Then and Now: how self-service tools are simplifying everything

The past. It was a simpler time … or was it? Though so much has become more complicated over the years, some things are actually easier — like managing your home and car insurance. And that’s partly thanks to the recent self-service trend that’s been helping consumers help themselves in all areas of life.

We haven’t quite reached the point of do-it-yourself haircuts. But a recent study from the Canadian Bankers Association showed 68% of Canadians now do most of their transactions with financial institutions digitally, using online and mobile tools. And according to Forrester Research, self-service has surpassed all other forms of customer service interaction for the past three years straight.

In terms of insurance, new self-service tools — like our app and online Client Centre – are actually doing away with some of the hurdles of years past, simplifying everything from making claims to accessing files and managing your policy.

So, what are the biggest changes self-service has made between then and now? Let’s take a look.

Then: Phones were only used for calling

From banking to binge-watching, we now use our phones for everything. And with self-service, your phone can help you take care of your insurance too.

Insurance apps like ours let you use your phone to access and manage policies, check payments, make and track claims, request roadside assistance, and even get rewarded for driving safely thanks to easy access to the automerit® program.

Then: Paperwork was made of paper

In the past, losing an important document related to your insurance would have been a big hassle. And while paperwork will probably always exist, with self-service, at least it’s digital.

You no longer have to worry about misplacing important papers, or even reaching into the glove box for your car insurance, because everything is easy to access from your phone.

Not to mention that going paperless is also greener. Since launching our paperless option in March 2017, belairdirect has saved over 15,000,000 sheets of paper. According to the Sierra Club, that’s as many as 1,500 trees! And that’s just in 16 months of paper reduction!

Now: The world is connected

Mobile technology means you can do so much more wherever you happen to be.

Ok, so you probably won’t want to be tracking a claim, reviewing billing info or chatting with an agent while out at dinner or on holiday overseas. But with self-service, you can if you want to, making it easier for you to manage things when and where it’s convenient for you.

Now: The internet is open 24/7  

In the same way that self-service can help you take care of your car or home insurance from anywhere, it also lets you do so at any time.

Whether you’re a night owl, or get up at the break of day, you can do everything from tracking a claim to reviewing and managing your account 24/7, making it easier to get help no matter what time it is.

Are you ready to banish the old and get with the new? Let us know in the comments below. Be sure to check out the belairdirect app on iTunes or on Google Play, or access our Client Centre here.