Stronger than the Sum of its Parts
One aspect of technology that gets little attention. Technology can upgrade itself, and developers can combine different technologies for better results, that is why APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are so popular. API’s allow information interchange between applications, thus providing more robust databases and functionality.
Let’s explore how integrations make up for stronger claims management, policy management, and insurance management systems. The aim is to remove some of the users’ pain points by combining the efforts of different teams across insurance.
How does integration work?
Integrations happen through an API, an interface that ‘communicates’ between two applications.
API integration refers to how two or more applications can be connected via an interface. Thus, all the applications can “work together.” To allow applications to share information, developers build a custom integration. This communicates between applications to connect them together.
APIs enable the seamless operation and performance of applications and web systems. They can integrate any combination of on-premises applications, web applications, and web services.
A practical example of integration is the button to login with your azure account on a website. That is an integration with Microsoft. Being integrated lets both parties track the login information via a shared database.
What are integrations?
There are too many organizations that rely on multiple systems to manage claims, this includes legacy in-house systems, third-party systems, and complementary solutions. Organizations use their own management system from the Windows XP era or use Word, Excel, and third-party email apps. Trying to work between systems lends itself to a chaotic workflow.
Integrations are the antithesis of chaos. It’s about bringing ‘everything’ together. In the case of claims management, a possible integration manages claims if they appear. Other integrations are ancillary services, such as doctors for Workers’ Compensation claims. When a claim is filed, if it falls under the “Worker Compensation claim” category, it says that the said worker may need to seek medical attention. The Ancillary Service Portal for workers’ comp claims would allow the adjuster to refer the worker filing the claim to the doctor needed.
As the example shows, integrations save time by simplifying and centralizing efforts. They also allow everyone involved at different times to the same information, even as the claim changes status.
Benefits of Integrations
Integrations have the structural benefit of escalation. Escalation is the action of making your software bigger. By definition, your software has additional functionalities and features when you integrate. You are also making your database bigger, since they are shared with integrations. This means more leads, granular data on the people you share with, and so on.
Integrations also have the potential benefit of removing the employee burden of remembering all the insurance coverage they own and filing separate claims for each. It is a meaningful enhancement of the overall claims experience and ensures that employees use the benefits they pay for and own.
Integrations in claims management systems provide direct and centralized access to claims information. Data integration also allows for automating manual processes and workarounds to improve productivity.
Going further into detail, the benefits of integration are:
1. Accuracy
Having all the data in one system changes the way adjusters work dramatically. Pulling data from a unique source is much more convenient than from multiple systems. Following the entire claim lifecycle in a centralized system improves the data quality. This is because everyone pulls and adds from the same pool of information.
2. Efficiency and productivity
Navigating between two systems wastes time. Those moments going back and forth accumulate needlessly. Furthermore, multitasking between apps leads to increased errors, including misaligned data. But consider an integrated system. If an incident turns into a claim, everyone involved can check it or move further along. Everything is kept, including the original incident record.
3. Greater Visibility in data
Integration involves combining various databases to a centralized platform. This results in the ability to see historical data. You no longer have to “do the math.” Patterns, historical cycles, and bottlenecks are easily recognized a dashboard of stats.
4. Enhanced collaboration
Each team using its own system to manage data stifles collaboration and communication. Simply because different teams are using different tools, which creates noise. Integration allows everyone involved to see the process and what others are doing. Moreover, it intervenes by talking about “what could be done to improve.”
5. Actionable Insights
As we’ve discussed, combined data is processed to identify patterns. This way, management can see where there’s room for improvement. How? By generating actionable insights. These are conclusions on what to do better, the role of each department, and how teams can improve. This is the result of integrating databases.
How about a claims management solution that takes advantage of integrations?
Terra is a claims management system. It’s also a benchmarking platform for insurance claims, and a referral hub for health services vendors. The referral hub is called Ancillary Services Marketplace. Here, Brokers and adjusters refer doctors and clinics for workers’ compensation claims.
Single Sign-On is also integrated into Terra. By using Single Sign-on, Terra accepts Azure and Microsoft Logins.
Compliance is another massive integration on Terra. With SmartCompliance, Terra can check compliance status with various smart filters. It can also categorize compliance by project, company, and many other categories.
Terra also features Automated workflows, claims tracking, journals, and a centralized cloud-native database. Terra’s principles are enhanced productivity, practicality for everyone, and smart design.
Get a hold of our team and see Terra for yourself.
