
approach	with	no	proactive	contact	or	value	
added interaction
Relevant	and	value-adding	customer	contact	through	
variety	of	media	including	phone	and	online	self-service	
tools	and	information
Customer
lifetime value
management
No	attempt	to	manage	customer	lifetime	
value	beyond	standard	service	model
Explicit	understanding	of	customer	lifetime	value	with	
value–adding	interventions	at	key	stages	including	lapse,	
life-stage	changes,	maturity,	retirement	etc.,	tailored	to	
needs	and	value	of	specific	customer	segments
Culture New	business	volume	and	market	share	are	
key	metrics;	enforce	those	customers	not	
actively managed or measured
Customer	lifetime	value	management	is	key	metric:	clear	
focus	on	meeting	needs	of	profitable	customer	segments	
across	their	whole	life	cycle
Process Product	push	approach;	little	or	no	customer	
segmentation;	products	developed	ad	hoc;	
“One	size	fits	all”	service	footprint
Tailored	product	offering	based	on	discrete	customer	
segments;	real–time	customer	insight	supports	
personalized	interactions;	predictive	analytics	employed	
to	adjust	offers	and	service	actions	accordingly;	
multi-channel	approach	based	on	behaviors	and	
buying	preferences
People No	ownership	of	the	customer	within	the	
organization;	compensation	drives	
inconsistent	behaviors;	customer–facing	
employees	not	supported	by	back	office	
functions;	lack	of	authority	to	resolve	
customer	issues	at	point	of	contact
Customer–centric	culture	pervasive	at	all	levels	of	the	
organization;	customer	insight	is	a	key	component	of	
the	company’s	strategic	agenda;	employees	take	clear	
ownership	for	customer	problems	and	manage	issues	
through	to	resolution
Technology Technology	strategy	not	aligned	with	
customer–centric	culture;	legacy	systems	
limit	ability	to	meet	customer	requirements;	
customer	data	trapped	in	organizational	
silos;	lack	of	enterprise–wide	data	strategy	
hampers	integration
Unified	vision	for	data	management	across	both	
enterprise	and	business	partners;	master	data	is	
managed	as	a	corporate	asset;	proactive	measures	
are	in	place	or	ongoing	data	quality	improvements;	
the	organization	embraces	customer–facing	technologies	
as	integral	to	channel	effectiveness
Stage 1: Undeveloped Stage 5: Leading
Stage2:EmergingStage3:DevelopingStage4:Advancing
The journey toward greater customer centricity 9
in	managing	the	end-to-end	customer	relationship.	Even	when	
customers	are	“orphans”	(they	no	longer	have	an	active	agent	or	
intermediary),	many	organizations	do	not,	or	cannot,	seize	this	
opportunity	to	re-establish	a	relationship	directly	with	advice	and	
service	offerings.	
One	of	the	greatest	barriers	for	insurers	is	the	business	case	that	
often	requires	substantial	investment.	Culturally,	traditional	industry	
focus	has	been	on	new	business	and	market	share,	rather	than	
deriving	value	from	the	in-force	book.	When	viewed	with	a	narrow	
lens	and	a	short-term	focus,	many	investments	do	not	make	it	past	
the	planning	stage.	The	key	for	insurers	is	to	shift	to	a	longer-term	
perspective	and	to	recognize	the	opportunity	to	reduce	costs	while	
improving	customer	centricity.	
Executive	management	ownership	and	commitment	to	driving	
customer	centricity	is	imperative.	This	must	be	supported	by	clearly	
defined	customer-centric	objectives	and	metrics	across	all	business	
units,	with	performance	management	and	compensation	aligned	
with	customer-focused	behavior.	
In	setting	goals	for	customer	operating	model	transformation,	
insurers	need	to	ask	these	strategic	questions:
•	 Why	do	you	want	to	be	customer-centric	and	to	what	degree?	
•	 Is	there	a	clear	strategic	imperative	from	the	board	of	directors?
•	 How	incremental	or	revolutionary	a	change	is	required,	and	how	
much	change	is	the	organization	prepared	to	undertake?
•	 What	are	the	main	barriers	and	key	strategic	imperatives?
•	 Where	and	how	will	you	start	—	by	targeting	specific	functions	or	
business	units,	or	with	an	enterprise-wide	phased	approach?
Data for competitive advantage: advanced segmentation and
data analytics
Many	insurers	grasp	the	concept	of	segmenting	and	tailoring	their	
service	propositions.	This	is	often	done	based	on	socioeconomic	
factors	and	product	holdings.	Leading	insurers	are	grouping	
customers	based	on	behaviors	and	values.	
Creating	a	micro-segmentation	model	to	understand	customers	
and	aligning	this	with	a	modular	distribution	model	that	allows	
customers	to	access	the	organization	through	multiple	channels	
(when	and	how	they	prefer)	will	optimize	customers’	experience.
Data	analytics	has	become	critical	to	designing	an	effective	
customer	experience.	Insurers	need	to	understand	the	true	drivers	
of	customer	satisfaction	—	for	every	segment.	What	attributes	of	
their	experience	(price,	personal	attention,	response	time,	service	
calls,	claims,	etc.)	will	have	the	most	impact	on	delivering	a	positive	
experience?	Equally,	insurers	must	identify	what	is	not	driving	
value,	as	this	presents	an	opportunity	to	reduce	costs.
Stage 1:
Undeveloped
Brand and market positioning
Customer segmentation
Distributor management
Propositions
Service delivery
Customer lifetime value management
Culture
Stage 2:
Emerging
Stage 3:
Developing
Stage 4:
Advancing
Stage 5:
Leading
Company 2
Company 1
Company 3
Company 4
Figure 2: Customer centricity maturity assessment of four global insurers
Ernst & Young10
Ultimately,	the	objective	is	to	reshape	strategic	decision-making	by	
prioritizing	investment	in	service	factors	that	deliver	value	for	each	
segment,	channel	and	product	combination.	Without	such	analysis,	
it	is	impossible	to	mount	a	sensible	business	case.
