EE201400023A - Customer insurance system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to data processing systems customised for administrative, commercial, financial, and managerial purposes, particularly to dealing with risk management issues in insurance. Functioning of the insurance system is ensured by core infrastructural modules each of which may comprise individual modules performing certain functions to support the functioning of the system and solve the specified tasks. The core infrastructural modules of the system include databases for collection and storage of the data and information used in the system; software for data management, running of commands and queries, and support for the core business functions; web services for transfer of data selected from the database to software (local or third-party) and to user interfaces; and user interfaces.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to data processing systems adapted to meet administrative, commercial, financial and management objectives, particularly designed to address risk management issues in the insurance sector.

STATE OF THE ART

Currently, the insurance market is undergoing major changes in the field of service provision, where the traditional module of insurance service provision, where important insurance issues are resolved by an insurance agent, agency or insurance broker through personal communication with the client, is being expanded with the opportunities offered to customers to purchase insurance products through self-service, using Internet marketing for this purpose. Insurance portals and self-service websites allow you to get an overview of valid insurance policies or, depending on the type of insurance, fill out a form for reporting an insured event and operate successfully. Nevertheless, the principle of service provision is based on the existing products of insurance companies, which in turn are offered to customers according to the product classification defined in legislation or according to the internal product classification of insurance companies.

Due to the complexity of insurance products, users are unable to accurately define their need for insurance coverage: they are unable to identify the type of insurance they want and they have difficulty understanding which risks are covered and which risks still need to be covered. This lack of awareness among customers indicates a lack of comprehensive insurance and the existence of uninsured risks. Customers only become aware of significant and uninsured risks when an insured event occurs, i.e. when they suffer a financial loss.

Previous patents describe existing systems and methods related to various solutions that operate on servers with interactive environments. In particular, numerous inventions in this field have been patented in South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

A technical solution is described in US patent No. US2010179888.

The solution presented in patent application WO03038561 has been selected as the most similar prior art solution.

These currently available technical solutions provide a user structure (database) consisting of individual accounts that can be accessed from remote computers and servers (generally from anywhere);

users can even open individual accounts to manage their loans, mortgages, insurance, brokerage services, etc.;

in these separate accounts, users can manage annual payments, participate in advertising campaigns, take part in card design, participate in affiliate programs, crediting, create and manage payment periods, etc.;

Users can change data (information) about all accounts, their terms, etc.

However, these systems are quite complex and difficult to understand due to their large size. The customer is also unable to see the complete insurance card.

The aim of the present invention is to create a system that does not suffer from the above-mentioned shortcomings.

ESSENCE OF THE INVENTION

In response to the situation, a new insurance system is being offered that will allow users to resolve most of the issues related to the quality and comprehensiveness of insurance coverage, as well as a simple and standardized way to report various insurance events to different insurance companies. When using the proposed system, customers will be able to see a comprehensive insurance card.

The operation of a given insurance system is ensured by basic infrastructural modules, each of which may contain individual modules that perform certain functions to support the operation of the system and solve specific tasks.

The main infrastructural modules of the system are as follows:

1. Databases for collecting and storing information and data used in the system.

2. Software for managing data, running commands and queries, and supporting key operational functions.

3. Web services for transferring selected data from a database to software (local or third-party software) and user interfaces.

4. User interfaces.

5. Graphical dialog boxes, icons, menus, operating system functions and commands that provide an interface between the insurance system and the end user of the system.

Thanks to the database structure, the organization of software functions and the appropriate user interface, the aforementioned insurance system addresses various problems encountered in insurance management, provides the user with a comprehensive overview of the current insurance situation, informs the user of gaps in insurance coverage and allows the user to eliminate these gaps by purchasing a suitable insurance product.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

The following figures are provided to illustrate the present invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the structure of the basic infrastructural modules of the system.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the basic modules of the database.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the database add-on modules.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the links of the customer registry to other objects.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing the links of the insurance document register to other objects.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the links of the vehicle registry to other objects.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the links of the asset register to other objects.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the links between the loan and leasing agreements register and other objects.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing the links of the damage register to other objects.

Figure 10 is a diagram showing the links of a customer order register to other objects.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Insurance system modules and the functions they perform

The operation of a given insurance system is ensured by basic infrastructural modules, each of which may contain individual modules that perform certain functions to support the operation of the system and solve specific tasks.

The main infrastructural modules of the system are as follows:

1. Databases to collect and store information and data used in the system.

2. Software for managing data, running commands and queries, and supporting key operational functions.

3. Web services for transferring selected data from a database to software (local or third-party software) and user interfaces.

4. User interfaces.

5. Graphical dialog boxes, icons, menus, operating system functions and commands that provide an interface between the insurance system and the end user of the system.

