Insurtech: Past, Present, Future

2016 has (among other things) been the year of insurtech. It was a year of headline-grabbing investment in technology startups, rapid developments in big data, the rise of the internet of things and blockchain, and a host of other digital innovations that are on the brink of disrupting the insurance industry. Disruption and insurtech go together and, in the slow moving world of insurance, we’ve finally reached a tipping point. Traditional insurers must now either adopt the latest technologies or watch as their businesses are eroded by fast-moving newcomers.

Yet despite this potential threat there is also opportunity and continuity – both of which are provided by RDT. We have been at the forefront of insurance technology for more than 25 years and we’re the name behind some of the key developments that have transformed the industry. From the first real-time insurance purchasing website to the first truly agnostic data orchestration platform that allows insurers to price centrally for the whole market, RDT has been helping insurers move with the times and build their businesses.

Agile - Sprinting and the Daily Scrum

In our previous article on Agile meetings, we discussed sprint planning.  Let’s look at what happens next.

Sprinting and the Daily Scrum

Once we’ve finished sprint planning and have a commitment, we are ready to start the sprint. This is a two-week time box in which the team creates a tranche of working, potentially deliverable software.

During a sprint the team will hold a daily scrum, a 15-minute meeting in front of the sprint backlog (a visual display of what needs to be done, usually in the form of a whiteboard covered in written-on Post-It notes). This provides an opportunity to synchronise as a team and talk about what we’ve done, what we plan to do and anything standing in our way.

The scrum master oversees the meeting and listens out for any problems that may have arisen that could cause a delay.  It’s their responsibility to remove impediments and mitigate any future risk.  The scrum master uses a number of charts and techniques to understand if the team is on track and, if it’s lost direction, how to get it back on track.

We encourage continual feedback, so outside of the daily scrum there are regular conversations within the team and with the product owner to ensure we’re on the right path. The sprint is finished at the end of two-week time box.

Keep an eye out for our next article on the ‘Sprint Review’.

Towergate Signs Multi-Year Contract With RDT

RDT is delighted to announce that its long-term customer Towergate has signed a multi-year contract to use our technology.

The agreement, signed on 1^st December, gives Towergate access to the latest version of RDT’s best-selling general insurance administration platform Landscape.

This is a great opportunity for Towergate to see all the benefits that the latest RDT insurtech can bring. And, following the recent additional long-term commitment from our Australian customer RAA, the new contract puts RDT in a very strong position.

Everyone here at RDT is very excited about entering this new phase in our long term partnership with Towergate and we look forward to forging a very productive future with them.