Risk advisers increasingly tech-savvy

Life risk advisers are becoming increasingly technologically savvy and are willing to purchase new technology for client service purposes, according to a national survey by Zurich Life.

Zurich Life surveyed around 700 advisers, and of those less than 10 per cent owned an iPad – but nearly 40 per cent indicated they intended on purchasing one in the next 12 months.

General manager of Life Australia, Colin Morgan (pictured), said advisers have been quick in adopting the technological tools to help their customers and grow their businesses.

“It is estimated that there are 1.6 million iPads in Australia and this is expected to triple this year alone,” Morgan said. “Advisers appreciate they need to respond quickly to their customer needs, as well as have a vast array of information at their fingertips.”

Gold Coast advisers seem to be the most tech savvy, with around 18 per cent owning an iPad. Melbourne advisers, on the other hand, have proven to be the least tech savvy with only 5 per cent reporting they own a personal tablet computer.

Nationally, around half of all advisers use Facebook, one-third uses LinkedIn and less then 10 per cent of advisers use Twitter, according to the survey.

Zurich’s research was released following its recent product update roadshow, which focused on the use of new media in improving networking abilities.