Applying	data	analytics	to	the	customer	service	front	line	can	
be	powerful.	Analysis	of	call	center	transactions,	combined	
with	customer	behavioral	insight,	can	help	insurers	better	route	
customers	to	the	appropriate	type	of	support.	Innovative	use	of	
High satisfaction
Delighted
Low satisfaction
Disgusted
Absent
Quality	for	performance	
not	achieved
Fully implemented
High	quality	performance
Perform
ance
/ linear
Perform
ance
/ linear
Exciters and delighters
Threshold / basic (must haves)
Source:	Kano
Figure 3: Customer experience analysis and design framework
The journey toward greater customer centricity 11
online	tools	and	calculators,	combined	with	customer	account	
information,	can	enable	call	center	representatives	to	deliver	
personalized	advice	and	service.
Data	analytics	and	predictive	modeling	capabilities	can	also	be	
applied	in	other	ways	within	an	organization:	
•	 Behavioral	engineering	models	to	unpack	the	existing	risk	
culture	and	its	implications,	as	part	of	a	transition	to	a	more	
customer-centric	and	innovative	culture
•	 Customer	retention	analysis	—	why,	where	and	when	you	are	
losing customers
•	 Customer	leads	analysis	to	support	development	of	a	fully	
integrated	distribution	model	
•	 Financial	modeling	(of	staff	and/or	customer	base)	to	inform	
customer	experience	and	advisor	conversations	on	how	to	
improve	financial	client	well-being	
•	 Claims	management	and	leakage	analysis
Harnessing the power of digital as part of an integrated
channel strategy
Most	consumers	want	access	to	a	mix	of	online	and	personal	contact	
throughout	the	product	life	cycle.	Digital	is	not	the	panacea,	but	it	
is	a	critical	enabler	to	delivering	the	experience	customers	want.	
The	key	insurance	challenge	is	how	to	harness	the	power	of	digital	
to	better	engage	directly	with	customers	and	lower	costs.	Digital	
technology	will	complicate	the	process	and	frustrate	customers	if	
it	is	not	joined	seamlessly	with	other	channels,	recognizing	that	
existing	channels	or	access	points	will	also	need	to	adapt	and,	in	
some	cases,	play	an	alternative	role	within	the	business.	
The	effective	integration	of	channels	across	sales	and	service	
activities	is	critical	to	delivering	a	positive,	brand-reinforcing	
customer	experience	at	every	touch	point	in	the	customer	
Applying	data	analytics	to	the	customer	
service	front	line	can	be	powerful.	Analysis	
of	call	center	transactions,	combined	with	
customer	behavioral	insight,	can	help	
insurers	better	route	customers	to	the	
appropriate	type	of	support.
relationship	life	cycle.	As	digital	channels	continue	to	grow	in	
importance,	insurers	need	to	define	a	strategy	for	integrating	these	
touch	points	as	part	of	their	overall	distribution	infrastructure.	
Insurers	should	focus	on	two	critical	enablers.	For	those	utilizing	
third-party	channels,	engaging channel partners early in the
process and communicating a clear value proposition are essential
to	successful	integration.	This	could	be	in	the	form	of	leads	
generated	through	digital	channels	or	time-saving	customer	service	
activities	handled	by	the	call	center.	Second,	it	is	imperative that
customer information be handed off between channels with
limited consumer effort.	In	addition	to	slowing	response	times,	
redundant	steps	communicate	that	the	needs	of	the	customer	are	
secondary	to	investments	in	capabilities	required	to	streamline	
business	processes.
Ernst & Young12
The	overall	customer	experience	is	influenced	by	customers’	direct	and	indirect	interactions	with	an	organization	—	both	physical	and	digital	
touch	points.	Both	must	be	managed	effectively	in	order	to	maximize	the	experience,	as	shown	in	Figure	4	below:
Source:	Ernst	&	Young
Education and
awareness
Research
and decide
Purchase Use and service Loyalty
Targeted
advertising	—	direct	
mail, telesales
Word	of	mouth
Radio,	TV	and	print
Internet ads
Viral	marketing
Blogs
Social	media
Landing	page
Comparison	
and	third-party	
sites
Tools and
calculators
Intermediary
agent
Interactive
chat
Interactive video
Call	center
Website
Mobile	
devices Push	alerts
Instant
messenger and
chat	apps
Email,	paper
Call	center
Rewards	and	
incentives
communication
Figure 4: Overview of direct and indirect interaction flow
The journey toward greater customer centricity 13
Call	centers	will	continue	to	play	a	critical	role	through	the	life	cycle	
and	must	be	adapted	within	the	business	to	respond	to	evolving	
trends	and	drive	greater	value	at	lower	cost.	Currently,	call	centers	
operate	in	a	telephone-dominated	world	with	little	data	integration	
between	other	channels,	and	they	are	viewed	as	an	expensive	
mechanism	to	service	basic	customer	queries.	Additionally,	call	
handlers	are	not	always	equipped	with	the	right	skill	sets	and	tools	
to	support	a	multichannel	offering.	
Launching	digital	channels	for	many	insurers	with	an	agency-based	
distribution	model	is	an	enormous	challenge,	requiring	changes	to	
agent segmentation, customer management and communication
protocols,	training,	incentives	and	rewards.	Agents	will	need	to	
become	more	technologically	savvy	and	connected,	as	they	will	
be	positioned	on	the	front	line	to	supply	the	unstructured	but	rich	
customer	data	required.	
