In today’s rapidly changing world, insurance companies are facing numerous emerging risks, from technological advances to climate change. However, these risks also present opportunities for innovation to create value and security for customers and contribute to the wellbeing and sustainability of society.
Insurers are embedding innovation, prevention and sustainability strategies to manage these emerging risks and seize new business opportunities in the future.
Unipol (Italy) has founded a “solutions factory” to embrace and manage innovation in the new data economy. Leithà develops data intensive solutions and applications that provides the opportunity for the Unipol Group to transform in order to face new challenges in the future.
It is creating agile solutions to shift from protection to prediction and prevention; focus on personalisation and customer connectivity; and utilise process automation.
Achmea (Netherlands) sees different types of challenges and risks for its customers and focuses on areas where it can have the greatest impact with its products and services. It has chosen three UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to excel in, which are embedded in its strategic agenda and core activities.
Through the development of innovative initiatives and smart use of data, Achmea can have a major social impact in its strategic domains of health, mobility, living environments and financial solutions; achieving its mission to contribute to a healthy, safe and future-proof society.
Managing climate change is the greatest sustainability risk facing Länsförsäkringar (Sweden). As owners of the company, Länsförsäkringar’s customers expect it to take a responsible attitude towards society and that is why sustainability is at the core of its business.
The company has chosen seven out of the 17 SDGs to focus on, including SDG 13: Climate Action. With its local commitment, Länsförsäkringar has accumulated a great deal of knowledge and has developed practices to make a difference in this area. Länsförsäkringar takes great responsibility to provide insights into how climate change affects their customers and helps them manage and mitigate these risks.
In response to the increasing number and severity of climate-related natural disasters, Zenkyoren (Japan) has also recognised climate change as one of its highest priorities. Part of its strategy is to consider the response when a disaster occurs; raise the awareness of the importance of disaster prevention; and ensure preparation in partnership with local communities.
Adopting innovation and having the courage to change helps Zenkyoren to generate new solutions to contribute to a sustainable and smart society, and also build trust within the communities it serves.
Session speakers:
- Renzo Avesani, Chief Innovation Officer, Unipol Gruppo (Italy)
- Robert Otto, Member of the Executive Board, Achmea (Netherlands)
- Lars Hallqvist, Chairman of the Owners’ Consortium, Länsförsäkringar (Sweden)
- Hironori Ishitoya, Senior Managing Director, Zenkyoren (Japan)
- Ann Sommer, CEO, Länsförsäkringar Sak (Sweden) moderator
