| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 17/07/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 52 |
| Copyright: Other |
Close the deal: on-line policies can be printed off for clients
Preferential pioneers on-line policy service
PREFERENTIAL is to become one of the first travel insurance intermediaries to offer travel agents the chance to issue policies on the Internet.The company is to begin testing a new booking engine next month with a view to launching in September.
It will allow agents with their own Web sites to buy into the software, which can be overbranded with their own name and which will enable them to check premiums and details of cover on-line.
If clients are happy with the quote, agents can issue the policy and print the details.
The software will allow agents to set their own selling price and do all their administration on-line.
Preferential is also developing an extranet site which will include destination information, foreign-exchange advice and selling tips, policy information and a link to the Foreign Office advice site.
Managing director Steve Nickerson said the on-line purchase system was developed after a survey earlier this year among 350 key Preferential agency partners.
Some 44% of agents said they had access to the Internet and 47% said they would find it useful to issue customers with travel insurance on-line.
More than 50% said it would be useful to have access to an extranet site with details of Preferential policies.
“Issuing a policy from a pad will still be quicker, but by using the Internet all the administration is done immediately,” said Nickerson.