Thanks to the database structure, the organization of software functions and the appropriate user interface, the aforementioned insurance system addresses various problems encountered in insurance management, provides the user with a comprehensive overview of the current insurance situation, informs the user of gaps in insurance coverage and allows the user to eliminate these gaps by purchasing a suitable insurance product.

Database modules

Databases store information about certain objects and their properties, as well as the relationships of these objects to other elements in the database. Each database element may have one or more subelements at more than one level (for example, a customer may have multiple addresses (home, work, residence, etc.)). In addition, database elements may be related not directly, but through intermediate elements of element interdependence, which allows database elements to be related to each other based on a one-to-many or many-to-many relationship.

Basic database modules:

a customer register containing details about customers, it is linked to other registers:

address register;

contact details register;

register of branches;

register of insurance documents;

vehicle register - vehicles owned or used by the client;

asset register - assets owned or used by the client;

register of loan and leasing agreements;

loss register;

customer order register;

activity register;

client user register - a list of client users who have pre-defined rights in the user interface of the insurance system;

etc.

The customer is the central element in the database, having the most direct interrelationships with other elements in the database.

Insurance document register

This is a register of insurance contracts and certificates, where the parameters of insurance documents are stored. It is linked to the following registers:

client register - it defines the persons of the insurance document (insurer, payer, insured) and, in the case of insuring a person, it also defines the object of insurance;

vehicle register - an object insured by an insurance document;

asset register - an object insured by an insurance document;

register of insurance companies;

insurance product register;

register of contractual contributions;

register of contributions actually paid;

register of insurance document supplements - register of amendments, additions and terminations to insurance documents;

register of annexes to insurance documents;

customer order register;

register of insurance plans.

Vehicle register

This is a vehicle registry where vehicle parameters are stored. It is linked to the following registries:

customer register - defines the persons related to the vehicle (owner, user and administrator (insured);

vehicle value register - linked to specific vehicle modifications and provides up-to-date important information on market value;

Insurance document register - a link to insurance documents that provide information about the vehicle's current or previous insurance coverage;

vehicle accessories register;

Loan and Lease Agreements Register - a link to loan or lease agreements that provide information about the current or previous financing of the vehicle.

Asset register

The asset register stores information on various types of assets (excluding vehicles) and the parameters and characteristics of these objects, and is linked to the following registers:

client register - identifies the persons of the property (owner, insured);

cadastral data register - a link to a specific cadastral object and its characteristics;

Insurance document register - a link to insurance documents that provide information about the current or previous insurance coverage of the property;

register of asset additions;

Loan and Lease Agreements Register - a link to loan or lease agreements that provide information about the current or past financing of the property.

Register of loan and leasing agreements

This is a register that stores data on loan and leasing agreements concluded by customers, as well as the parameters and characteristics of these agreements. It is linked to the following registers:

client register - identifies the persons in the loan agreement (lender, borrower, guarantor);

register of objects of loan and leasing agreements - a list of objects financed or given as collateral, where the objects are in turn linked:

with the vehicle register;

with the asset register;

objects covered by insurance documents.

Damage register

The claims register stores data related to customers' insured events and/or their claims. In addition to the parameters and characteristics of the claims, it is also linked to the following registers:

register of damage documents - a list of documents submitted or to be submitted, together with their characteristics and parameters, and electronic copies of said documents;

loss accounting document register - a register of financial documents for managing losses incurred by clients;

insurance document register - a link to the insurance document that provides insurance coverage for the risk that caused the loss event;

vehicle register - link to the vehicle(s) involved in the damage;

asset register - link to assets related to the loss;

activity register - a register of measures taken during damage management and their characteristics.

Customer order register

This is a register of insurance offers prepared for the client/ordered by the client, where data from various registers is added and where information is stored about insured risks and objects and offers made by insurance companies, along with the terms and conditions of these offers. The said register may be linked to:

with the customer register - the consumer on whose behalf the order is placed and who is included in the order as the subject of insurance, it is also possible to place orders for subjects who are not yet added to our database as customers;

with the vehicle register;

with the asset register;

with the register of insurance companies;

with the insurance products register.

Client user register

This is one of the most important registries that ensures the successful operation of the insurance system by determining the user interface to be opened and the functional rights granted to a specific user (access to web services, which in turn allows software commands and queries).

Additional database modules:

register of insurance companies;

register of insurance company contact persons;

insurance product register;

register of insurance regulations;

register of contractual contributions;

register of contributions actually paid;

register of annexes to insurance documents;

etc.

User interfaces

The presentation of the insurance system to end users is ensured by the use of a user interface. The user can use the insurance system in one of the following ways:

as an unauthenticated user - access or functions with a special interface - or as an authenticated user who has the right to use predefined functions, manage their insurance contracts or object data or the data of the persons who have given them access for this purpose, register insurance events, etc.

