Roundtable Topics

Topic 1:  Venture Capital in InsurTech

InsurTech startups may be seen as rivals and disruptors, but the venture investment funds of prominent traditional insurers such as Aviva, Allianz, Ping An, and AXA have been making significant investments in startups. We have seen a boom in the number of InsurTech deals over the years - $800m in 2014 to more than $2.6bn in 2015.

Topic 2: Blockchain meets Insurance

As intermediaries, there is a huge potential for distributed ledger to disrupt the insurance space. Blockchain technology could significantly support the digital transformation as there is an increase reliance on data. In addition, from streamlined KYC to fraud prevention, blockchain’s transparency could be a huge boon for the insurance industry. 

Topic 3: Corporate Innovation

The benefits of a startup are the ability to be nimble, willing to take risk and able to adapt to changes. As compared to startups, legacy insurers are not as adaptable due to certain reasons – regulatory & compliance issues, bureaucracy, and a corporate culture that is resistant to change.

Topic 4: Customer Engagement
 

The rising stars in InsurTech has seen the importance in User experience and User Interface. Hence, the developments and innovations that they have come up with are tailored to their targeted customers. Consumer engagement is very important in this age and era as millennials are requesting for better services. 

Topic 5: Regulatory Frameworks

Regulatory changes will continue to present significant challenges to insurers, as new or modifications made to regulations could affect the way insurers run their business. Also, some areas of regulations are still evolving and insurers are looking for possible ways to go about these rules.

 

Topic 6: IoT meets InsurTech

Over the years, telematics solution providers have been producing new applications to address the emerging needs of the automotive value chain. In fact, transportation and telematics have been among the longest-established areas of the Internet of Things (IoT) market.

However with the rise of self-driving cars, what happens if the at fault vehicle was being operated by a computer? 

Topic 7: Telematics and AutoTech meets InsurTech 

Using advanced software and data analytics, InsurTech companies are revolutionizing the insurance space by improving efficiency. Such small steps forward, would they translate to significant strides for the future? Or would the InsurTech momentum not take flight?

Topic 8: Insurance Companies meets InsurTech Startups 

With the rise of a new wave of disruption within the insurance space in the form of InsurTech startups, the question to ask is, how should traditional insurers view these startups? Are they friends, or foes?

Topic 9: HealthTech meets InsurTech 

With the likes of Apple smartwatches, Fitbit fitness wearables, and google glasses, wearable technology helps both the user and insurers understand their physical and mental well-being better. Over the years, wearables have increasingly impacted the way insurance companies interact with their customers. Through the application of smart sensors, devices, and wearables, InsurTech startups have been looking actively to use telematics and data analytics to change the way insurance premium is calculated.

Topic 10: Sharing Economy related to InsurTech

Services such as Airbnb and Uber have redefined the sharing economy. However, such services are unlike rented apartments and have to be dealt with differently by insurers, as traditional insurers do not insure such “short-term” rental.