And yet with 43 per cent of the same adviser community recently claiming that a lack of technical support leaves them feeling isolated, Assureweb is calling for a greater industry investment in training and support to ensure users can get to grips with technology.
The call comes as Assureweb steps up its own training programme by launching two new innovative ways for users to realise the many benefits of using technology and ultimately enable their businesses to function more efficiently.
- Assureweb is offering enhanced support to the intermediary community via a new programme that enables users to communicate with Assureweb trainers remotely. This Microsoft feature allows Assureweb to take control of users’ PCs to offer interactive, real-time training from the comfort of their own office.
- Assureweb is rolling out regionally based group training courses around the country following a successful pilot. Half day eBusiness courses are being held in convenient office locations and are completely free of charge.
Stephen Wynne-Jones, director of strategy at Assureweb, said technology providers have a responsibility to the intermediary community to ensure that it is equipped for what lies ahead.
“For far too long technology providers have left intermediaries and their support staff on their own to get to grips with complex technology solutions, with many even selling expensive group training courses that only covered narrow product propositions and not the wider benefits that technology can bring to a business.
“Advisers are becoming far more demanding and will increasingly turn to those providers that can provide a complete solution of technology and ongoing support, meaning those that fail to deliver will find it difficult to survive,” Mr Wynne-Jones said.
The new Assureweb training course is designed for beginners and those looking to improve their e-business skills. Including a number of interactive tutorials, the course covers areas such as obtaining simple comparison quotes and printed illustrations, refining quotations to access unique provider benefits or multi-protection products, applying for products electronically and using how to reuse client data throughout the entire process.
Assureweb is also developing further levels of the course which will be launched as training needs and requirements of more advanced users emerge.
Overcoming Isolation
The launch of the new services will come as welcome news for those intermediaries that continue to be frustrated by technology. Recent research conducted among financial advisers found just over one in five (23%) felt consistently let down by technology.
Mr Wynne-Jones said that most intermediaries are well aware of the advantages of technology but the next step is ensuring that the systems in which they have invested are doing exactly what they want them to do, which is where training can play a crucial part.
“Training helps users get the most out of technology in its widest sense and apply its benefits to their business. More and more advisers are realising the parallels between strong IT skills, profitability, a reduction in errors and a more streamlined business.”
Jasinder Kaul of Mortgage Saints in Reading, who was involved in the pilot for the new services launched by Assureweb said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It will definitely help my online business. I would recommend the course to anyone.”
Further details of Assureweb’s range of training solutions can be obtained from www.assureweb.co.uk or phone 0845 408 2804