An	agency	force	with	the	“listening”	capabilities	and	agility	to	
play	this	role	can	become	a	key	strategic	asset.	Agents	who	were	
primarily	producing	sales	volume	may	soon	be	more	focused	on	
information	collection	and	relationship	management.	They	will	
produce	leads	to	the	digital	channels	and,	in	turn,	receive	them	
from	online	browsers	as	customers	ask	to	speak	with	an	agent.
Call	centers	will	continue	to	play	a	critical	
role	through	the	life	cycle	and	must	be	
adapted	within	the	business	to	respond	
to evolving trends and drive greater
value	at	lower	cost.
Ernst & Young14
Embedding innovation	throughout	
the	organization	will	involve	tapping	into	
external discovery centers and industry
research	labs	to	regularly gain insights
from	other	sectors.
The journey toward greater customer centricity 15
These	activities	will	only	provide	insurers	with	the	ability	to	catch	up	
to	the	leading	competitors	and	to	“protect	the	core.”	To	genuinely	
leapfrog	the	competition	and	generate	significant	growth,	a	new	
culture	of	innovation	is	required,	along	with	a	significant	change	in	
approach	to	strategic	decision-making.
Embedding	innovation	throughout	the	organization	will	involve	
tapping	into	external	discovery	centers	and	industry	resesarch	labs	
to	regularly	gain	insights	from	other	sectors.	It	will	also	require	
introducing	internal	test-and-learn	processes	that	generate	ideas,	
test	their	feasibility	and	pilot	initiatives	in	a	rapid	and	agile	manner.	
A significant cultural shift
For	many	insurers,	this	represents	a	substantive	and	significant	
cultural	shift.	The	risk-averse	nature	of	most	insurers	is	a	key	
inhibitor	to	innovative	thinking	and	stifles	the	experimental	launch	
of	new	products,	processes	and	other	business	changes.	The	
required	change	in	culture	must	be	driven	from	the	top	down.	
Senior	management	must	instill	and	clearly	communicate	a	
corporate	strategy	focused	on	customer-centric	innovation	and	
recognize	and	reward	efforts	to	deliver	this.	Collaboration	and	
empowerment	of	employees	to	spot	customer	improvements	
and	act	upon	them	must	become	the	new	norm,	as	well	as	
physical	spaces	such	as	innovation	centers	to	help	develop	and	
incubate	ideas.
One	of	the	most	significant	cultural	changes	will	be	a	shift	from	
short-to	long-term	strategic	decision-making.	The	traditional	
industry	focus	(and	one	that	is	embedded	in	most	performance	
management	and	compensation	systems)	has	been	around	new	
business	and	market	share	rather	than	deriving	value	from	the	
in-force	book.	This	often	means	it	is	difficult	for	customer	
proponents	within	an	organization	to	secure	investment	in	
enabling	capabilities	such	as	data	analytics	or	long-term	customer	
relationship-building	activities,	as	these	may	not	present	the	most	
compelling	short-term	revenue-generating	business	cases.	
Customer-centric	innovation
A	change	in	mindset	is	required.	Rather	than	the	traditional	
“what	will	I	get?”	question,	organizations	need	to	consider	“what	
is	the	opportunity	cost	of	not	doing	this?”	in	terms	of	financials,	
competitive	positioning	and	customer	experience.
Above	and	beyond	customer-centric	innovation,	some	players	are	
thinking	more	disruptively,	developing	radical	new	customer	value	
propositions	that	move	beyond	the	traditional	confines	of	insurance	
and	address	customer	demands	in	other	industries.	This	requires	
new	business	models	and	competencies	but	can	generate	significant	
revenue	streams	by	tapping	into	new	profit	pools.	There	are	unique	
opportunities	to	enter	other	industries,	often	by	establishing	
alliances	and	collaborating	with	new	partners.	
Develop a culture of innovation
Three	stages	of	innovation	are	depicted	in	Figure	5	across	the	
dimensions	of	business	models	and	competencies.	Protecting	the	
core	is	about	getting	the	basics	right,	becoming	more	customer-
centric	and,	where	appropriate,	adopting	the	leading	practices	
that	competitors	or	other	industries	have	demonstrated.	However,	
this	relies	on	largely	existing	competencies	and	business	models	
and	could	be	a	catch-up	strategy.	Only	genuine	customer-centric	
innovation	that	is	embedded	into	the	organization	will	produce	
significant	growth	and	deliver	competitive	advantage.	
CompetenciesCurrentNew
Business models
Insurance
as a service
and	hybrid	
models
Customer–	
centric
innovation
Significant
growth
Protecting the c
orebusiness
Disrupt
ive
growth
Current New
Figure 5: The stages of innovation across competencies and
business models
Ernst & Young16
Practical	steps	on	the	journey
Define	your	target	customers	
and	their	needs
Take a realistic look at your
propositions	(solutions,	not	
products)	—	what	will	it	take	
to	deliver	what	customers	
want	at	a	price	they	want	to	
pay	and	still	make	money?	
Generate customer
engagement	across	their	
life	cycle	—	this	is	vital	to	
building	loyalty
Involve	distributors	and,	
together,	build	stronger	
partnerships
The	journey	to	customer	centricity	will	not	be	easy.	We	offer	these	
practical	steps	to	help	you	understand	the	process	and	guide	you	
along	the	way.
Involve
Generate
Define
Take
The journey toward greater customer centricity 17
Learn	to	be	adaptive	—	use	
detailed	customer	insight	
to test, learn and act
quickly,	accelerating	the	
process	with	prototypes
Start	to	build	a	culture	
that	puts	the	customer	
at	the	center	and	aligns	
objectives,	targets,	rewards	
and	recognition	with	
customer needs
Focus	on	some	key	levers	
and	build	momentum	
throughout	the	organization
Focus
Learn
Start
Ernst & Young18
Many insurers are not keeping pace	with	
changing	market	and	consumer	dynamics	
and	are	far	behind	other	industries	in	
meeting customer expectations.
