Computers in Business

    

 Insurance is the industry with which I will discuss the importance of computer integration. I have experience as a claims adjuster before moving into IT. So, I will use that past experience and merge it with what I have learned.

     Before computers, insurance claim forms needed to be submitted by mail and followed up via telephone, causing claim turnaround times to be long and drawn out. With the advancement of technology and the integration of computers, claim documents can be uploaded to the adjuster without needing a mail system. To finalize your claims, you can access the claim and make necessary changes, such as signing documents. The database's accessibility and size allow it to accommodate more customers over a larger geographical area. This is because you do not need to open someone's paper file and notate it physically. Being fully digital has scaled insurance companies to multi-billion-dollar companies capable of handling many customers and transactions an hour. Tasks completed on computers include building a digital file in a database for a customer with demographics and personal information. This digital file building transcends all insurance types, including homeowners, renters, automobiles, life insurance, etc. Then, changes will be made for any future changes to coverage or changes on billing, which are all done on the computer. If a claim is filled out, the information must be uploaded to dozens of data points, including photos, videos, and audio recordings. 

    Being computer literate is necessary to navigate several software applications during a workday. Computers will not go away any time soon; in fact, they will increase in volume and function. Insurance companies are starting to use AI to predict increases in claims for weather events, national holidays, historical data, and patterns in claims. This data alters premiums in anticipation of large or minimal payouts. In the next ten years, AI will be integrated into every level of insurance companies to help maintain profit margins. AI will change how every business operates and interacts with the public. We can't even fathom how much AI will interface with and adapt areas of companies. We may have yet to identify areas AI will transform with more efficient processes or algorithmically making decisions to drive cost savings; the result from those unexpected changes will be monumental.