Aviva Australia is spearheading life insurance innovation in e-commerce with the launch of the first full system integrated email personal statements.

In what is believed to be a world first, Aviva’s Risk first ‘mylink’ will enable people applying for a life insurance, income protection, disability or trauma policy to complete their personal statement in the comfort of their own home, or wherever their laptop may take them.
The new technology builds on the huge success of Aviva’s market leading Risk first technology which more than 1,000 advisers now use for their new business applications.

“Aviva led the market with Risk first two years ago and now ‘mylink’ takes advisers and their clients into a new world of convenience, speed and transparency,” says Natalie Eckersall, Aviva Australia’s General Manager – Customer Technology. 

“This is the first time someone applying for insurance will be able to complete the personal statement in a place and at a time which suits them. Their answers will be automatically integrated into Aviva’s system and the application process can quickly proceed.

“While, inevitably, some of our competitors have tried to replicate Risk first, we are confident no other technology provides its flexibility and ease of use. The enthusiastic take-up by advisers has demonstrated its value. Now mylink takes insurance applications into a whole new league.” 

Ms Eckersall said the development of mylink serves a number of important purposes.

“It removes an important barrier to people purchasing life insurance. Feedback has shown that answering personal questions from an adviser was uncomfortable for many people, but now mylink removes that obstacle.

“Advisers will no longer need to question clients about their personal health and medical history - questions that can sometimes be sensitive and awkward. It means a client can answer such questions in the privacy of their own home, check their medical and other personal records and work through the application in a way which best suits them.

“By increasing the flexibility of the application process we are freeing up advisers’ time to focus on what they do best – provide financial advice.” 

She said research had also shown that 41 percent of people have not taken out insurance because they perceive it as too complicated. ♦

“What they perceived as a lengthy approval time also deterred them from taking out the insurance they need. Risk first mylink will speed up and simplify the process. If the application is straightforward and no further information is required a policy application could be approved within 24 hours.”
 
Ms Eckersall said Risk first gives advisers flexibility, convenience and control and now mylink extends that to clients.

“The introduction of mylink now gives advisers five choices in the way new business is processed so they can choose the one which best suits them and their individual client.”

Ms Eckersall is confident mylink will be successful in encouraging even more advisers to use Risk first.   

 “Aviva was amongst the first to introduce online applications for advisers and now we are the innovators again with emailed statements for consumers. It takes the mystery away from insurance and makes it easy to understand – ideal for today’s consumer and their advisers who still retain key relationship management with the client.” 

 
Aviva Australia was recently awarded ‘Life Company of the Year’ for 2008 by the Association of Financial Advisers and Plan for Life Actuaries and Researchers*.
♦ IFSA Lifewise research

- ends –
Natalie Eckersall is available for interview.

For more information

Ariana Alvarenga
Public Relations
Phone: (03) 9829 8985

Sue Voglis
Research & Public Relations Manager
Phone: (03) 9829 8057