The journey toward greater customer centricity 19
Many	insurers	are	not	keeping	pace	with	changing	market	and	
consumer	dynamics	and	are	far	behind	other	industries	in	
meeting	customer	expectations.	To	succeed	in	this	fast-changing	
environment	and	achieve	sustainable	top-line	growth,	insurers	
need	to	focus	on	redefining	customer	relationships,	transforming	
business	models	to	embrace	data	and	digital	and	introducing	an	
innovative	culture	in	support	of	strategic	decision-making.
Achieving	customer	centricity	is	less	about	implementing	a	grand	
vision	than	about	building	cadence	today,	next	week,	next	month	
and	next	year.	But	the	time	has	come	when	the	journey	is	a	
strategic	necessity,	and	all	insurers	need	to	be	clear	about	where	
they	stand	and	what	steps	lay	ahead	for	them.	
Conclusion
Ernst & Young
Assurance	|	Tax	|	Transactions	|	Advisory
About Ernst & Young
Ernst	&	Young	is	a	global	leader	in	assurance,
tax,	transaction	and	advisory	services.	Worldwide,	
our	167,000	people	are	united	by	our	shared	values	
and	an	unwavering	commitment	to	quality.	We	make	
a	difference	by	helping	our	people,	our	clients	and	
our	wider	communities	achieve	their	potential.
Ernst	&	Young	refers	to	the	global	organization	
of	member	firms	of	Ernst	&	Young	Global	
Limited,	each	of	which	is	a	separate	legal	entity.	
Ernst	&	Young	Global	Limited,	a	UK	company	limited	
by	guarantee,	does	not	provide	services	to	clients.	
For	more	information	about	our	organization,	please	
visit	www.ey.com.
Ernst	&	Young	LLP	is	a	client-serving	member	firm	of	
Ernst	&	Young	Global	Limited	operating	in	the	US.
©	2013	Ernst	&	Young	LLP.
All	Rights	Reserved.
EYG No. EG0117
1303-1050264
This	publication	contains	information	in	summary	form	and	is	therefore	
intended	for	general	guidance	only.	It	is	not	intended	to	be	a	substitute	
for	detailed	research	or	the	exercise	of	professional	judgment.	Neither	
EYGM	Limited	nor	any	other	member	of	the	global	Ernst	&	Young
organization	can	accept	any	responsibility	for	loss	occasioned	to	any	
person	acting	or	refraining	from	action	as	a	result	of	any	material	in	
this	publication.	On	any	specific	matter,	reference	should	be	made	to	
the	appropriate	advisor.	
ED	None
Contacts:
David Hollander
Global	Insurance	Advisory	Leader
Ernst	&	Young	LLP
+1	215	448	5756
Kaenan Hertz
Executive	Director,	Financial	Services
Ernst	&	Young	LLP
+1	212	773	5988
Bernhard Klein Wassink
Principal,	Financial	Services
Ernst	&	Young	LLP
+1	212	773	4634

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The journey toward greater customer centricity

  • 1. The journey toward greater customer centricity
  • 3. The journey toward greater customer centricity 3 01 Executive summary 03 Introduction: evolving consumer dynamics • Consumer demands and expectations • Influencing persistency and retention • Insurers are not meeting customers’ expectations 05 Core principles for redefining customer relationships 07 Protecting the core: becoming more customer-focused • Customer-centric models • Data for competitive advantage: advanced segmentation and data analytics • Harnessing the power of digital as part of an integrated channel strategy 15 Customer-centric innovation • A significant cultural shift • Develop a culture of innovation 16 Practical steps on the journey 19 Conclusion Contents
  • 4. Ernst & Young4 Advances in technology and communication, combined with the explosive growth in data and information, have given rise to a more empowered global consumer.
  • 5. The journey toward greater customer centricity 1 Executive summary Advances in technology and communication, combined with the explosive growth in data and information, have given rise to a more empowered global consumer. Recent economic and political events highlight the need for insurers to understand how consumers view the world and the most important attributes for their purchasing decisions. Our discussions with global insurance executives, non-executive directors and regulators corroborate this view and demonstrate, without exception, that the challenge of responding effectively to rapidly changing consumer needs is one of the top strategic agenda items, alongside regulatory change and talent management. In our Ernst & Young Global Consumer Insurance Survey 2012 report, Voice of the customer,1 we learned about the value of customer centricity and why it is so important to an insurer. Our survey probed customer attitudes and behaviors to determine how customers view and interact with the industry, as well as their expectations for the future. Our findings confirmed that those insurers who respond best to what customers want now are most likely to succeed. A clear understanding of customer needs and behaviors across the organization will help drive profitable growth strategies and provide the confidence to invest in opportunities at a time when staying within budget is extremely difficult. In this paper, we explore how technology is changing consumer dynamics and show how insurers have an opportunity to influence persistency, retention and expectations through improved customer engagement. We discuss the strategic paradigm and operational areas where insurers can become more customer- focused: developing customer-centric models, applying advanced segmentation and data analytics to design an effective customer experience, harnessing the power of digital in an integrated channel strategy, and shifting to a new culture of innovation that will drive growth and competitive advantage. The journey to customer centricity will not be an easy endeavor. In building a strong foundation for the future, insurers will need to focus on a new set of core principles to redefine relationships. There will be many challenges in developing the critical new capabilities that align objectives, targets, rewards and recognition with customer needs. We offer practical steps for insurers to consider along the way as they build momentum for customer centricity across their organizations. Some of the topics will be presented in greater detail in the months ahead. Look for a discussion of how insurers can harness digital more effectively in an upcoming 2013 report. In this paper, we explore how technology is changing consumer dynamics and show how insurers have an opportunity to influence persistency, retention and expectations through improved customer engagement. 1. Voice of the customer: time to rethink your relationships, Ernst & Young. Download at www.ey.com/insurance.
