Industry experts will scrutinise what technology really offers in improving claims management at next month’s Insurance News technology conference. 

The 'Does technology back up its claims?' panel discussion will unpick the hype and reality of technology in the claims procedure at the event in Sydney on August 6. Tickets are on sale here. 

Experts in insurance, broking and law will share first-hand experience on the panel. 

Austbrokers Countrywide MD Tim Considine will discuss claims lodgment, communication, assessment, broker-insurer communications and settlement, and how technology can help resolve claims, particularly in the intermediary sector. 

HDI Global claims manager for Asia-Pacific David Lloyd will discuss the challenges of automating complex insurance products versus other financial services, and share progress at HDI.  

AAMC client relationships manager Daniel Lukich will discuss why just overlaying technology on past claims handling practices would be a flawed concept, and how to reinvent the way claims are handled to reduce frustration amongst claims handlers and intermediaries. He will also give insight about how technology is used overseas.   

Financial Rights Legal Centre officer Drew MacRae will discuss the issues and limitations that clients of the insurance law service have had in using technology during catastrophe claims handling, especially for policyholders “on the wrong side of the digital divide,” who aren't able to engage with technology or find it frustrating or lacking empathy.  

"The problem we have is we have a lot of people trying to use these claims portals, and just having serious problems,” he said. "One person had to just accept whatever cash settlement came through this portal, because they could not get through to a person. That is not a great claims experience.” 

The conference, Insurtech – Moving Forward Faster, is made possible by event partner Insurtech Australia and sponsors AAMC, SSP and JAVLN, and supporting sponsor HDI.

Other speakers include QBE Ventures head of emerging technology Alex Taylor, Cover Genius CEO Angus McDonald, Marsh Pacific head of digital Johannes Veldsman, Insurtech Australia CEO Simone Dossetor, NTI CEO Tony Clark, Evari founder Daniel Fogarty, ZapCentral co-founder Lisa Woodley, and JAVLN CEO Dale Smith. 

The event, at Dockside Cockle Bay Wharf, will include an insurtech pitch competition and a debate on Promise v Reality: Can Technology Really Change a People-Based Industry? among informative panel sessions. Attendees qualify for 5.5 NIBA CPD points and six ANZIIF CIP points.