Looking Ahead in 2022

Leading the Way

Brenna Johnson, VP of Product Management

As we finish our first year as part of Team Applied, I am excited for the future. Together, no company is better positioned to change this industry for the better. We approach every challenge with this same, simple idea – how can we add competitive value to your agency and help you achieve better results?

Unlike some management systems that function as an electronic filing cabinet for what has already happened in your agency, EZLynx anticipates and suggests what to do next, and will even automate these steps for you. Why? We want to free you to build better relationships with your customers and win more business. We believe this is the path to success. Big things happen at the intersection of opportunity and innovation, and we’re excited for the opportunity to lead the industry forward.

Looking Back

Before I share what’s on the horizon, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on my personal favorite product enhancement from 2021.

The Automatic Change Request Confirmation feature automates the endorsement review process. In real-time, EZLynx automatically reviews incoming endorsements from the carrier to verify they are accurate based on the changes requested by the agency. If everything matches, the system automatically confirms the endorsement and closes it out without the need for human intervention.

  • We’ve had reports that this feature decreases endorsement processing times by 45%!
  • Automating this process represents significant time savings to agencies, because they are not paying employees to do work that their management system should do for them.

Looking Ahead

In 2022, our commitment to investment continues. EZLynx has a deep-rooted passion for helping independent insurance agents thrive through innovation. We take it very seriously that you rely on us for the tools to strengthen client relationships, add competitive value to your agency, and achieve better results. Here’s a quick look ahead:


Automation

Agency automation truly is a game-changer and the key to scaling your business. When you rely on software to automate and perform common workflows, you get more done in less time. By automating key aspects of client engagement, you multiply the impact of your staff. With the time you save, you also free up your entire agency to better focus on clients and win more business.

We will continue to expand the role EZLynx Automation Center can play in your agency, with new workflows and additional best practice templates to help you automate your sales, service, and retention. If you have not already implemented this powerful tool, please let me encourage you to make this the year that you do.

Customer Self-Service

Insurance customers—like any other digital consumers—have fully embraced the use of online customer self-service. Every day the lines between traditional and digital business become more blurred. Technology enhances the customer experience, and customer portals provide yet another avenue for agencies to build relationships and act as trusted advisors for their insureds.

If your clients cannot already access policies, generate certificates, submit change requests, view ID Cards, follow claims, share documents, make payments and more from anywhere, anytime and on any device, you are not delivering the digital experience today’s insurance shoppers expect. EZLynx Client Center is the answer.

We will continue to grow this digital extension of your agency, expanding the commercial self-service capabilities and forging a deeper integration with payments. We’ve had great success in reducing the time spent collecting agency bill receivables this year (up to 60% reduction for some agencies!) and will improve on that in the coming year. Strategically shifting the client portal to help agencies intelligently cross-sell was successful, so we are excited to build on that by introducing a client-facing referral and review program for satisfied customers. If you are not familiar with everything EZLynx Client Center has to offer, you really do owe it to your agency to take a closer look.

Focus on Growth

We believe agencies should be able to integrate trusted, best-in-class technology solutions with their agency management system, without having to write the code themselves to do it. The EZLynx Connect Marketplace provides development-free connectivity to third-party vendor solutions, advancing your agency immediately in targeted ways – like choosing from a curated selection of vendors to help add value to every quote. We have focused on adding availability across key areas of the platform and will continue to add new vendors this year.

EZLynx is known for creativity and a devotion to solve problems differently. As I mentioned earlier, we’re also passionate about helping our customers grow and thrive. You’ve reached out to let us know that your agencies have trouble monitoring performance metrics and staying on track for annual goals. Be on the lookout later this year for some exciting enhancements to help you do just that.


The Future of EZLynx

I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. The technology landscape and consumer expectations are changing rapidly, and you can count on EZLynx to stay ahead of that change. Thank you for placing your trust in us, thank you for joining us on this exciting, wonderful journey, and thank you for choosing EZLynx as your technology partner. The best is yet to come!


What’s New in EZLynx 21.2

The EZLynx September 2021 release is now available! Here are some of the highlights:

And be sure to take a closer look at several features in this month’s episode of EZLynx LIVE.

