Real Time 21-day Challenge
The all industry Real Time/Download Campaign has devised the Real Time 21 Day Challenge (“Challenge”) for agents who have not yet adopted Real Time or who want to achieve more universal usage within their agencies. The industry has made excellent progress in the growth of Real Time over the last two years, and the Challenge is a fresh marketing campaign designed to boost the agency adoption rate even further.
The Challenge is based on the premise that while it is easy to install Real Time, it typically takes 21 days for an employee to fully learn a new workflow, discover all of its benefits and make it a habit. As you will see as you read further, the Challenge incorporates new Web site pages that provide agents implementation options as well as step‐by‐step guidance on creating the Real Time habit throughout their agencies.
The Challenge has been under development since May and we plan to begin marketing it broadly in two pilot states (Iowa and New York) in the middle of October. There may be some agents from other states who decide to get started then as well when they hear about the Challenge at industry conferences, but the initial marketing push will be in those two states.
The Challenge is designed to be an industry‐wide effort and we hope all carriers and vendors that offer Real Time functionality will help us promote the 21 Day Challenge to their agencies and be prepared to provide support to them if they need assistance. Marketing materials will be available before the Challenge launches as well as a carrier and vendor Webinar that is discussed below.
We have tested the program with selected agents participating on Big “I” and PIA technology committees in New York and have received further input from carrier and vendor members of the Campaign’s Steering Committee.
Web Site Details
The new Web site pages for the Challenge will provide you with details on how the program works (www.getrealtime.org/21DC). Agents will able to start with “New to Real Time” (installing the functionality), then move to take one of the two challenges—“Champions Challenge” (where selected employees go through the Challenge first and then bring it to the full agency) or “Agency Challenge” (where the full staff takes the Challenge together). Agencies will receive a certificate acknowledging their successful completion when they finish the full Agency Challenge. Agencies will be asked to register when they begin the Challenge. We will advise interested carriers, vendors, user groups, and associations about these agencies (where they give us permission), so that these organizations can reach out to participating agencies pro‐actively to offer support.
Important: We Need Your Help!
We know agency staffers hit roadblocks as they try new technologies and workflows. Often they become discouraged and return to old ways of doing business. We’d like to remove these roadblocks wherever we can! Thus, we have three requests of carriers and vendors that are extremely important to help support the Challenge:
- Alert staff—those folks responsible specifically for helping agents implement your technology— about the Challenge taking place and the potential for an increased number of calls.
- Provide us a) specific telephone number and extension, if applicable, for your agents to call; and b) specific department, group, or individual to ask for.
- Advise us if you would like to be notified of agencies that register to take the Challenge so that you can pro‐actively contact them to provide assistance.
Roll‐Out Briefing Webinar
Please register now for an informational Webinar for Challenge supporters on September 17 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EDT. The Webinar will be recorded and posted on www.getrealtime.org at the “Campaign Materials” link. The Webinar is designed for carrier, vendor, association, and user group personnel who want to understand the program and its roll out, as well as to provide support to agents who take the Challenge. The Webinar will review the Challenge program, the Challenge Web site, carrier and vendor support, and the planned roll out.
Campaign Co‐Chairs and agents Lisa Parry Becker and Cyndy Smith will present the Webinar along with Teresa Addy of EMC Insurance. They will be assisted by Aartrijk’s Dave Willis, who manages the Real Time/Download Campaign on a day‐to‐day basis; and Jeff Yates, ACT Executive Director. Because of the number expected on the call, participants can listen to the audio through their computer headset or speakers. If they prefer, they also will be provided with a number to call to listen to the audio. We also hope to respond to the participants’ questions via the question box during the session. Please register now for the Webinar at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/232976473. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
An Opportunity
We understand that many of you already have agency help desks for those agents grappling with technology implementation issues. Thus, we hope the 21 Day Challenge will not be an inconvenience— but an opportunity. We believe this will continue to ramp up usage of the technology tools you have so smartly invested in over the years!
I look forward to receiving your contact information for agencies in need of help. Send to the e‐mail address below.
Thanks for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Peter van Aartrijk
Manager, Real Time Campaign
RealTime@Aartrijk.com