Alfa Insurance is updating its farmowner policy administration system, giving customers the option to access policy documents online. 

Alfa President Jimmy Parnell said moving the policies to Guidewire — the same system used for the company’s other lines of property and casualty business — will benefit farmers.

“Modernizing our farmowner system will help Alfa tailor coverage to meet farmers’ changing needs,” said Parnell, also president of the Alabama Farmers Federation. “It will also give customers convenient access to their policy documents.”

Migrating farmowner policies to the new system will begin this fall. 

“We’ve worked hard over the last two years to make this move as seamless as possible,” Parnell said. “Our goal has been to enhance coverage offerings and decrease processing time, all while minimally impacting rates.”  

Despite these efforts, Parnell said regulations requiring policy change notification will result in customers receiving a deluge of documents — especially larger farms with lengthy equipment schedules. 

“I tell farmers who are my age their mailing may resemble a Sears & Roebuck catalog,” Parnell said. “That’s why we’re giving customers the option to sign up for online documents prior to their policy converting.”

Parnell said his goal is to provide better customer service.

“Most people aren’t going to read a hundred pages, and many will immediately throw it away,” he said. “With eDocs, customers have access to their documents, day or night, for five years. It’s a hassle-free, convenient option — backed by the hometown, personal service Alfa customers have come to expect.”

Farmowner customers interested in signing up for eDocs are encouraged to contact their local Alfa service center, Federation area organization director or the Alfa Customer Resource Center at (800) 964-2532. They will register their policy at AlfaInsurance.com; acknowledge receipt of a confirmation email; and complete a consent form authorizing eDocs enrollment. Customers can choose to still receive billing notices by mail.

“Whether you sign up for eDocs or not, I’m convinced you will be pleased with our new farmowner system,” Parnell said. “It gives us tools to better accomplish our founding mission — to serve Alabama farmers and rural families.” 

To learn more, visit alfainsurance.com.