New Progressive Technology Helps Agents and Brokers Quote and Sell; Launch Pad For Next Generation of Workflow Enhancements
Independent Agents Taking Advantage of Fast, Accurate, Easy-to-Use Online Quoting Application
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio — April 15, 2004 —A growing number of independent insurance agents who sell Progressive Personal Auto are taking advantage of the many benefits of FAO quoting - an innovative online quoting application housed on the company's agency-dedicated Web site, ForAgentsOnly.com (FAO). The Progressive group of insurance companies is the number one writer of auto insurance through independent agencies in the United States and a leader in providing technology that helps independent agents and brokers work faster and easier.
Progressive first piloted FAO quoting for its Personal Auto product in the summer of 2002, and is now conducting a state-by-state deployment of the application to its agents and brokers across the country. In use by agents in 19 states as of mid-April, plans call to deploy FAO quoting to all agents and brokers countrywide by the end of 2004. While FAO quoting is currently only available for Progressive's Personal Auto product, the company plans to have agents using it to process quotes for Motorcycle, RV, Boat and Commercial Auto customers as well.
Because it resides on the Internet instead of on the agent's desktop, FAO quoting uses rates and product information pulled directly from Progressive's mainframe. This helps agents easily and quickly access secure information needed to produce more accurate quotes for their customers, improve workflow and ultimately grow their business. Independent agents who use FAO quoting enjoy a number of additional benefits, including:
- The ability to quote a policy and submit an application whenever they have access to the Internet - whether in the office, on the road, or at home.
- Automated retrieval of the vehicle information when they enter the customer's VIN. This helps not only save time, but helps ensure more accurate quotes, less chance of uprate and greater customer retention.
- Professional-looking quote documents that they can print, e-mail or fax to the customer with the simple click of the mouse.
- Automated storage of all quote information on Progressive's mainframe, eliminating the need for cumbersome agency backup procedures and databases. Agents can easily access all saved quote information.
- Access to current product and pricing. Agents do not have to download periodic product revisions; FAO gives them access to an up-to-date product.
Peter Richmond, an independent agent in Madison, Ohio and one of the first agents to use FAO quoting in 2002, explained one way in which the application helps improve his workflow: "A benefit of FAO quoting is that agents can use it to work from home. My father, for instance, is our agency owner. At age 63, he prefers to do almost all of his work from home. With FAO quoting, I can provide his customers with quotes, and then he can login at home to make any changes needed and complete the policy sale. It's an added level of convenience that we only get with FAO."
Progressive also expects FAO quoting to be a launch pad for the next generation of workflow enhancements and real-time functionality for the more than 30,000 independent agencies countrywide that sell the company's competitive Personal Auto, Motorcycle, Boat, RV and Commercial Auto products.
"Progressive is committed to helping agents improve their workflow," said Chris Garson, Progressive's Agency Business IT director. "I am excited about moving agents' quoting to FAO, and look forward to a future when agents use FAO to process all their Progressive quotes and service transactions for all customers and all products. The Internet is the new key to agency growth and success, and we will continue to work to meet agents' needs for fast access to information they need to grow their businesses."
The deployment of FAO quoting adds to the Web site's growing role as agents' single source for growing and managing their Progressive business. They can log on to FAO to process endorsements and payments, access customer policy and billing information, view a variety of customizable policy reports to help them track their customers' activity, and access useful production numbers and agency performance data. Progressive is also working with third-party technology vendors and agency user groups to provide increased access to real-time information from FAO through agency management systems.
The Progressive group of insurance companies, in business since 1937, comprises the nation's third-largest auto insurance group overall and the number one writer of auto insurance through independent agents and brokers based on premium written. Independent agencies that represent Progressive combine the power of personalized service and counsel with Progressive's trusted brand, superior 24/7 service, innovative technology and competitive rates. Progressive received favorable marks on nearly every factor evaluated in the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Independent Insurance Agent Study SM. Authorized agents and brokers can logon to Progressive's agency-dedicated Web site, ForAgentsOnly.com (FAO) to access customer policies, process policy transactions, get state and countrywide news, and use other interactive features.
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