COUNTRY Financial has joined Roost’s Home Telematics Program, which aggregates and analyzes smart-device data for insurance use.
Roost teamed up with Willis Towers Watson on the IoT initiative back in June 2017 to analyze and identify opportunities for product enhancement, claims mitigation and pricing accuracy for the industry. Carriers that join the consortium receive 10,000 technology kits, each including two water-leak sensors and one battery, to distribute to selected policyholders. These devices also deliver notifications to customers’ smartphones when a suspected water leak or fire event occurs, the company says. The Wi-Fi enabled smart sensors can be set up in less than five minutes.
“By sharing insights and data, the HTP will develop best practices for the deployment of smart sensors in the home, enable deeper engagement with policyholders and deliver valuable insights into the bottom line cost savings impact on claims,” said Roel Peeters, Roost CEO, in a statement.
Also see: Peeters named a 2018 digital insurance innovator to watch
COUNTRY Financial now joins State Auto as an early member of the HTP, which joined as its first member in January. USAA, Liberty Mutual, Desjardins, Aviva UK and Hippo are other notable distributors of Roost products—but are not a part of the full-fledged consortium.
“Smart devices are appearing in every room of the home, and we are embracing the opportunity to work with Roost and the HTP to deploy smart sensors that will have a direct and immediate positive impact on our customers,” said Jeremy Brewer, national home product manager at COUNTRY Financial. “Just as important, the HTP will help us tap into critical and objective intelligence that will guide us in intelligently engaging with our customers.”
The move to join Roost’s HTP follows the launch of COUNTRY Financial’s digital lab last year, in partnership with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The "DigitaLab" is located in the university's Research Park, and also works directly with more than 100 companies acorss multiple industries. COUNTRY's IT department says the lab will he used to develop digital products, especially mobile apps.