 

Additional Access to Your EZLynx Connect Integrations

With this release, we’ve added the ability for you to access cross-selling EZLynx Connect integrations directly from the Applicant screen. Along the left side of the page, there is a new button called “View Integrations”. This button allows you to cross-sell things like Flood Insurance and ADT Home Alarm Systems anytime–not just when you have them on the line for a Home or Auto quote.

Previously, you needed to access these cross-selling opportunities from the Quote Results page.

Automation Center Adds Document Generation

With this latest enhancement to EZLynx Automation Center, your agency can now automate the generation of important client documents. Examples include proof of insurance, questionnaires, and best practice lists to share with clients.

These two new workflow triggers are called:

  • Generate Agency Documents
  • Generate Client Documents

For both workflows, users can search and select from a list of ACORD forms and a list of Agency Forms. Agency Documents are stored to the Applicant record. Client Documents are likewise stored to the Applicant record, but they are also automatically sent to the insured via EZLynx Client Center.

Example Use Case: When a new Commercial Trucking policy goes into effect, a “Best Practices” document, including driver hiring and onboarding tips, is automatically shared with the insured through your Client Center portal.

Automated document generation not only saves your agency time and money, but it also works to keep your clients more timely informed.

Chat Support Now Available Through the Help Widget

The Help Widget is the in-product tool that lets you access product Help and Information without ever leaving EZLynx. Just look for the “Question Mark” icon in the top-right of the application.

In addition to 500+ articles, the Help Widget now offers live chat with the EZLynx Support Team. This feature is designed to help you get answers to your questions without slowing down your daily workflow, and it can often mean resolving your situation without having to create a ticket.

Client Center Now Supports Commercial Driver Schedule Changes

EZLynx Client Center provides insureds with an easy, online way to submit policy change requests any time of day or night. With this release, we’ve added the ability to request driver schedule changes for commercial auto policies.

Specific actions include:

  • Add Drivers
  • Edit Drivers
  • Delete Drivers
  • Make a General Request

Your clients will appreciate this new, convenient way to manage their commercial driver details.

Authenticator App Support for MFA

We have added third-party authentication support to the list of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) options. Now you have even greater flexibility when deciding which MFA method works best for you and your agency.

You will need to ensure that you have installed an authenticator application on your mobile device. Our top recommended authenticators are:

  • Microsoft Authenticator
  • Google Authenticator
  • Authy
  • Okta

Retention Center – Change Reasons for Nine Additional LOBs

A key feature of EZLynx Retention Center is the way it summarizes premium-bearing changes between the insured’s current policy and the carrier’s renewal offer. These Change Reasons save hours of time previously spent by agency staff manually comparing dec pages.

In the July release, we added Change Reasons for six new LOBs. Now, we’ve added nine more:

  • General Liability
  • Commercial Property
  • Workers Compensation
  • Business Owner’s Liability
  • Commercial Property
  • Business Owner’s Property
  • Flood
  • Mobile Home
  • Earthquake

EZLynx Agency Workspace

You can now interact with the Agency Workspace and the rest of the EZLynx application simultaneously. This means Agency Workspace will maintain its state while you work within other EZLynx pages. This enhancement is great for when you’re working in Agency Workspace, get interrupted, and want to be able to leave it open to come back and finish later.

We’ve also added a new Reload icon. You no longer need to close/reopen the Agency Workspace or do a full-page browser refresh to reload the Agency Workspace.

Improved Application and Policy Entry Workflows

Professional Liability policy entry screens have been updated to provide a more logical flow when entering data and navigating between the different tabs.

  • Within the Underwriting tab, we’ve made it simpler to find the relevant underwriting section. Just click on the expander to view the questions/information for that section.
  • The Policy Contacts – Policy Contacts section has been moved to the Additional Interest/Policy Contacts tab.

Underwriting Messaging Enhancements

EZLynx Underwriting Messaging allows member agencies to submit quotes to the Market Access Provider (MAP) for review, and the MAP Underwriter in turn binds the policy with the carrier. This release includes enhancements to streamline that MAP Underwriter review.

