news
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October 22, 2009
Deep Customer Connections, Inc. Announces the 2009 Top Ten P&C Performers
Contact:
Nort Salz
978-263-6100
nort.salz@deepcc.comDeep Customer Connections, Inc. Announces the 2009 Top Ten P&C Performers
ACTON, Mass.—October 26, 2009—8,700 independent agents and brokers assessed the performance of over 250 property and casualty carriers in Deep Customer Connections, Inc.’s 7th annual survey. In the survey, agents rated how easy it is to place business with carriers. Deep Customer Connections is proud to present the top performers in the industry.
Central Insurance of Ohio earned the #1 spot in this year’s industry-wide ratings. The Deep Customer Connections Index gauges a carrier’s performance against what independent agents rate as most important when choosing which carrier they will write their business with. In addition to capturing the overall top spot, Central earned “Top Ten” status in each of eleven “key factor” categories, with #1 rankings in five factor categories—“acts on agency needs”, “underwriting responsiveness”, “policy services”, “effective technology”, and “making it easy for the agent to do business with the policyholder.”
The “Top Ten” overall Deep Customer Connections’ Index performers are:
1.Central Mutual Insurance, Van Wert, OH
2.West Bend Mutual Insurance, West Bend, WI
3.ACUITY Insurance, Sheboygan, WI
4.Safety Insurance, Boston, MA
5.Selective Insurance, Branchville, NJ
6.North Star Mutual Insurance, Cottonwood, MN
7.United Fire Group, Cedar Rapids, IA
8.Frankenmuth Insurance, Frankenmuth, MI
9.Auto-Owners Insurance, Lansing, MI and SECURA Insurance, Appleton, WI tied for 9th
“Industry-wide, a trend has broken,” said Nort Salz, President of Deep Customer Connections. “This year the Index fell one-third of a point to 88.15 compared with the pattern of slow but steady improvement since 2003.”
John Uzzi, Senior Associate at Deep Customer Connections, noted that “In the past 7 years, 36,613 agents have provided 160,896 ratings of carriers in North America. This volume of agent participation says a great deal about the importance of “ease of use” to agents, and this data helps carriers identify improvement opportunities and priorities.”
In Deep Customer Connections’ survey, agents and brokers rate the importance of 11 Factors and evaluate the performance of individual carriers’ in each factor.
In addition to the highest overall Index performers, Deep Customer Connections recognizes the top performers by Factor. They are:
Ease of Doing Business Factor Top Property and Casualty Insurance Performer Acts on agency needs Central Mutual Insurance Underwriting responsiveness Central Mutual Insurance Quotes and issues without rework Selective Insurance Underwriting flexibility Preferred Mutual Insurance Policy services Central Mutual Insurance Effective technology Central Mutual Insurance Handles claims promptly West Bend Mutual Insurance Handles claims fairly Cincinnati Insurance Marketing support West Bend Mutual Insurance Insurance expertise and support Erie Insurance Group Makes it easy for the agent to do business with the policyholder Central Mutual Insurance
Ease of Doing Business Factor Top Property and Casualty Insurance Performer Acts on agency needs Central Mutual Insurance Underwriting responsiveness Central Mutual Insurance Quotes and issues without rework Selective Insurance Underwriting flexibility Preferred Mutual Insurance Policy services Central Mutual Insurance Effective technology Central Mutual Insurance Handles claims promptly West Bend Mutual Insurance Handles claims fairly Cincinnati Insurance Marketing support West Bend Mutual Insurance Insurance expertise and support Erie Insurance Group Makes it easy for the agent to do business with the policyholder Central Mutual Insurance There are two new names on the overall Top Ten list, illustrating how performance in this critical area is dynamic. Improved performance at North Star Mutual and Auto-Owners Insurance earned them a place in the Top Ten listing in 2009.
“Acknowledging carriers’ superior performance helps improve service and productivity in this key insurance distribution channel,” added Paul Croke, co-founder of Deep Customer Connections. “We’re proud to acknowledge these superior performers, and we congratulate these carriers who continue to make improvements and set the bar for the rest of the industry.”
About Deep Customer Connections, Inc.
Deep Customer Connections, Inc. specializes in research and consulting to help property and casualty carriers achieve profitable growth by making it easier for their agents to write more business with them. Deep Customer Connections’ Index is an industry benchmark of carriers’ performance. Further details of the 2009 survey results are available in Deep Customer Connections’ 7th Annual Benchmark Report. Visit the website at http://www.deepcustomerconnections.com
