March 30, 2022

David Kwon: A decade of societal change

45 minutes

On this episode, Sabine VdL interviews IBM’s David Kwon about how insurance companies have had to navigate a decade of societal change. From the financial crisis and the rise of digital technology to changing consumer expectations, insurers face challenges that are fundamentally altering the very core of our industry.

Does the question remain whether property and casualty insurers will be able to keep pace with societal changes over time? Are they focusing on the right priorities? And what about life insurance – is BigTech making any headway here to challenge established practices?

In this episode, they discuss these trends and examine how insurers can best position themselves for success during this period of rapid transformation.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

To remain relevant, insurers must find ways to embrace change while ensuring profitability amid blurred competitive boundaries. While some insurers have embraced the new environment with open arms, others seem reluctant to adapt or even acknowledge potential growth opportunities.

Mass-personalisation is the goal of every large insurer, not just for consumer products, but also for insurers targeting B2B customers as well. The technology has evolved to a point where videos on a website can be personalized to each person, not just seeing your name on a website, but addressing you by your first name, referencing your family, etc.

There are many new risk pools, including self-driving cars. There are six levels of autonomy here, ranging from cruise control to full autonomy. Up to level 4, the liability is still with the driver, but as AI takes on a bigger role in driving, insurance writers now have to start thinking of AI as a risk, just like the driver. At level 5, where there’s no steering wheel, it becomes a product liability issue, and the responsibility shifts from the driver to the manufacturer, which is a completely different business. It also impacts home and auto bundling. The overall auto market will start to shrink as more people buy autonomous cars.

For insurers, this is an interesting time; we’re beginning to see new risks emerging as the foundations of risk are getting more attention than before. There are 3 big disruptive technologies: IoT, AI, and hybrid cloud.

BEST MOMENTS

‘Covid has exposed the vulnerability of the interconnected world, the western world was hit first and suffered faster before it spread to third world countries.’

‘Science and technology are key to solving the toughest challenges in our society.’

‘The days of easily targeting users by buying third-party data are passing us quickly. Insurers must now focus on first-party data by engaging directly with the prospects and policyholders and getting the data themselves through deeper engagement and better experience.’

‘Covid accelerated e-commerce by about 2 years. All businesses, even small ones, are relying on technology more than ever before.’

ABOUT THE GUEST

David Kwon is a sought-after Digital Reinvention Executive for IBM’s largest US and international insurance and banking clients. David is an associate partner within IBM Business Transformation Services and a member of the IBM Industry Academy.

David has delivered over 60 strategy and transformation projects as an engagement leader and in executive strategic roles, ranging from digital strategy, customer experience, and business case for change.

ABOUT THE HOST

Sabine VanderLinden is a corporate strategist turned entrepreneur and the CEO of Alchemy Crew Ventures. She leads venture-client labs that help Fortune 500 companies adopt and scale cutting-edge technologies from global tech ventures. A builder of accelerators, investor, and co-editor of the bestseller The INSURTECH Book, Sabine is known for asking the uncomfortable questions—about AI governance, risk, and trust. On Scouting for Growth, she decodes how real growth happens—where capital, collaboration, and courage meet.

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By Sabine VanderLinden

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