Mobile & Wireless
Insurer Lloyd’s trials iPads in effort to improve efficiency
The iPads replace traditional underwriting slips
By Anh Nguyen | Computerworld UK | Published 16:50, 06 September 10
Insurer Lloyd’s is working with brokers to trial the use of Apple iPads in place of traditional paper underwriting documents, with an aim to improve efficiency.
Under the three-month trial, around 30 brokers will use three iPads as storage devices. This will be instead of carrying around large amounts of paper, documents that make up insurance contracts, to be approved by underwriters.
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Sue Langley, Lloyd’s director of market operations, said: “By simply replacing the paper with something easier to carry, but which allows amendments and links to other services, we continue to support the underwriting and face-to-face negotiation that makes Lloyd’s unique.”
Insurance brokers Marsh, Cooper Gay and RK Harrison will participate in the trial, which will be extended, to include additional brokers, from the end of the year if it is successful.
iPads cost from £429 each for a 16GB model with wi-fi only. The devices have gradually been entering the enterprise market since their launch earlier this year.
In August, Leicester City Council revealed plans to provide 54 councillors with Apple iPads after elections next May, apparently in a bid to cut costs.
However in February, Cambridge City Council was forced to deny plans it would invest up to £30,000 on 46 Apple iPads in a bid to enhance its green credentials, after media reports highlighted the proposals.
Despite this, the public sector appears to be embracing the iPad, with reports that UK troops training for Afghanistan operations are currently using a special app developed for the iPad to learn how to handle a fire mission.