To authenticate to the system, users can use one of the following methods:

digital signature;

mobile ID;

via internet banking;

username and password.

For additional security, IP address access restriction can be used.

Unauthenticated user interfaces

Insurance portal. The part of the website that contains information about insurance products, market news and research, advice and general recommendations.

Shop. The part of the website where you can buy insurance products.

Authenticated user interfaces

In addition to the interface options of an unauthenticated user, an authenticated user (depending on the rights granted to him) receives access interface and functionality elements divided into three groups: private customer, business customer and partner.

Private client interface

The main element of this interface is the client's insurance matrix (map) (hereinafter referred to as the client's insurance map): a matrix of insurance objects and insurance products under the client's control and the client's acquired/valid insurance contracts (existing insurance contracts) applicable to these objects, which provides the client with visual and structured information about the risks covered and the lack of insurance and displays important informational messages.

The vertical axis of the client's insurance card shows the insured objects: real estate and movable property, persons or other objects. The insured objects are grouped by object type.

The horizontal axis of the client's insurance card shows the sub-objects to be insured, the insurance risks, and the types of insurance products for each type of insurance object. The insurance risks to be covered and the types of insurance contracts or insurance products to be submitted may depend on the client's profile, i.e. the client's data (activities, region, turnover or income, age, related persons, etc.).

Thanks to the graphical and textual presentation, the client's insurance card displays informative data about the client's current insurance coverage (validity of insurance contracts, lack of a valid contract, validity restrictions or insurance recommendations). The insurance recommendations are supplemented with theoretical information about insurance products to familiarize the client with the specifics of the insurance coverage, and facts about similar previously publicly known insurance cases (examples) are also presented.

Functionality

The client's insurance card allows the following activities:

1. easy access to information about insurance products;

2. viewing the current insurance contract and its expiration date;

3. Viewing the number of days remaining until the expiration of the current contract (when the insurance contract ends);

4. seeing an insurance contract for which the client has not paid on time, as well as:

making a payment under the insurance contract via internet banking;

preparing an invoice for payment under the insurance contract;

5. viewing notifications and insurance broker recommendations related to a valid insurance contract;

6. obtaining information about previous insurance risks;

7. entering (adding) an insurance contract (this cannot be done on the portal) for the insurance object selected by the insured object and its sub-object or uninsured risk;

8. entering (adding) an insurance object;

9. calculation of insurance premium: for the expiring insurance contract;

about an insured object that has not yet been insured;

10. submission or preparation of documents necessary for the administration of insurance contracts:

a) application for termination of the insurance contract;

b) a statement to amend the information contained in the insurance contract;

c) other requests related to the administration of the insurance contract;

11. Reporting an insured event.

Visual (graphic) presentation method

Business client interface

The Business Client Interface consists of individual modules, all or parts of which can be assigned to a specific Business Client user. These modules and their 5 functionalities are as follows:

The purpose of the claims reporting functionality is to provide the customer with a standard user interface and process for reporting an event (loss) regardless of the insurance company. Using the parameters selected and provided by the customer, the system runs algorithms to determine the associated insurance company, the reporting form to be submitted, the information to be provided to the insurance company, and to advise the customer on additional documents that should be submitted for the claim registration. The above-mentioned algorithms include the following functions:

- reference is made to the relevant object to identify the related insurance company and insurance documents;

- the time of occurrence of the insured event is referred to in order to select the related insurance company and insurance documents;

- reference is made to the nature of the insured event to determine the volume of information to be collected from the client and provided to the insurer, as well as additional documents that must be submitted to identify the insured event (loss);

- details and characteristics of the insured event (loss) are collected;

- data is entered on the identified insurance company's loss reporting form and applicable insurance documents;

- a claim for compensation is submitted. This claim can be submitted to the insurance company electronically or by exporting the data to the insurance company's insurance system. The claim can also be submitted/exported to the client's insurance system;

- the client and the insurance company's agent are given access to add documents related to the claims. Depending on the type of documents added by the client, the insurance broker or the client's responsible employee may review them or they may be forwarded directly to the insurance company. The documents submitted by the insurance company are forwarded to the client. Instead of or in addition to the forwarding of the documents, the parties may be notified of the new entry or the update of an old entry;

- you can then monitor the progress of the claims handling, add missing documents to the file, communicate on claims management topics, etc.

Partner interface

Similar to the business client interface, the partner interface consists of individual modules, all or parts of which can be assigned to a specific partner user. These modules and their functionalities are as follows:

The above-mentioned partner modules can also be integrated (via web services) into the partner's information system to transfer data to the partner not through an interface, but directly by exporting it to the system.