  • 6. Ernst & Young2 By 2020, it is anticipated there will be more than 50 billion connected devices globally, with mobile being the primary internet device for most individuals.
  • 7. The journey toward greater customer centricity 3 Introduction: evolving consumer dynamics Technology is growing at an exponential rate, influencing consumer behavior and insurance marketing strategies. By 2020, 80% of the global population will have access to mobile telephony and more than 60% to smartphones or low-cost tablet computers. It is anticipated there will be more than 50 billion connected devices globally, with mobile being the primary internet device for most individuals. Social media and unprecedented access to information, such as peer-to-peer product and service reviews, are giving greater power to consumers, creating more informed and demanding customers. These experiences are shaping consumer expectations across all sectors, including insurance. Consumer demands and expectations Although technology is changing the way customers engage with insurers, our survey indicates that personal interaction is still highly regarded. The complex nature of insurance products and customers’ need for advice mean that some level of personal interaction will remain an important component of overall channel strategy. Customers prefer products to be simpler and more transparent, so it is easier to make informed choices. This has implications for the role of insurance agents. In an industry where margins are coming under increasing pressure, insurers need to choose where they invest across the value chain to avoid adding extra cost while still paying agents for services customers may prefer to do themselves. These changes are forcing a dramatic change in the business operating model, as insurers need to focus on where their sales channels add value to the end customer. This will be helped by greater transparency in the sales process and in product design. Overall, customers are looking for value to be clearly demonstrated, reflecting a balance of price, product features and service tailored to their needs. They prefer to buy more products from companies they trust. Once they have made their choice and established a relationship with an insurance provider, they expect the provider’s products and services to meet their expectations — and through their channel of choice. More demanding Increased expectations: convenience, flexibility and personalization are a given More diverse Global growth of women in the workforce More sophisticated Emerging middle classes want more financial services More hedonistic It’s all about me
  • 8. Ernst & Young4 Influencing persistency and retention Recognizing the value of the customer relationship is vital — at the point of initial sale and over the customer lifetime. Customer segmentation models, which identify those who have the highest propensity to purchase, can improve customer satisfaction, compared to traditional unfocused “product push” cross-sell efforts. Insurers also have an opportunity to influence persistency and support retention through improved engagement with existing customers. This must be backed by flexibly designed products that respond to changing customer needs and financial incentives to reward customer loyalty — over the customer life cycle rather than just at the point of lapse. But the key to improving persistency is removing the reasons why customers consider leaving in the first place. Use of predictive models can target customers based on likelihood of lapse and the value of retention, but “test and learn” approaches are essential to determine which interventions are most effective. Customers are willing to build long-term relationships with their providers and purchase multiple products. However, insurers must improve the effectiveness of their communications, as well as recognize and reward the value of the relationships. Insurers are not meeting customers’ expectations Our Voice of the customer survey indicates four dimensions where insurers are failing to meet customers’ expectations: service quality, rewarding loyalty, communication and product transparency. Consumers have a strong sense that insurers could do more to earn their trust. They tend to judge insurers against other consumer industries, expecting comparable standards of service and rewards for loyalty. Yet, in our client experience, insurers typically benchmark themselves against their peers in the industry. That’s a big disconnect. Insurers need to continually evolve customer propositions to meet changing needs and expectations, particularly by improving information and transparency, and they need to look outside the industry to do this effectively. The need for clarity and transparency is also driven by regulators protecting consumer interests more than ever before. Insurers that align themselves to a customer-centric model of operation will find the transition to the new regulatory environment less painful, and they may even gain a competitive advantage. Customers are willing to build long-term relationships with their providers and purchase multiple products. However, insurers must improve the effectiveness of their communications, as well as recognize and reward the value of the relationships.
  • 9. The journey toward greater customer centricity 5 In this fast-changing environment, insurers need to focus on a new set of core principles to redefine relationships with customers and transform business models. To achieve this new strategic paradigm — and the first step on the journey to customer centricity — insurers need to take the following steps. Protect business against disintermediation: Insurers unable to understand or deliver against current and future consumer needs and preferences face the prospect of losing the connection with or being pushed further away from the end customer. Insurers need to make sure they retain a strong influence on how customers view their products and services, regardless of overall channel strategy. Redefine customer relationships: Insurance has traditionally been a product-centric business, focused on developing the best products for a given risk and delivering those in the most cost-effective manner. Now insurers need to better understand the true needs of their customers in order to redefine the products and services they offer and the ways in which they interact and serve them. They need to know their customers better than ever and use the information and knowledge as a source of competitive advantage. Increase productivity to gain a competitive advantage: Historically, productivity improvements were viewed as a response to adverse market conditions. Insurers typically curtail spending in times of shrinking revenue or increasing cost pressures. However, those insurers who are able to view productivity enhancements with the dual lens of improving the expense position while growing the top line will achieve a competitive advantage. As consumer expectations for better levels of customer service grow, insurers will need to navigate the challenges imposed by large-scale, paper-based legacy systems. Those carriers that are able to increase productivity through streamlined business processes and technology improvements will be able to enhance their expense positions and increase the quality of their customer service. Diversify sources of revenue: Insurance by nature is cyclical. Non-life insurers face hard and soft pricing cycles, while life and pension sales and profit performance are affected by interest rate movements and equity market volatility. Insurers need to diversify to sustain stable top-line growth and earning fluctuations. This also affects customer centricity, as it recognizes that product performance and consumer needs shift with market conditions and life events. Collaborate with new partners across the value chain: The shift from pushing products to delivering solutions often requires insurers to develop new capabilities or provide products outside the current portfolio. In addition, the adoption of new technologies (SOA, web services, etc.) is opening opportunities to outsource non-strategic functions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business functions across the value chain. Successful insurers will be those that develop capabilities to identify and manage strategic business partnerships. By focusing on these core principles, insurers can build a strong foundation for the future while improving top-line growth and profitability over the near term. To truly succeed, they must embrace and embed the concept of innovation within their organizations. Future industry winners will be nimble and able to respond quickly and effectively to changing market conditions, new consumer demands and emerging regulations. Core principles for redefining customer relationships
  • 10. Ernst & Young6 The challenge is how to transition from existing product and traditional distribution models to those that deliver what customers want.
