What SAN Member Agents Should Know
SAN Group continues to take steps to ensure our members, partners and employees are safe and healthy during this COVID-19 outbreak. We just communicated the cancellation of the SAN Annual Business Meeting – something we don’t take lightly, but certainly a necessary decision – and we will continue to distribute profit sharing and PMSF electronically so payments are dispersed in a timely manner.
SAN Group will remain open for business and, as we move to remote operations, we are working to ensure that this transition will be seamless for all.
SAN personnel can be reached by email or telephone, and of course, siaa4u.com is available 24/7 for our member agents. On the subject of siaa4u.com, this is a good time for members to remember that continuing education and accredited courses are available through WebCE on the Training and Learning Center.
Interaction with SAN field teams, specifically Regional Vice Presidents and Agency Development Field Specialists, will increasingly involve more virtual and telephonic communication. Rest assured that we are committed as ever to partnering with and supporting each of our member agencies in their efforts to generate income and growth.
Some member agencies are ramping up their social media to communicate with clients, and we recommend you do the same. It’s important to let your clients (and prospects) know you’re still open for business, but there’s nothing wrong with encouraging them to contact you via email or phone. We recommend you remain mindful of comfort levels related to person-to-person contact, especially for mature clients or those with underlying health conditions.
This might also be a good time to consider some of the online screen sharing and presentation systems available, such as GoToMeeting, Zoom, and others. Most offer free trials (some of which are being extended to 90-days because of the COVID-19 situation), and then cost as little as $12 per month. Some even offer a free option with limited functionality.
Given the restrictions in place across most states, clients will likely want to communicate with you electronically, whether online or by telephone. Make sure they can easily get to a list of claims contacts for the companies you represent. This is a good time to think about using service centers, if you haven’t already. They are prepared to handle increased volumes, are available 24/7, and most offer discounted pricing to SAN/SIAA member agencies.
Please have patience with our partner companies as they transition to remote work environments, which many of them have not done previously at this scale. It’s important these measures are taken to safeguard the health of everyone in our communities.
These are challenging times and we are stronger when we face challenges together. That’s not a SAN statement as much as a community statement. We undoubtedly have more ahead of us, but when we come together, look out for one another, and do what’s best for the greater community, we can overcome significant hardships.
Stay healthy.