Insurance companies today thrive on service quality and customer satisfaction. A critical component in achieving this is the modernization of their core systems. A successful transformation starts by aligning the carrier’s strategic mission and key performance indicators (KPIs) with the goals of the new systems. This alignment will not only guide technology partner selection but also ensure that the platform chosen – such as Guidewire’s InsuranceNow – is the right fit for the carrier’s future growth. 

In this post, we will outline best practices that guide a smooth, efficient, high-quality InsuranceNow implementation that supports the insurance carrier’s business goals.

Why Planning and Aligning Strategic Goals is Critical for PAS Implementation

After selecting Guidewire’s InsuranceNow platform as the cornerstone of their system modernization, carriers must begin detailed implementation planning. InsuranceNow’s powerful, all-in-one solution spans the entire insurance lifecycle, offering features across multiple areas of the business. The key to success is understanding which features should be prioritized and when, aligning with the carrier’s goals. For instance, is a faster time-to-market critical, or does the carrier need to roll out multiple products for their agency network simultaneously? Establishing clear short- and long-term goals from the outset ensures that the implementation progresses smoothly and meets business objectives.

Best Practices for a Successful Guidewire InsuranceNow Implementation

To ensure your Guidewire InsuranceNow implementation stays on track and meets both business and technical goals, here are best practices to follow: 

• Clarify Business Objectives: Establish clear goals for the project – whether it’s fast time-to-market, enhancing customer service, or expanding product offerings.
• Engage Stakeholders Early:  Involve key stakeholders from all departments early in the process to gather feedback and align expectations.
• Optimize Business Processes: Identify areas for improvement in your existing workflows and tailor the new system to enhance efficiency. 
• Choose the Right Implementation Approach: Decide whether to implement all features, lines of business, and states at once or phase them in according to business priority.
• Build a Robust Implementation Team: Ensure you have the right mix of decision-makers, subject matter experts, and technical resources to support the project and clearly define roles and responsibilities.
• Data Cleanliness is Key: Prioritize data quality before migrating Legacy data to avoid issues during migration. 
• Plan for Comprehensive Testing: Set realistic deadlines and dedicate ample time for testing - early and thorough testing is essential to avoid complications later in the project. 
• Vendor Integration Strategy: Collaborate early with your vendor partners to ensure smooth integrations and data exchange. 
• User Training and Support: Develop a detailed training plan for all users to ensure smooth adoption, including a marketing strategy for your policyholder service portal if applicable.
• Change Management: Prepare for the inevitable changes that will come throughout the implementation process and have a change management plan in place. 
• Embrace Continuous Improvement:  The journey doesn’t end with the initial go-live; continuous improvements and updates are essential for long-term success.

Let Ogon’s InsuranceNow Expertise Guide Your Successful Implementation

Ogon Consulting is uniquely positioned to guide your organization through a successful InsuranceNow implementation. As the only consultancy focused exclusively on InsuranceNow, we bring unmatched expertise to every phase of your journey, ensuring that the platform is optimized to meet your specific business needs.

• Tailored Strategy: Our leadership team collaborates with you from strategic planning through continuous improvement cycles, ensuring your goals are achieved every step of the way.
• Expert Business Process Reviews: Ogon’s business analysts are experts in P&C insurance and InsuranceNow, helping you optimize workflows and align system capabilities with business objectives.
• Project Management Excellence: Our project managers align with your governance structure and ensure your implementation stays on track, collaborating with all stakeholders to deliver on time and within budget.

• High-Quality Configuration: Our solution architects bring deep technical knowledge, ensuring your system is configured to perform optimally. Their experience implementing vendor integrations with InsuranceNow ensures secure connectivity and efficient mapping for data exchange.
• Quality Assurance Support: Our experienced quality assurance analysts support your test team with writing and executing effective test cases for QA and regression testing and guide your UAT testers through their testing cycles.

• Proven Tools for Success: Ogon’s proprietary tools – such as SPITFIRE for data migration and FORTRESS for test automation – accelerate your time-to-market, ensure data quality, and improve testing efficiency and effectiveness. 

Why Choose Ogon as Your InsuranceNow Implementation Partner?

Choosing the right implementation partner for your InsuranceNow implementation is a crucial step toward achieving long-term success in your system modernization efforts. Ogon Consulting offers the expertise, tools, and commitment to ensure your project meets its objectives on time and within budget. 

We tailor our services to your needs and may serve leading and supporting roles. Whether you are new to InsuranceNow starting at the beginning of your journey or moving forward along the continuous improvement path adding new lines of business, new states or implementing additional features, Ogon’s team ensures a smooth ride to your destination.

Ogon is by your side throughout the full and continuous journey of implementing, updating, and maximizing the benefits of your InsuranceNow platform! Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help you optimize your InsuranceNow implementation for maximum benefit.