  • 11. The journey toward greater customer centricity 7 With these core strategies in place, the focus can shift to operational issues that will enable change. Insurance companies can drive growth in revenue and profit by improving their businesses, attracting customers and strengthening relationships. However, implementation is not easy, particularly where insurers have extensive legacy systems and operations. The challenge is how to transition from existing product and traditional distribution models to those that deliver what customers want, as well as how to develop the critical new capabilities to enable this transformation. We believe there are three essential steps along the journey to customer centricity. Insurers need to focus on customer-centric operating models, advanced segmentation and data analytics, and harnessing digital to better engage with customers at a lower cost. Customer–centric operating models A customer-centric organization builds an operating model around a deep understanding of its customers, what they value and the contribution each makes to the profitability of the company. This requires: • Designing business processes that recognize different customer segment needs • Delivering a positive and seamless customer experience at every touch point across the customer life cycle • Maintaining an active dialogue with customers (and acting on feedback) • Fostering a culture that places the customer at the heart of the decision-making process Maturity model assessment Assessing an organization against a customer-centric maturity model may provide a better understanding of the relative maturity of key capabilities such as segmentation or lifetime value management, as well as offer guidance on where to invest. Through our work with clients, we have a clear view of what constitutes different stages of maturity, from undeveloped to leading practice. Protecting the core: becoming more customer-focused Figure 1: Compares how four major global insurers are currently positioned in the five stages of development. Defining and understanding what it means to be “emerging” versus “advanced” can be a process in itself, even before mapping your company against these criteria. Indeed, understanding and communicating the scale of the challenge ahead is the first step of any journey. It is important to be realistic about expectations — leading customer centricity (the far right of the maturity model) may be unattainable. However, the process of considering how to balance customer-centric principles with financial considerations is critical. For some, the trade-offs between the level of investment required and realized benefits will determine how far they progress. The journey to deliver a mature operating model may take years. Such a significant organizational transformation must be broken down into a manageable, phased implementation. Focusing on quick wins, key technology decisions and targeted improvements initially can help to prove the case and garner organizational buy-in. Prioritizing “high touch, low tech” changes that improve the customer experience relative to the cost and implementation effort will further generate momentum for more extensive technology-enabled change. Barriers to successful transformation Typically, most insurers will encounter challenges inherent in their current operating models due to technological and operational limitations, as well as cultural constraints. Among the more obvious are strong organizational silos, which create an inability or unwillingness to share customer data or cooperate across business units and functions. This is particularly common in businesses that historically have been segmented along distribution channels, e.g., intermediary and direct. In fact, the traditional insurance customer engagement model presents significant barriers: in many cases, initial customer contact and ongoing advice are controlled by an intermediary or agent — and often, provider engagement at this stage is purely administrative. Legacy systems and processes, and poor quality or insufficient end-customer data, constrain many organizations
  • 12. Ernst & Young8 Figure 1: Customer–centric maturity model Brand and market positioning Low brand equity among target customers — known but not valued High brand recognition and strong positive associations among target customers, based on real evidence and reputation for customer focus Customer segmentation Broad, undifferentiated offering, not specific to any distinct customer segments Clearly defined target segments based on robust understanding of current and potential customer lifetime value Distributor management Distributor relationships driven by volume, little or no provider involvement in sale or post-sale customer activity Highly selective approach to distributors driven by customer and distributor profitability; partnership approach with selected distributors with joined up customers engagement model Propositions Broad range of traditional life products: complex, inflexible, opaque, capital–intensive with provider-financed commission Focused product range based on insight into needs of profitable customer segments; flexible design with transparent pricing, supporting fee–based advise and/or customer self-service Service delivery Transactional and admin–driven, reactive to customer and distributor requests; low-touch approach with no proactive contact or value added interaction Relevant and value-adding customer contact through variety of media including phone and online self-service tools and information Customer lifetime value management No attempt to manage customer lifetime value beyond standard service model Explicit understanding of customer lifetime value with value–adding interventions at key stages including lapse, life-stage changes, maturity, retirement etc., tailored to needs and value of specific customer segments Culture New business volume and market share are key metrics; enforce those customers not actively managed or measured Customer lifetime value management is key metric: clear focus on meeting needs of profitable customer segments across their whole life cycle Process Product push approach; little or no customer segmentation; products developed ad hoc; “One size fits all” service footprint Tailored product offering based on discrete customer segments; real–time customer insight supports personalized interactions; predictive analytics employed to adjust offers and service actions accordingly; multi-channel approach based on behaviors and buying preferences People No ownership of the customer within the organization; compensation drives inconsistent behaviors; customer–facing employees not supported by back office functions; lack of authority to resolve customer issues at point of contact Customer–centric culture pervasive at all levels of the organization; customer insight is a key component of the company’s strategic agenda; employees take clear ownership for customer problems and manage issues through to resolution Technology Technology strategy not aligned with customer–centric culture; legacy systems limit ability to meet customer requirements; customer data trapped in organizational silos; lack of enterprise–wide data strategy hampers integration Unified vision for data management across both enterprise and business partners; master data is managed as a corporate asset; proactive measures are in place or ongoing data quality improvements; the organization embraces customer–facing technologies as integral to channel effectiveness Stage 1: Undeveloped Stage 5: Leading Stage2:EmergingStage3:DevelopingStage4:Advancing
