Life/annuity insurers don't deal directly with consumers as frequently as their P&C counterparts, which has led to a slower transition to mobile channels both in terms of what they offer policyholders and agents/brokers.
They may, however, be turning a corner, as life/annuity insurers have more mobile and tablet projects in motion or planned than P&C insurers for next year, according to "U.S. Insurer IT Budgets and Projects 2014," a recent survey from Novarica.
This is particularly true among large life/annuity insurers, where the majority have plans for three different ways to use the technology: mobile for agents/brokers, tablets for external users and tablets for internal use. While the number of responses from life/annuity insurers was less than half that of P&C responses, it suggests the segment is acting on this emerging technology.
Midsize P&C insurers planning mobile capabilities for policyholders increased to more than 30 percent for 2014, from fewer than 20 percent with plans in 2013. Novarica also said mobile and tablet deployments are up overall from last year.
