IAG trials Starlink for its property assessors

Insurance group IAG is trialling Starlink “micro terminals” to enable property assessors to work in weather-affected or natural disaster zones.

Image credit: IAG

The group, which includes brands such as NRMA Insurance and CGU, is working with Optus for the technology trial.

The terminals enable assessors “to process property damage reports in real-time, stay connected and bring our mobile claims centres to locations in communities where customers most need our help”, IAG said in a statement.

NRMA Insurance executive manager of property claims fulfilment Scott Lindsay said that when in the field, assessors typically submit damage reports “in real-time, often from onsite at people’s homes so they can be actioned immediately by emergency repair and builder networks.”

“But that’s only possible with reliable internet coverage for our people in the field,” he said.

“Any delay due to needing to drive to find phone or internet connectivity impacts the speed at which we can get those emergency repairs underway.”

The terminals were recently deployed to IAG’s “fleet of NRMA Insurance vehicles and mobile pop-claims centres” in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.