We signed up to Ecologi to compensate for our carbon footprint and fund climate projects. So far, we’ve planted 1,000 trees with Ecologi.&nbsp;
That’s a lot in the face of this climate crisis, but we’re not going to stop there. We’re determined to keep the ball rolling and really make a difference!!
To find out more about ecologi, go to: <a href="https://ecologi.com/">https://ecologi.com/</a>

Woah, look how big our forest is

David Kelly appointed as strategic advisor to Percayso Inform
Percayso Inform is pleased to announce that David Kelly has joined its board of directors in an advisory role to support the business as it takes its next steps forward in its growth.
David joins the business after spending 14 years at Open GI in senior sales, development and distribution positions culminating in being appointed Chief Sales Officer in 2017, a role he fulfilled for three years prior to his departure.
Percayso Inform Managing Director, Rich Tomlinson, says: “Despite launching our business in the midst of a global pandemic, 2020 was an incredibly busy and successful year – and all the signs are that 2021 is going to be even busier.&nbsp; As we gear up to take the business forward, it feels like the right time to bring in some additional expertise to help us maximise the opportunities that lie ahead. Dave is a well known and highly regarded figure within the industry from his time at Open GI and has a wealth of experience on all things commercial. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to welcome him to our team.”
In this newly created board position, David will provide advice on strategy, operations and commercial opportunities as well as helping the Percayso Inform team as they develop new products and services to help insurers, MGAs and brokers enhance how they use data in their day-to-day business activities.
“I’m hugely excited to be joining the Percayso Inform team at such a pivotal moment in the growth of the business,” adds David. “They have a great proposition and as the insurance market increasingly embraces the value that accurate and up-to-date data brings, there is significant potential for the business to become a major player. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in!”
Percayso Inform launched its next generation insurance intelligence platform at the beginning of 2020. Harnessing the very latest techniques in data science and machine learning, allied with new powerful datasets, Percayso Inform can deliver significant improvements in pricing, risk and fraud when compared to standard data enrichment techniques most commonly used by insurers and brokers.

Former Open GI Chief Sales Officer Joins Percayso Board

Percayso had a very busy 2020 and as we head into what promised to be an even busier 2021, we thought it would be good to reflect on our achievements and also thank all of our amazing people, clients and partners for helping to make this happen.
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li3">5 new starters</li>
<li class="li3">20 new investors</li>
<li class="li4">5 analytical&nbsp;projects undertaken</li>
<li class="li3">10 data and software platform&nbsp;integrations completed &nbsp;</li>
<li class="li3">8 commercial&nbsp;deals with partners agreed</li>
<li class="li3">4 insurers and brokers contracted</li>
<li class="li3">35 insurers and brokers in the pipeline</li>
<li class="li3">9 analytical&nbsp;projects in discussion</li>
<li class="li3">15 articles&nbsp;in the industry press</li>
<li class="li3">2 industry awards won</li>
</ul>

Percayso Inform - year in review

It’s great to see the PIL crew and, in some cases their four-legged friends, looking resplendent in the new Percayso Inform polo shirt.

Just a shirt note

The proposals from the FCA to end ‘opaque’ pricing techniques, particularly in the home and motor insurance markets, have been described by the regulator’s own interim CEO as a “radical shake-up”.
While the main talking point is the proposed ban on price walking, the FCA is also consulting on product governance rules intended to deliver fair value to all insurance customers. This means that it also brings into the ban any add-ons and premium finance, which could have a profound impact on the income earned by insurance brokers.
Reading the following lines from the FCA’s consultation report, it appears that the regulator plans to make brokers justify any mark up in commission from what they wholesale from a premium finance house to the final interest charged to the customer.
“….. where the firm proposes premium finance with a higher annual percentage rate (APR) than would be available elsewhere (for example, directly from the insurer, or from another finance provider), based on the remuneration the firm will receive, this may conflict with the firm’s obligations including the customers’ best interests rule.”
One premium finance provider has described the proposal as “earth shattering” and as some brokers have built this credit selling tool into their business models, it could have a devastating impact on their long-term profitability as a business. According to Consumer Intelligence data, some brokers charge anywhere between 13% and 20% compared to direct insurers, which typically charge between 8% and 13%.
This proposed move by the FCA isn’t necessarily specifically targeting brokers – it’s more about preventing any insurance firm compensating for losses on changes in dual pricing by maximising revenue at the back end through the likes of premium finance charges. The regulator said, in its consultation report:
“We will look closely at firms increasing the cost of premium finance to offset changes to the cost of the insurance product.
“Where the customer faces higher costs for the insurance product as a result of paying on credit, for example, due to a higher premium compared to the cost if paying without credit, the additional cost may constitute a credit charge and, if so, the APR must reflect these costs.
“If it does not, firms may be in breach of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and the associated regulations.”
&nbsp;Now of course this is still a proposal and there could be modifications once the consultation is complete and the FCA has more data. However, any reduction in the interest rates that brokers charge customers on premium finance could have serious repercussions. So how can they make up this potential shortfall in their finances?
I think the key is not to focus on the premium finance aspect itself, rather on getting pricing strategies and levels right from the offset – and the key to making accurate decisions about risk and pricing is to be able to get a true picture of the customer.
The best decisions are always based on the intelligent use of accurate and – most importantly – up-to-date consumer data. This requires accessing multiple industry and third party data points and combining those into a single customer view in addition to using new data sources such as open banking data which provide a clear view of shift’s in a customer’s lifestyle, spending patterns and financial status, and delivers a clear view of the risk they pose alongside their likely lifetime value.
This intelligence led approach enables brokers to offer each customer a premium that allows the business to make an appropriate margin, and reduce any dependency on inflating the interest rate on the premium finance to bolster the profit.
Given the FCA’s laser-like focus on delivering fair value to all customers, having a tight and well thought through data enrichment strategy can help ensure that brokers can demonstrate to the regulator that they understand their customers and are setting appropriate premiums that flex in line with the individual behaviour of each customer. Who could take exception to that?