We’ve added multi-select filters for State, LOB and Carrier. These new multi-select filters make it easier for both member agencies and the MAP Underwriter to find specific requests for review and next actions.

Additionally, the default view has been updated to help users sort, prioritize and filter the order of requests by Type and/or Status. By default, this view will not display closed/completed/cancelled requests, so you can focus on the requests that matter most at the time.

Zapier Integration Enhancements

Zapier enables connections to thousands of apps and programs, so you can share EZLynx data with the other software you use. With this release, we’ve made the following updates to the EZLynx Zapier app, available in the Zapier marketplace:

  • Notes – Outbound Trigger When Note Is Created
  • Notes – Inbound Action to Create Note
  • Commercial Applicant Search – Inbound Action
  • Personal Applicant Search – Inbound Action
  • Applicant (Commercial) Update – Inbound Action
  • Applicant (Personal) Update – Inbound Action

 

For more information on any of these exciting new features, please visit the EZLynx Solution Center.


What’s New in EZLynx 21.1

The EZLynx July 2021 release is now available! Here are some of the highlights:

Automatic Change Request Confirmation

Automatic Change Request Confirmation automatically compares downloaded policy changes against the change requests, as entered, to confirm their accuracy. If everything matches, it automatically confirms the change request for you and closes it out.

If the system detects discrepancies between the policy change processed by the carrier and the original request, the feature automatically generates a task in EZLynx, alerting you that the policy needs a closer review.

Either way, your staff spends less time reviewing and completing endorsement requests!

Automatic Change Request Confirmation is priceless for commercial policies, where even the tiniest mistake can be costly. It also holds particular value for fast-growing agencies looking to scale their operation accordingly.

Payment Requests Added to Clearent Payment Processing

Our partnership with Clearent makes secure online payment processing available in EZLynx Client Center. With this release, we’ve added the ability for agents to generate Payment Requests.

This new feature provides a simple way for agents to request electronic payments from their clients. You have the option to text or email the payment request, along with a link to make the payment.

As electronic payments continue to rise in popularity, solutions like this one become an essential component of your agency’s offerings. Online payment by credit card or eCheck eliminates the need for clients to visit your office or provide their credit card information over the phone. Electronic payment is also a safer, more efficient alternative to paper checks.

Need to sign up for Clearent online payment processing? Customers can click here to get started from the EZLynx Connect Marketplace.

Automation Center Workflow Templates

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, I know EZLynx Automation Center would be a game-changer for my agency, but I just don’t know where to begin, then this latest enhancement is for you!

We’ve created eight recommended workflow templates to help your agency realize the benefits of Automation Center immediately.

These templates were built with the most common agency use cases in mind. They come loaded with predefined filters, checklists, and appropriate actions—so you can easily enable your first workflows with just a few clicks.

These eight recommended workflow templates are:

  • Welcome Your New Customers
  • Organize Personal Account Information
  • Organize Commercial Account Information
  • Send Customer Birthday Wishes
  • Share Declaration Pages Online
  • Proactively Review Notice of Cancellation
  • Review Lost Policies
  • Additional Policy

Vonage Integration Adds Call Recording

We’ve added Call Recording to the Vonage integration with EZLynx Management System. Once recorded, calls are automatically archived to the proper customer account and can be accessed from three locations in EZLynx:

  • Applicant → Activity Tab
  • Applicant → Documents Tab
  • Communication Center → Calls and Messages

You can set up rules to automatically record calls, or record calls on demand. Some of the benefits of this exciting new feature include reducing E&O exposure, documenting compliance, maintaining audit readiness, and staff training.

Contact your Vonage sales representative to add Call Recording to your subscription. If you are not yet a Vonage customer, click here to get started.

EZLynx Rating – Vehicle Premium Breakdown

When quoting Auto, you now have the option to view a Coverage and Premium Breakdown for each vehicle. This new feature can be used to drive more informed discussions with clients about their coverage limit options and how each contributes to the overall premium. Find this additional information by clicking VIEW DETAILS in your carrier quote results.

 

Also with this release, EZLynx now displays the applied coverage limits during the quoting process for the individual carrier. Previously, users had to go to the carrier (or check Quote proposal for the individual carrier, if returned) to identify this information.

