Al Maamari:  The Experience Contributed to the readiness of the companies  as step toward e-insurance

The report prepared by the Capital Market Authority(CMA) on the performance of the insurance companies in rendering the service during the outbreak of Coronavirus and the measures taken to curb the epidemic  shows that the number of insurance policies issued electronically exceeded 130,000 policies sold via various electronic windows and channels which proved the sector was able to render  non-stop  service to the public to meet their need for insurance coverage in the light of the precautionary measures announced by the Supreme Committee tasked with dealing the epidemic (COVID-19) including  suspension of conventional methods and closure of customers’ counters. 

Ahmed Ali Al Maamari, Vice President for Insurance Sector expressed his appreciation for such quick response by insurance companies and adapting with the precautionary measures to encounter the abnormal circumstances to ensure continuity of the insurance coverage to cover all types of risks. 

Al Maamari pointed out to the importance of evaluating the experience to know the facts as such experience has proved the readiness of the insurance companies to face such sudden transformation in suspending the conventional transactions and the move toward electronic transactions. He added that CMA attached great importance to such aspect early and endeavored to create competitive market and improve the quality of the services rendered to the public He said, in 2016 CMA issued detailed guidance manual urging the insurance companies to improve the quality of insurance services to cope with the modern technology and employ technology revolution in speeding up the processes and easing provision of the service to the public focusing on onsite surveillance to monitor compliance with the manual.

Al Maamari emphasized that the data and indicators  from remote dealing in rendering the service will institute a  new era in the development of the Omani insurance market in line with the global practices  in employing modern technology to render the service to the public and certain companies have made strides in this respect and others need to focus on enhancing their infrastructures and develop their systems, rethink their strategies and policies according to the requirements of the new phase pointing out to an important issue and the role played by the Omani youth to make use of such transformation whether through  investment opportunities  or employment opportunities available for the national cadres in the insurance sector which is actually apparent through entry of new investments. 

It is noteworthy  that  distribution of selling insurance policies electronically  on the windows created during the outbreak indicates that most insurance policies were issued through the  call centers at 61.9%,  through the websites of the companies at 12.9%. and 1.56 for electronic applications provided by five companies and 23.5% were from various electronic windows.

CMA had earlier issued a circular instructing insurance companies and brokers to take precautionary measures within  the national efforts issued by the Supreme Committee tasked with dealing with the Coronavirus (COVID -19) to curb the outbreak focusing on activating e-services without the need for conventional means and direct face to face transactions or physical presence  to the premises of the insurance companies or use of paper. CMA instructed closure of all customer counters and suspension o fall manual services in the premises of the companies and only render electronic services including registration of  claims as well as providing call centers working 24/7 to render the underwriting , claims and support services and to respond to any queries.  CMA also called on the insurance companies, brokers and agents to conduct the business via modern media to render the service to policyholders and suspend conventional means.