Challenging to infuse disruptive innovation into a 165-year-old legacy financial company is an understatement.
The insurance industry has been a staple of the financial sector for over 150 years, providing security and peace of mind to millions around the world. A traditional insurance model is a one-size-fits-all approach, with policies that aren't tailored to the specific needs of the modern and future consumer. The success of a 150-year-old insurance company in staying relevant in the future will depend on its ability to forecast disruptions, embrace change and be willing to take risks.
The innovation wing of one of the largest insurance firms in the world wanted to understand how to nourish and facilitate out-of-the-box thinking to anticipate future needs. The proposed solution would empower employees to create solutions/offerings that can address the needs of future worlds with future thinking exercises.
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Proactive consumerism will upend traditional insurance sales.
The rise of proactive consumerism driven by tech access, empowerment, financial planning awareness, and digital adoption, accelerated by the global pandemic, will break the traditional notion that "insurance is sold not bought."
Disruption in the status quo.
The established giants in the insurance industry may be overshadowed by competition from non-traditional players due to their lack of adaptability in addressing the highly volatile future lifestyle, which will require predictiveness, convenience, and security.
Ignoring non-risk factors will threaten Insurance's future.
The future of insurance is not just about managing risks but also about adapting to the non-risk-related factors that will shape the industry. These factors must be integrated into strategic planning and decision-making processes."
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Initial client meetings presenting research data and synthesizing our research findings
"How might we create a system for the organization to help them envision possible futures of the coming decades"
INTRODUCING, RED PILL
A future casting toolkit that helps the organization to understand the potential impact of technological, social, and cultural changes, and to create new and innovative solutions that meet the needs of the future. It can help foster thinking around influences that can shape future decades through interactive workshops. By embracing this toolkit, they can take a proactive approach to future planning and stay ahead of the curve.
What is it
When to use it
Why use it
This hands-on activity allows participants to brainstorm and ideate to shift their mental model and to envision future worlds relevant to the insurance industry.
This can be used as a tool for brainstorming activities in horizon 3 innovation, as a tool for future thinking workshops for C-suite employees to evaluate their offerings.
To spark conversations about key influences that will shape the environment in the coming decades and how they might play out.
Group SIze
6 - 8 Participants
Outcome
Potential ideas about future offerings
Suggested time
60 minutes
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT?
" This is amazing work. You should really be incredibly proud of what you pulled together. This is worth of multi-million dollar project by a big consulting firm"
- Principal Senior Director, Design
LEARNINGS
01. User testing is very important
Even though we had little to less time to do iterative prototyping, the two rounds of user testing was so powerful that it broke many biases that I had. Sometimes it is hard to accept that something that works well for you might not be the best solution for others.
02. Innovation is not just generating ideas, it is also about defining constraints.
Working with limited amount of information from the client, the extensive research phase made us diverge so wildly that synthesis became hard. This project made me understand that it is okay to let go of ideas if it is not bounded by constraints. It is easier to lose track of the actual problem when you diverge so much.
03. Be vocal.
Speaking up is crucial in a collaborative environment. Understanding differences and providing opinions are very powerful. It will make sure that everyone is aware of the progress.