Retention Center – Change Reasons for Six Additional LOBs

A key feature of EZLynx Retention Center is the way it summarizes premium-bearing changes between the insured’s current policy and the carrier’s renewal offer. These Change Reasons save hours of time previously spent by agency staff manually comparing dec pages.

We’ve now added these Change Reasons for six new LOBs:

  • Commercial Auto
  • Dwelling Fire
  • Personal Inland Marine
  • Boat
  • Motorcycle
  • Recreational Vehicle

 

For more information on any of these exciting new features, please visit the EZLynx Solution Center.


EZLynx Partners with FIRST Insurance Funding to Provide Premium Financing Solution within the Agency Management System

Premium Financing Now Integrated within EZLynx’s Commercial Submission Process

EZLynx, a leading software solution for independent insurance agencies and an Applied company, is proud to announce that it has partnered with FIRST Insurance Funding to provide a streamlined premium financing solution within EZLynx Management System.

“We’re excited to partner with EZLynx to offer agencies a seamless, secure and simple premium finance solution,” said FIRST Insurance Funding Regional President Justin Berry. “The combination of efficient technology utilization for agents and cash flow options for insureds is key in our ever-changing environment.”

FIRST Insurance Funding is the largest premium finance company in North America, with more than 35 years of experience. In that time, they have earned a reputation for superior service, innovation and flexibility.

Covering the costs of large up-front insurance premiums can be a challenge—one that impacts both agent and insureds. This announcement represents a key competitive advantage for EZLynx customers in the growing commercial insurance marketspace. Because this solution is available directly within the agency management system, agents can provide immediate premium financing options to their customers. Premium financing creates flexibility and improves cash flow for insureds, which can often be the determining factor to winning the business.

Available through EZLynx Submission Center, this integration will:

  • Retrieve a financing quote in real time
  • Write the financing option into the agent’s proposal
  • Create a Premium Finance Agreement (PFA), ready for signature

FIRST Insurance Funding is the latest addition to the EZLynx Connect platform. EZLynx Connect provides agencies with access to a powerful marketplace of industry-leading integrations and cross-selling opportunities.

“Agents love that premium financing is now integrated within their management system,” said EZLynx Product Manager Michael Rabinowitz. “They experience premium financing options for

their clients as a natural part the submission process, without ever having to exit or switch between software.”

For more information about this integration please visit: https://www.ezlynx.com/vendors/first-insurance-funding.html


Join the Official EZLynx Facebook Group

We have launched an EZLynx Official Group on Facebook and we would like you to check it out. Within the group, we hope that agents currently using EZLynx join and discuss products, solutions, and help give feedback. Members of the EZLynx Support department will be on standby to respond to questions and to provide excellent customer service.
 
At EZLynx, we strive to seek the understanding of individual agent’s day-to-day needs in order to best create products and solutions to best serve them. Unlike other user groups on Facebook or LinkedIn, our EZLynx Official Group will include feedback directly from EZLynx staff members. We want to hear what you have to say! We encourage an open discussion and dialogue in a friendly environment geared toward helping everyone involved.
 
Won’t you check it out?

Summer Marketing Tips for Independent Insurance Agents

It’s officially Summer, and EZLynx has some handy marketing tips for independent insurance agents to help heat up your sales.

If you don’t have time to create an in-depth marketing campaign, we’ve got you covered. Taking small strides and focusing on your community and customers can go a long way. You can learn what works best with your agency the more you try, and that will, in turn, help you develop a more well-rounded strategy for the future.

Need some tips for Summer marketing? Here are some strategies to try this year.

Treat your customers.

Customers love being appreciated! Host an ice cream social or fun-flavored event in your office. Invite customers to come in for an ice cream and to review their policies or to update personal information. Beat the heat while also having fun.

Social media giveaway.

Partner with a movie theater or local eatery to award a winning customer “a night out” for participating in a social media giveaway. Everyone loves a social media giveaway and getting things for free. Make this Summer extra memorable for your clientele.

Sponsor local events.

Whether it’s an apartment complex’s pool party, a concert, or a school or University related function, put your name and company branding out there. Create a unique flyer and other marketing materials to help promote the event you’re sponsoring to ensure it’s a hit.