Portfolio Insurance Report Functionality

data on the financed portfolio and objects provided/financed as collateral are imported from financial institutions;

The following data is imported from insurance companies:

insurance documents and information about the objects covered by them;

changes made to insurance documents: suspension, termination of insurance coverage, expiration of the term;

missing data is entered through the system user interface;

insurance document objects are connected to financed portfolio objects;

The following data is identified:

objects with relevant and valid insurance documents;

objects without the required level of insurance documentation;

the insurance coverage risk of the financed portfolio is kept under control;

Depending on the identified insurance status of the objects, and if uninsured or improperly insured objects are identified, the insurance management partner will inform the client responsible for the insurance, recording the measures to be taken with comments and the results of these measures.

Claims (13)

1. An insurance system, including user structures with separate accounts, characterized in that it consists of the following elements adapted for the insurance industry: databases for collecting and storing data and information used in the system; software for managing data, executing commands and queries and supporting the main operational functions; web services for transferring selected data from the database to software (local or third-party software) and user interfaces; user interfaces. 2. An insurance system according to claim 1, characterized in that the main modules of said database are the following: a customer register, which contains data about customers and is linked to other registers; a register of insurance documents, where the parameters of insurance documents are stored and which are linked to other registers; a register of vehicles; a register of assets; a register of loan and leasing agreements; a register of losses; a register of customer orders; a register of customer users. 3. An insurance system according to claim 1, characterized in that the additional modules of said database are the following: a register of insurance companies; a register of insurance company contact persons; a register of insurance products; a register of insurance rules; a register of contractual contributions; a register of actually paid contributions; a register of annexes to insurance documents; etc. 4. The insurance system according to claim 1, characterized in that the user interfaces intended to be presented to the end user may be authenticated or unauthenticated user interfaces. 5. An insurance system according to claim 2, characterized in that said customer register is linked to the following registers: address register; contact data register; branch register; insurance documents register; vehicle register; asset register; loan and leasing agreements register; loss register; customer order register; activity register; customer user register. 6. An insurance system according to claim 2, characterized in that said register of insurance documents is linked to the following registers: a register of clients - it defines the persons of the insurance document (insurer, payer, insured) and in case of insurance of a person, it also defines the object of insurance; a register of vehicles - an object insured by an insurance document; a register of assets - an object insured by an insurance document; a register of insurance companies; a register of insurance products; a register of contractual contributions; a register of actually paid contributions; a register of insurance document annexes - a register of amendments, additions and terminations of insurance documents; a register of insurance document annexes; a register of customer orders; a register of insurance plans. 7. An insurance system according to claim 2, characterized in that said vehicle register is linked to the following registers: a customer register - defining the persons related to the vehicle (owner, user and administrator (insured); a vehicle value register - linked to specific vehicle modifications and providing up-to-date relevant information on market value; a register of insurance documents - a link to insurance documents providing information on the current or previous insurance coverage of the vehicle; a register of vehicle accessories; a register of loan and leasing agreements. 8. An insurance system according to claim 2, characterized in that said asset register is linked to the following registers: a client register - where the persons of the asset (owner, insured person) are defined; a cadastral data register - a link to a specific cadastral object and its characteristics; a register of insurance documents; a register of asset attachments; a register of loan and leasing agreements. 9. An insurance system according to claim 2, characterized in that said register of loan and leasing agreements is linked to the following registers: register of clients - where the persons of the loan agreement (lender, borrower, guarantor) are defined; register of objects of loan and leasing agreements - a list of financed or collateralized objects, where the objects are in turn linked to: register of vehicles; register of assets; objects covered by insurance documents. 10. An insurance system according to claim 2, characterized in that said loss register is linked to the following registers: loss document register; loss accounting document register; insurance document register; vehicle register; asset register; activity register. 11. An insurance system according to claim 2, characterized in that said customer order register is linked to the following registers: customer register; vehicle register; asset register; insurance company register; insurance product register. 12. A method for implementing an insurance system according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes the following steps: data on the financed portfolio and the objects provided/financed as collateral are imported from financial institutions; the following data are imported from insurance companies: insurance documents and information on the objects covered by them; changes made to the insurance documents: suspension, termination of insurance coverage, expiration of the term; missing data is entered through the system user interface; objects of insurance documents are connected to objects of the financed portfolio; the following data is identified: objects with an appropriate and valid insurance document; objects without an insurance document of the required level; the insurance coverage risk of the financed portfolio is kept under control; depending on the identified insurance status of the objects and if uninsured or improperly insured insurance objects are identified, the insurance management partner informs the client responsible for the insurance, recording the measures to be taken with comments and the results of these measures. 13. Hardware/software operation in a system according to claims 1-11.