St. Paul Expands Into Small Business Insurance

The St. Paul Cos. has unveiled a new platform aimed at growing the company’s business with small commercial enterprises. Features of the new approach include a state-of-the-art underwriting technology, enhanced customer service capabilities, flexible and competitive insurance products, and a dedicated countrywide sales force.

The centerpiece of The St. Paul’s small commercial initiative is a new technology platform, SPCXpress(SM). This web-based online tool enables contracted agents and brokers to qualify, price, issue and endorse typical small business policies online in much less time than it normally takes to underwrite and process this type of business. In addition, agents and brokers can view customer billing records, claim status and other account information right from their agency desktops.

In addition to technology innovations, The St. Paul has also retooled its small commercial insurance product offerings to include both the typical “Main Street” types of businesses, as well as an “Advantage” product designed specifically for larger and more complex businesses. The product offerings, St. Paul MainStreet(SM) and St. Paul Advantage(SM), are flexible and transcend many other carriers’ definitions and criteria for small commercial insurance coverage.

The St. Paul has also invested in a new sales force dedicated to its small commercial business. Regional sales managers and state specific sales executives across the United States are charged with implementing the platform, helping our agents utilize the technology, learn about our products and new appetite, and grow profitable business.

The sales managers are aligned with The St. Paul’s eight regions of its commercial lines segment in order to drive a unified message on the company’s commitment to profitable growth across its entire commercial lines operation.

Finally, The St. Paul took a major step toward meeting its agents’ and customers’ service needs with the 2002 debut of a Commercial Service Center in Atlanta. This Service Center handles customer requests and policy renewals for small commercial agents, thereby reducing the amount of time agents and brokers spend on small commercial account maintenance and allowing agents to spend more time selling to new clients.

Underscoring The St. Paul’s continuing investment in the small commercial marketplace, the company plans to open a second service center in the Mountain or Pacific time zone in 2003.