Have fun with holidays.

Summer brings in plenty of holidays, so have fun with them. You can do anything from hosting a hot-dog eating contest to sponsoring a fireworks show. Get creative with the holidays. One of the easiest places to start is mentioning the changing weather. This is a sure-fire way to connect with your customers, readers, and followers.

Give back to the community.

Work with your local Habitat for Humanity chapter or other give back organizations. This will not only help get your name out there, but your team will also be helping those in the community who need it most. That is a win/win. Everyone benefits from helping those in the community.

If you’ve tried something different or have a success story to share, please let us know in the comments. In the meantime, if you’re looking for industry-leading insurance agency software, look no further than EZLynx – your one-stop-shop for all things for independent insurance agents.


Are You Ready for AgentLynx?

 

Have you ever wanted to connect with the people who are leading the industry in insurance technology? Later this fall you will have the opportunity to do just that! You will be able to meet and hear from the people behind the products at EZLynx during the Agent Lynx user conference. This is not a sales meeting! AgentLynx is a chance for EZLynx to help our users be more successful, showcase our current and future products, and to connect with our users on a deeper level.

Conference attendees will have the option of attending up to 18 different sessions that will take place over the span of three days in Dallas, Texas. In addition to the various sessions, there will be a special Keynote speaker, networking opportunities, entertainment, and innovative swag to help you navigate the entire weekend.

AgentLynx is the first annual user conference hosted by EZLynx and will take place in Dallas, Texas. The conference is three days only: Monday, October 10 – Wednesday, October 12. This conference will host a myriad of different sessions in various subjects from Policy Management to SEO and Digital Marketing Tips to Renewal Management.

Attendees will benefit from an increased knowledge on the digital side of their agency, they’ll be able to walk away with insights on how to better manage renewals, and will be able to identify opportunity within their agency workflow. EZLynx welcomes both agents and carriers to this user conference.

AgentLynx will take place from Monday, October 10 – Wednesday, October 12 at the Omni Mandalay Hotel located at 221 E. Las Colinas Blvd., in Irving, Texas. This location is only 10 miles away from Downtown Dallas. You can register as an agent or carrier online now at http://agentlynx.ezlynx.com/.


How EZLynx Agency Management System Can Boost Your Customer Service

ezlynx_blog1

Customer service is top priority in the independent insurance industry. Giving your clients and potential customers the attention they need and deserve is how you separate yourself from the competitors. A happy customer is more likely to refer your business to their friends, so why hinder organic business opportunities?

How are you streamlining all of your client information, policies, documents, quotes, and so on in one location? The more clients you bring on, the more data you have to store. Stop storing things in different places! With EZLynx Agency Management System you can cut your data entry time in half while accessing all of your client information, policies, and documents in one easy location.

Within EZLynx Agency Management System you can boost your customer service efforts by working within one space. Whereas you may have previously had to look at multiple calendars before, or rifle through multiple pages of policies each time a customer calls, now you have all of this information – and more – available at your fingertips.

What can you do within EZLynx Agency Management System?

  • Accounting – track payments, split commission tracking, commission downloads, and more.
  • Accessibility – we organize your documents in a user-friendly, searchable manner.
  • Easy Renewals – with our Policy Sync feature, you can get side-by-side comparisons of application and policy information.
  • Online Document Signing – you read it right, its 2016 and you can sign online. Quickly & safely sign documents and send to clients for signature.

More than what is listed above, we are constantly adding new features to our Agency Management System. We want to help your agency work smarter, not harder.

Not happy with your current Agency Management System? Don’t sweat, give EZLynx a call. All of the data that is currently in whatever Agency Management System you’re already using can be transferred to our system. We can help you streamline your entire agency, making your life multiple pages and hours of data entry less complicated.

 


EZLynx Marketing Campaign Tips for Insurance Agents

ezlynx_email_marketing

Email continues to play an integral role in online marketing for many different businesses, especially independent insurance agents. Through effective email practices, you can send a customized message directly to your target audience with the click of a button.

Taking things a step further with EZLynx Marketing Campaigns, we allow agents the option to select their audience and customize their message. You can search through a library of unique content and design templates to best suite your message and target base.