  • 13. The journey toward greater customer centricity 9 in managing the end-to-end customer relationship. Even when customers are “orphans” (they no longer have an active agent or intermediary), many organizations do not, or cannot, seize this opportunity to re-establish a relationship directly with advice and service offerings. One of the greatest barriers for insurers is the business case that often requires substantial investment. Culturally, traditional industry focus has been on new business and market share, rather than deriving value from the in-force book. When viewed with a narrow lens and a short-term focus, many investments do not make it past the planning stage. The key for insurers is to shift to a longer-term perspective and to recognize the opportunity to reduce costs while improving customer centricity. Executive management ownership and commitment to driving customer centricity is imperative. This must be supported by clearly defined customer-centric objectives and metrics across all business units, with performance management and compensation aligned with customer-focused behavior. In setting goals for customer operating model transformation, insurers need to ask these strategic questions: • Why do you want to be customer-centric and to what degree? • Is there a clear strategic imperative from the board of directors? • How incremental or revolutionary a change is required, and how much change is the organization prepared to undertake? • What are the main barriers and key strategic imperatives? • Where and how will you start — by targeting specific functions or business units, or with an enterprise-wide phased approach? Data for competitive advantage: advanced segmentation and data analytics Many insurers grasp the concept of segmenting and tailoring their service propositions. This is often done based on socioeconomic factors and product holdings. Leading insurers are grouping customers based on behaviors and values. Creating a micro-segmentation model to understand customers and aligning this with a modular distribution model that allows customers to access the organization through multiple channels (when and how they prefer) will optimize customers’ experience. Data analytics has become critical to designing an effective customer experience. Insurers need to understand the true drivers of customer satisfaction — for every segment. What attributes of their experience (price, personal attention, response time, service calls, claims, etc.) will have the most impact on delivering a positive experience? Equally, insurers must identify what is not driving value, as this presents an opportunity to reduce costs. Stage 1: Undeveloped Brand and market positioning Customer segmentation Distributor management Propositions Service delivery Customer lifetime value management Culture Stage 2: Emerging Stage 3: Developing Stage 4: Advancing Stage 5: Leading Company 2 Company 1 Company 3 Company 4 Figure 2: Customer centricity maturity assessment of four global insurers
  • 14. Ernst & Young10 Ultimately, the objective is to reshape strategic decision-making by prioritizing investment in service factors that deliver value for each segment, channel and product combination. Without such analysis, it is impossible to mount a sensible business case. Applying data analytics to the customer service front line can be powerful. Analysis of call center transactions, combined with customer behavioral insight, can help insurers better route customers to the appropriate type of support. Innovative use of High satisfaction Delighted Low satisfaction Disgusted Absent Quality for performance not achieved Fully implemented High quality performance Perform ance / linear Perform ance / linear Exciters and delighters Threshold / basic (must haves) Source: Kano Figure 3: Customer experience analysis and design framework
  • 15. The journey toward greater customer centricity 11 online tools and calculators, combined with customer account information, can enable call center representatives to deliver personalized advice and service. Data analytics and predictive modeling capabilities can also be applied in other ways within an organization: • Behavioral engineering models to unpack the existing risk culture and its implications, as part of a transition to a more customer-centric and innovative culture • Customer retention analysis — why, where and when you are losing customers • Customer leads analysis to support development of a fully integrated distribution model • Financial modeling (of staff and/or customer base) to inform customer experience and advisor conversations on how to improve financial client well-being • Claims management and leakage analysis Harnessing the power of digital as part of an integrated channel strategy Most consumers want access to a mix of online and personal contact throughout the product life cycle. Digital is not the panacea, but it is a critical enabler to delivering the experience customers want. The key insurance challenge is how to harness the power of digital to better engage directly with customers and lower costs. Digital technology will complicate the process and frustrate customers if it is not joined seamlessly with other channels, recognizing that existing channels or access points will also need to adapt and, in some cases, play an alternative role within the business. The effective integration of channels across sales and service activities is critical to delivering a positive, brand-reinforcing customer experience at every touch point in the customer Applying data analytics to the customer service front line can be powerful. Analysis of call center transactions, combined with customer behavioral insight, can help insurers better route customers to the appropriate type of support. relationship life cycle. As digital channels continue to grow in importance, insurers need to define a strategy for integrating these touch points as part of their overall distribution infrastructure. Insurers should focus on two critical enablers. For those utilizing third-party channels, engaging channel partners early in the process and communicating a clear value proposition are essential to successful integration. This could be in the form of leads generated through digital channels or time-saving customer service activities handled by the call center. Second, it is imperative that customer information be handed off between channels with limited consumer effort. In addition to slowing response times, redundant steps communicate that the needs of the customer are secondary to investments in capabilities required to streamline business processes.
  • 16. Ernst & Young12 The overall customer experience is influenced by customers’ direct and indirect interactions with an organization — both physical and digital touch points. Both must be managed effectively in order to maximize the experience, as shown in Figure 4 below: Source: Ernst & Young Education and awareness Research and decide Purchase Use and service Loyalty Targeted advertising — direct mail, telesales Word of mouth Radio, TV and print Internet ads Viral marketing Blogs Social media Landing page Comparison and third-party sites Tools and calculators Intermediary agent Interactive chat Interactive video Call center Website Mobile devices Push alerts Instant messenger and chat apps Email, paper Call center Rewards and incentives communication Figure 4: Overview of direct and indirect interaction flow
  • 17. The journey toward greater customer centricity 13 Call centers will continue to play a critical role through the life cycle and must be adapted within the business to respond to evolving trends and drive greater value at lower cost. Currently, call centers operate in a telephone-dominated world with little data integration between other channels, and they are viewed as an expensive mechanism to service basic customer queries. Additionally, call handlers are not always equipped with the right skill sets and tools to support a multichannel offering. Launching digital channels for many insurers with an agency-based distribution model is an enormous challenge, requiring changes to agent segmentation, customer management and communication protocols, training, incentives and rewards. Agents will need to become more technologically savvy and connected, as they will be positioned on the front line to supply the unstructured but rich customer data required. An agency force with the “listening” capabilities and agility to play this role can become a key strategic asset. Agents who were primarily producing sales volume may soon be more focused on information collection and relationship management. They will produce leads to the digital channels and, in turn, receive them from online browsers as customers ask to speak with an agent. Call centers will continue to play a critical role through the life cycle and must be adapted within the business to respond to evolving trends and drive greater value at lower cost.
