The conservative Ghanaian insurance industry has undergone several disruptions in the past decade driven by an age of immediacy, new trends and fierce competition. Customers’ needs, knowledge and expectations have expanded exponentially and consequently the industry must extend beyond its core service propositions if it is to retain and acquire new customers. Given the industry’s slow nascency, dire penetration rates and ever reluctant nature of policyholders, insurers must innovate to succeed in enabling better futures for their customers.
Indeed, there is progress; example being the recently introduced game-changing Motor Insurance Database which has facilitated a consolidated database while mitigating insurance fraud. As fintech spurred new life into the banking sector, so can insuretech transform insurance in Ghana. Thankfully, one insurance group, Hollard Ghana, is rising to the challenge with its unconventional disruptions so far centered around digital microinsurance, welfare for digital giving, e-commerce, and artificially intelligent chatbots.
What Is Insurtech?
Insurtech, a combination of “insurance” and “technology,” simply refers to using technology to drive cost savings and efficiency in the insurance industry. It explores ways for insurance firms to offer personalized policies using data obtained from connected devices. It allows them to match product prices to potential customers’ behaviours and preferences.
How is Hollard disrupting the industry with insuretech products and services?
Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance is a vibrant brand with a purpose to enable more people to create and secure a better future. As an unconventional company, Hollard Ghana is consistently delighting its customers with innovative products, unrivalled customer experience and a stress-free claims process by putting customers first. Here are some of Hollard Ghana’s new products making waves in the country:
Digital Microinsurance: MeBanbɔ Life Insurance
Driving Accessibility, Diversified Distribution Methods, and Fruitful Collaborations
Hollard Life partnered with a pan-African fintech company, Cassava Fintech, and Vodafone to launch a USSD based micro-insurance product for the underserved market in Ghana to make insurance accessible for all. MeBanbɔ was developed out of insights received from engaging with potential customers in underserved markets who expressed interest in securing their financial wellbeing against unexpected incidences, such as funerals and disability. For the product to be accessible, the distribution method had to be easy for the target to use. Hence, the choice of USSD format used widely for mobile money.
The insurance product, called ‘MeBanbɔ’ – loosely translated to ‘My Protection’ is the first micro-insurance product of its kind offering tailored packages of varying amounts that suit different needs. MeBanbo is currently available to persons older than 18 years who use the Vodafone mobile network by dialing USSD code *269#. Although still early, the outcomes of the introduction of MeBanbɔ are clear; close to ten thousand signups so far, widespread visibility and reach, renewed interest in insurance, a new vision of insurance as a lifestyle, increased penetration, and a prime example of insuretech.
Welfare for Digital Giving: MyChurchPay
Product Innovation, Accessibility and Diversified Distribution Methods in unconventional spaces.
Hollard Life partnered with Africa’s leading church technology service provider, Asoriba, to provide church members a platform to give electronically to their churches while earning free life insurance. The partnership allows church members to pay their tithes and offerings whiles earning life cover and hospital cash-back. Church members benefit by simply dialing USSD code *800*80# or downloading MyChurchPay Mobile App or via social/mobile to donate offerings/ tithes. The insurance group’s move into the church and digital giving space using insuretech, although unconventional, made sense given that churches became digital minded when the pandemic struck but needed to maintain their members welfare support.
e-Commerce: partnership with Jumia
Diversified Retail Distribution Methods from Fruitful Collaborations
Taking on e-commerce, in a bid to make insurance more accessible, Hollard partnered Africa’s leading e-commerce platform to retail insurance digitally. Jumia leverages its technology and network to provide its efficient JumiaPay platform for Ghanaians to purchase Hollard’s general and life insurance products online. Via www.jumia.com.gh/hollard-ghana the process is simple, fast, and completely digital with JumiaPay via mobile money.
Artificial Intelligence ChatBot – Araba Hollard for HollardChat Insure
Digital distribution for under exposed insurance
The award-winning chatbot called Araba Hollard is a clear example of when artificial intelligence meets insurance. The innovative chatbot fronts Hollard Insurance’s product, Hollard ChatInsure. Currently hosted on WhatsApp, the chatbot is fondly called ‘Araba Hollard’. Araba is the first virtual insurer in the country, offering end-to-end insurance services within the messaging application and without human intervention. Users simply save her number 0242 426 412 and message her on WhatsApp to access her services.
Araba offers renters and homeowners, Home and Home Contents insurance. Customers can initiate, process, pay and receive policy documents on WhatsApp covering burglary, fire and allied perils to their possessions and physical building structure. Customers to have Frequently Asked Questions answered, initiate, process, pay and receive policy documents. With Araba Hollard, Hollard is matching product availability to potential customers’ behaviours and preferences.
About Hollard Ghana
The country’s favourite insurance group is Hollard Ghana, with subsidiaries Hollard Insurance and Hollard Life Assurance. The group combines its deep local knowledge of the market having previously operated in Ghana for 25 years as Metropolitan Insurance with the world-class expertise of an international insurance brand in 18 countries across the world. With feet firmly planted on Ghanaian soil but headquartered in South Africa, Hollard delivers innovative insurance solutions customized to the unique risks Ghanaians face. Hollard offers various life and general insurance products including funeral, personal accident, motor, business, travel, home, and more; and can be reached via the following means: 0501603967 (Hollard Insurance) and 0501533698 (Hollard Life).
Beyond various nationwide office branches and Hollard 2U franchise shops, Ghanaians can find Hollard at Shell Fuel Station Welcome Shops, Melcom stores and online at www.hollard.com.gh and www.jumia.com.gh for all their insurance needs.