Know Your Audience

However you want to reach your clients, you should know your audience before you begin planning your campaign. Who do you want to reach? Whether it be customers enrolled in a certain policy, or narrowing down a community-specific message, knowing who you want to reach is crucial.

With EZLynx Marketing Campaigns, you can communicate with all of your clients in one place, and see your results as well. The recently enhanced interface allows a user-friendly and productive experience.

Personalize Your Message

A nice way to remind your customers that you appreciate them is to send them an email on their birthday. With EZLynx Marketing Campaigns you can import your clients and their birthdays, and send a mass but customized email each month for respective customers birthdays. You can also choose between a myriad of templates and messages, or create your own custom message.

Adding a personal touch reminds customers that you appreciate not only their business but them, as well. Who doesn’t like to be reminded that they are appreciated?

Build a Relationship

Your customers come to you for their insurance needs because they like and trust you. People can go literally anywhere for insurance coverage, which is why it is important to build relationships with your customers. Staying in contact with clients, more than just letting them know their policy is about to expire, is crucial for client retention and long-term relationships.

Insurance is a people business, and getting to know the people who keep you in business is a great way to ensure a long lasting business.


Insurance Tech Trends for 2016

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As the page turns in our calendars from 2015 to 2016, we want to recap some Insurance Tech Trends to look for in the year ahead of us. Technology is on the forefront of all things insurance, on both a consumer and agent level. Ensuring you are reaching your customers in the most effective way while keeping their information secure are two key business objectives to keep in mind when forecasting your business for the year to come. EZLynx has compiled a list of Insurance Tech Trends to watch for in 2016.


Local Optimization

With only 15% of Americans not using the internet, the odds are in your favor to make sure your agency is easily found online. Local optimization helps agents reach customers in their area. Google is (continuously) the most popular online search engine and it pulls in search results from locally optimized websites first. With your EZLynx Gold Agency Website package, we provide locally optimized content that is more likely to be found on Google when searching locally. In addition to locally optimizing you website, it is also important to focus on a local reach when writing blog articles.

Email Campaigns

How you reach your client base is important. Nowadays it seems like everyone has a smartphone attached to their hand, which means they are likely receiving texts and emails pretty regularly. With EZLynx Marketing Campaigns, you can reach your customers the way they prefer to be reached: by email or text. This not only builds customer loyalty, but helps improve retention while driving sales. You can reach your entire customer base with one personalized email, or narrow down your search to customers with a birthday in a certain month, customers in a certain area, or by which line of business the customer has purchased with your agency.

PPC Marketing

In certain lines of business, PPC Marketing can be a very effective tool. When you search Google for a local coffee joint, you’ll see advertisements to the right of the search results. These are PPC Ads. The client pays a fee each time someone clicks their ad, thus buying visits to your website versus receiving visits organically. In in the insurance industry, these advertisements might be costly but prove to be very effective in driving traffic to your website.

Accurate Analytics

Wouldn’t it be nice to see all of the important metrics of your business in one organized snapshot? With EZLynx Agency Pulse, you can do just that! The comprehensive report is part of our Management System and includes key metrics such as total annual premium, policy count, new business, agency retention, and carrier retention. The report identifies and tracks changes in your business so you don’t have to rummage through multiple reports and emails. The report generates weekly (is that correct) and is sent straight to your inbox.

Drones

Yes, drones. Drones may be an important tool in your toolbox. In April 2015, a Pennsylvania insurance company was the first to receive approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to test drones for claims use. By September 2015 the drone inspected a roof of a house that had filed a claim. With the maturation of imaging technology, the company owner confirms that the effort is worth the risk. If your agency is in the business of covering large amounts of land, homes, or other outdoor properties, a drone (and a drone pilot) may be a wise investment in your future.

Cybersecurity

Insurers around the United States are raising concern to tighten their company’s cybersecurity. At EZLynx, we take data security seriously. With the major breaches last year from Premera and Anthem, there is no doubt that there will be more announced this year. Finding the right level of security is pertinent to your future success. Investing your time and business with any EZLynx product guarantees you a certain level of security, one that is protected by remote servers in dedicated production environments.