6 Ways Workload Automation Can Improve Processes in Insurance

As insurance operations grow increasingly complex to meet the changing needs of today’s consumers, in-house IT departments are struggling to keep up. Stretched resources, rising workloads, and overburdened staff are impacting insurance providers’ operational efficiency and their ability to offer agents and policyholders an exceptional experience. Meanwhile, emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and deep data analysis are taking over the industry, increasing the need for effective digital transformation. How can companies in the insurance industry respond to these profound challenges and productivity opportunities? Workload automation and orchestration is the answer.

Here are six ways that modern-day workload automation can help insurance companies improve efficiency and reduce errors in their daily processes:

1. Improve efficiency and accuracy in billing.
   With workload automation and orchestration solutions, it’s easy for insurance providers to eliminate siloed processes within their billing system. The scheduling and data orchestration tools embedded within modern workload automation solutions allow insurers to optimize workflows, reduce delays, and eliminate inefficiencies, so everyone has what they need to be efficient and successful.
   
2. Synchronize claims system data.
   To ensure that claims teams have all the data they need to process new claims effectively and accurately, they need to have visibility and transparency across multiple internal departments and systems. Using the notification feature included in a modern workload automation solution, claims staff will know exactly when a process starts, completes, or needs attention. Workload automation helps reduce claim duration and error rates, providing a better claimant and employee experience.
   
   For example, to support the processing of 50 million Medicare claims each year across 13 states, Noridian Mutual Insurance Company employs a complex technology environment that includes two Unisys mainframes, an IBM z/OS mainframe, and 300 AIX, Unix, Linux, and Windows servers. Noridian has used workload automation since 1998 to automate every platform in commercial use, as well as most legacy systems. As a result, Noridian can now manage many of its critical processes from a single point of control, greatly increasing efficiency, improving risk management, and reducing costs.
   
3. Update customer data in all the right places.
   Customer data is dynamic and often needs to be updated and accessible across multiple databases, including within the customer relationship management (CRM) system. Insurers can now use application programming interfaces (APIs) in coordination with workload automation to move files across multiple platforms within the organization. Modern workload automation solutions can extract and transport vital contact management information from any platform on demand and on any schedule—be it hourly, daily, or weekly.
   
4. Orchestrate policy system workflows and data.
   Policy system workflows, data, and files are exceedingly complex. Workload automation can help insurers achieve fully hands-off, automated orchestration of critical policy system processes and data. Through the application of a modern WLA system’s sophisticated scheduling options and dependency controls, insurance executives can rest easy knowing dependent systems have access to the right data in the right place at the right time.
   
5. Enhance and accelerate reporting capabilities.
   With workload automation, insurance claims representatives can deliver critical data to management to facilitate quicker decisions, to finance for increased accuracy, and to compliance for risk reduction. Modern-day workload automation solutions are designed to orchestrate the movement of data within disparate systems to better manage the flow and frequency of reporting and business intelligence tools.
   
   “The fact that OpCon is a SQL database opens up a world of possibilities for us,” says Ed Watson, Systems Programmer at Ameritas. “Reporting will be a lot easier in the long run than it was with [our prior scheduler], which only offered a few canned reports but little customization.”
   
6. Synchronize data across multiple third-party systems.
   Regardless of software platform and system age, advanced workload automation and orchestration systems can pull data and files together from a variety of on-premises and off-site systems, including cloud and hybrid environments. This empowers diverse teams across the organization to harmonize workflows and processes, increasing productivity.
   
   For example, workload automation can support the movement of data files from on-premises to the cloud by automating manual tasks and keeping your on-prem systems functioning. This allows you to dedicate precious IT resources on the cloud migration project.
   
   “With OpCon, we have the capability to schedule across all environments: in the cloud, on servers, and on the mainframe,” says Deb Brugman, Manager of the Operations Team at Ameritas. “Now, we’ve got the software in place, and we’re ready to start scheduling. We're ready to start moving forward.
   

To achieve greater operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation—as well as gain unprecedented visibility into complex operations—today’s insurance firms need a comprehensive, modern-day workload automation platform that goes beyond traditional job-scheduling software. They also require an easy-to-implement solution that offers full orchestration, rapid deployment, and 24/7 service reliability through the support of a world-class, customer-first service team. With this type of solution in place, insurers can confidently navigate the challenges facing their industry today and be prepared to take on whatever the future holds.