A mobile office that allows adjusters to use a wireless computer link to access policyholder information and two self-contained mobile response centers fashioned from motor homes are some of the latest tools Alfa Insurance Co. is using to better serve its customers.Alfa adjusters in 15 locations now have the freedom to complete their work without being tied to an office or a service center and many times, the new technology will allow them to process a claim at the scene.”As we have become more dependent on technology for completing the tasks of our jobs, it has become more apparent that the technology resources need to be available at the loss site,” said Jerry Johnson, Alfa’s senior vice president of claims. “The mobile office functionality allows the adjuster to use our technology resources in a much more efficient fashion.”With the mobile office, an adjuster can visit a client’s home to inspect a claim and immediately have access to the resources necessary to handle the claim information over a secure wireless connection. Adjusters also can view previous claim files, access current policyholder information from Alfa’s network, create and print an estimate or cut a check for the homeowner, all in one visit.With forecasters predicting another busy hurricane season in 2006, along with the threat of severe weather events in general, it’s easy to see the benefits of implementing the mobile office technology.”I think the efficiencies gained with this technology will be some of the most significant improvements we’ve seen in some time,” Johnson said. “Our objective is to roll it out prior to hurricane season, which will provide our adjuster force with greater mobility.”This summer, Alfa also will roll out two new mobile response centers that will be valuable if disaster strikes an area and renders local service centers inoperable.”These mobile centers offer us a great deal of flexibility so we can offer assistance following a storm,” said Carol Golsan, Alfa’s senior vice president of marketing services. “They allow us to process a claim from any location, and they can be used as a sales service center if we need a temporary office.”The two customized motor homes are equipped as fully-functional mobile sales service centers, claims centers and/or claims processing centers.
“When disaster strikes, we know how important it is to handle claims quickly and competently,” Golsan said. “The addition of these mobile units means we can serve our customers even faster. The units also include satellite communications that provide the ability to access customer policies, even though other communication systems in the storm area may be unavailable.”