A few weeks ago, a new mobile application appeared on the download platforms for BlackBerry, iPhone and Android. Known as iCompanion (or iCompagnon in French), this application is going to revolutionize how brokerage firms and their clients do business together.

The goal is to facilitate the claim reporting process. “The application has lots of advantages,” says Nadine Bourgeois, communications and public affairs manager for the RCCAQ. “Each firm can personalize the application by including its own colours and logo. That’s a significant advantage for brokers, who can also offer their clients numerous services free of charge.”

Here are some of iCompanion’s very useful features:

• The insurance firm’s contact information is accessible with a single click, together with information on the client’s home/auto insurance policies.
• One feature allows users to report a car accident easily, thanks in part to a global positioning system (GPS). A photo can also be taken of any damage. This information can then be submitted directly to the brokerage.
• Thanks to the GPS, the application provides information on which accident reporting centres and certified body shops are closest to the accident site.
• Another feature allows users to compile a simplified inventory of assets/property they have at home. In the event of material damages, detailed information can also be submitted.

For clients, the application can be quickly installed on a smartphone. It’s free of charge and easy to use! For brokers, “It’s a great way to stand out from the competition,” says Nadine. In Ontario, where this service has been available for more than a year, nearly 40% of firms have signed on to iCompanion and “the feedback is very positive”.

$750 for the first year

Designed by Independent Broker Resources Inc. and Waxworks Creative on behalf of the IBAO—the RCCAQ’s sister association in Ontario—the application is integrated with the myinsuranceshopper.ca database. “This allows RCCAQ members to have a single brokerage firm profile for updating the MIS site* and the mobile application at the same time,” says Nadine.

The application uses the firm’s email address in the MIS profile to send data transmitted by the client. “In addition, if clients agree to it, brokers can send them notifications on a regular basis, such as file updates, insurance policy changes, holiday season recommendations, etc.” In the RCCAQ’s optimistic estimate, 25% of its members are likely to download the application in the first year of service.

Although installation is free for clients, the application will cost brokers $750 for the first year. In subsequent years, renewals will cost $500 (not including HST). If a firm has branch offices, the cost will be $300 per location. These figures include application updates and new features.

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