– Our clients need to feel taken care of. So as an insurer, we need to take care of who we work with. They also should feel prioritized and as an insurer it's our duty to be discerning about our partnerships. Clients seek the reassurance of priority service, necessitating collaboration with subcontractors who value our business. In this industry, time is of the essence, says Alexander Asbjørnsen, Chief Procurement Officer at Storebrand—one of Norway’s leading insurance providers.
– When we promise our clients a delivery—tiles laid by 10 AM on Monday, painting completed by Thursday—it’s imperative that we deliver on time. We’re all familiar with the variability in punctuality across the industry, remarks Alexander, with an affable smile.
And he would know! His insights are rooted in experience, having previously worked as a mechanic in the industry.
The thing is: If insurance companies were to leave the handling of repairs up to the local lowest bidder each time, it could quickly create slow service. With perhaps not the best nor most sustainable local craftspeople around. This is why Storebrand has made a national agreement with HG.
– Those agreements ensure excellence and sustainability, that all work is done with the highest standards, Alexander says.
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As Storebrand has customers “in every little nook” of the country, it is important to have national agreements that ensure good, local craftspeople that are able to help their customers quickly, reliably and according to standards..
– Nowadays, the assessment of necessary repairs largely falls under the expertise of the skilled craftspeople who arrive at your doorstep, placing significant trust in their professional judgment. And must be able to trust that they know what they are doing, says Alexander.
The strategic partnership between Storebrand and HG guarantees peace of mind for Storebrand’s clients ensuring that the most effective, friendly and professional help is readily available – irrespective of their residence’s location. Because strict regulations are implemented by Storebrand and followed by everyone who works at HG.
Storebrand has established stringent criterias, like: the duration of tasks, the way communication is done by personnel, waste management and sustainability practices, the selection of chemicals utilized, among other considerations. HG’s commitment to upholding exemplary standards across these domains, with particular emphasis on safety and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
– That is why Storebrand is very happy with our fairly new collaboration with HG, says Alexander.
Sustainability and transparency laws require Storebrand to report on emissions by sub contractors, and not just accept promises about social and governance standards, but actually receive documentation – like they do from HG.
This is an immense workload that would have taken a significant amount of time where they to deal with many small contractors.
– Instead, we have one contact point: HG. We know they work with the best people out there: people and companies that have contracts in place, fair working conditions, and who really believe in ESG and “think green”. Just like we do, says Alexander who now knows exactly who will be responsible for helping out Storebrand’s customers.
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This knowledge gives Alexander and everyone at the insurance company more time to use on other things than monitoring progress on a project.
The partnership between Storebrand and HG fosters clear communication and collaboration, eliminating any informal ‘friendship’ deals that could compromise service quality.
– Such practices could have detrimentally affected client service, says Alexander.
The national agreements serve as a foundation for all minor repairs across Norway, ensuring that every craftsman has access to the necessary digital tools for accurate job reporting.
This is crucial in the insurance industry, where the nature of repairs involves additional stakeholders, steps, and documentation. These standards are maintained through the national agreements between Storebrand and HG.
– The quality of insurance is ultimately reflected in the service and delivery of the last craftsman who restores order in a client’s home, he says.