MR Microinsurance_2012_03_29.indd - International Labour ...

Th e technology revolution in microinsurance
Box 24.1 Microinsurance Network’s Technology Working Group
Th e Technology Working Group focuses on data collection, communication,
management information systems and services to support microinsurance practi-
tioners and trainers working with these organizations. In 2008, the Working
Group and the ILO’s Microinsurance Innovation Facility compiled an inventory
of information technologies that could be applicable to the extension of insur-
ance services to low-income households (see Gerelle and Berende, 2008). Th e
objectives of the study were to catalogue and illustrate the technologies used or
potentially useable in microinsurance.
In 2010, the Working Group launched an online inventory that reviews soft- soft- soft-
ware systems specifi cally designed for microinsurance. Th e fi rst systems in this
inventory fall into the transaction-processing layer of microinsurance technol-
ogy. Th e website allows users to search, fi lter and examine each of the software
products listed in the inventory by type, language, institution size, features and
location of the provider.
Within the coming years, it is expected that the inventory will extend to
include the customer interface and data analysis levels by reviewing technologies
such as mobile phones, smart cards, PoS terminals, and biometric and RFID
devices.
Source: Adapted from www.microinsurancenetwork.org.
24.2 Client-interfacing technology
Th e success of microinsurance products relies greatly on the extent to which lowincome
persons can interact seamlessly with the insurer or its intermediaries, and
technology can facilitate this. Th is section reviews two dimensions of client interfacing
technology: 1) enrolment and premium collection; and 2) loss verifi cation
and the claims payment.
24.2.1 Enrolment and premium collection
Technology can make a major contribution to the process of client enrolment
and premium collection. Diff erent technologies can support these processes,
including GPS-enabled mobile phones for client enrolment, and using smart
cards, airtime and a mobile payment system for premium payments, as summarized
in Table 24.2 and described below.
531