More insureds filing claims on mobile devices
Smartphones are becoming ubiquitous in Canada. Almost one-fifth of Canadians (6.6 million) own a RIM BlackBerry, Apple iPhone or other mobile handset with PC-like functionality. Smartphone ownership represents 33 percent of the total mobile subscriber base in the country. It’s a similar story in the United States, where about 31 percent of mobile owners have a smartphone, said market researcher comScore.
Email, messaging and navigation applications are common for smartphone users across the world, but more and more are using their devices to file insurance claims.
Insurer Travelers reviewed claims data comparing the first four months of 2010 versus the same time period in 2011 and found that the number of claims filed via mobile devices more than tripled.
Travelers found that 70 percent of claims filed through mobile devices related to personal auto insurance, 28 percent were personal insurance property claims and the remaining two percent were business insurance property claims (.5 percent) and business insurance auto claims (1.5 percent).
“Our claims analysis reveals that at the time of an auto accident, it is convenient for individuals to report the claim through their mobile device so they can quickly begin the process of getting their car back to the condition it was in before the accident took place,” said Jay Gauthier, Vice President, Travelers Personal Insurance Marketing.
Has your business seen an increase in claims or inquiries filed via a mobile device or smartphone? Share your experiences here.