  • 18. Ernst & Young14 Embedding innovation throughout the organization will involve tapping into external discovery centers and industry research labs to regularly gain insights from other sectors.
  • 19. The journey toward greater customer centricity 15 These activities will only provide insurers with the ability to catch up to the leading competitors and to “protect the core.” To genuinely leapfrog the competition and generate significant growth, a new culture of innovation is required, along with a significant change in approach to strategic decision-making. Embedding innovation throughout the organization will involve tapping into external discovery centers and industry resesarch labs to regularly gain insights from other sectors. It will also require introducing internal test-and-learn processes that generate ideas, test their feasibility and pilot initiatives in a rapid and agile manner. A significant cultural shift For many insurers, this represents a substantive and significant cultural shift. The risk-averse nature of most insurers is a key inhibitor to innovative thinking and stifles the experimental launch of new products, processes and other business changes. The required change in culture must be driven from the top down. Senior management must instill and clearly communicate a corporate strategy focused on customer-centric innovation and recognize and reward efforts to deliver this. Collaboration and empowerment of employees to spot customer improvements and act upon them must become the new norm, as well as physical spaces such as innovation centers to help develop and incubate ideas. One of the most significant cultural changes will be a shift from short-to long-term strategic decision-making. The traditional industry focus (and one that is embedded in most performance management and compensation systems) has been around new business and market share rather than deriving value from the in-force book. This often means it is difficult for customer proponents within an organization to secure investment in enabling capabilities such as data analytics or long-term customer relationship-building activities, as these may not present the most compelling short-term revenue-generating business cases. Customer-centric innovation A change in mindset is required. Rather than the traditional “what will I get?” question, organizations need to consider “what is the opportunity cost of not doing this?” in terms of financials, competitive positioning and customer experience. Above and beyond customer-centric innovation, some players are thinking more disruptively, developing radical new customer value propositions that move beyond the traditional confines of insurance and address customer demands in other industries. This requires new business models and competencies but can generate significant revenue streams by tapping into new profit pools. There are unique opportunities to enter other industries, often by establishing alliances and collaborating with new partners. Develop a culture of innovation Three stages of innovation are depicted in Figure 5 across the dimensions of business models and competencies. Protecting the core is about getting the basics right, becoming more customer- centric and, where appropriate, adopting the leading practices that competitors or other industries have demonstrated. However, this relies on largely existing competencies and business models and could be a catch-up strategy. Only genuine customer-centric innovation that is embedded into the organization will produce significant growth and deliver competitive advantage. CompetenciesCurrentNew Business models Insurance as a service and hybrid models Customer– centric innovation Significant growth Protecting the c orebusiness Disrupt ive growth Current New Figure 5: The stages of innovation across competencies and business models
  • 20. Ernst & Young16 Practical steps on the journey Define your target customers and their needs Take a realistic look at your propositions (solutions, not products) — what will it take to deliver what customers want at a price they want to pay and still make money? Generate customer engagement across their life cycle — this is vital to building loyalty Involve distributors and, together, build stronger partnerships The journey to customer centricity will not be easy. We offer these practical steps to help you understand the process and guide you along the way. Involve Generate Define Take
  • 21. The journey toward greater customer centricity 17 Learn to be adaptive — use detailed customer insight to test, learn and act quickly, accelerating the process with prototypes Start to build a culture that puts the customer at the center and aligns objectives, targets, rewards and recognition with customer needs Focus on some key levers and build momentum throughout the organization Focus Learn Start
  • 22. Ernst & Young18 Many insurers are not keeping pace with changing market and consumer dynamics and are far behind other industries in meeting customer expectations.
  • 23. The journey toward greater customer centricity 19 Many insurers are not keeping pace with changing market and consumer dynamics and are far behind other industries in meeting customer expectations. To succeed in this fast-changing environment and achieve sustainable top-line growth, insurers need to focus on redefining customer relationships, transforming business models to embrace data and digital and introducing an innovative culture in support of strategic decision-making. Achieving customer centricity is less about implementing a grand vision than about building cadence today, next week, next month and next year. But the time has come when the journey is a strategic necessity, and all insurers need to be clear about where they stand and what steps lay ahead for them. Conclusion
  • 24. Ernst & Young Assurance | Tax | Transactions | Advisory About Ernst & Young Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 167,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential. Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com. Ernst & Young LLP is a client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited operating in the US. © 2013 Ernst & Young LLP. All Rights Reserved. EYG No. EG0117 1303-1050264 This publication contains information in summary form and is therefore intended for general guidance only. It is not intended to be a substitute for detailed research or the exercise of professional judgment. Neither EYGM Limited nor any other member of the global Ernst & Young organization can accept any responsibility for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any material in this publication. On any specific matter, reference should be made to the appropriate advisor. ED None Contacts: David Hollander Global Insurance Advisory Leader Ernst & Young LLP +1 215 448 5756 Kaenan Hertz Executive Director, Financial Services Ernst & Young LLP +1 212 773 5988 Bernhard Klein Wassink Principal, Financial Services Ernst & Young LLP +1 212 773 4634