It's Like Starting Your Pension - Why AI Integration Isn't the Task You Should Keep Putting Off

You know that voice in the back of your head telling you to start a pension? You know you should get it sorted, you know the earlier you start the better, but it always gets bumped down the priority list when you've got a million other "urgent" things on your plate. That's exactly what we hear from insurance companies when they're considering AI: "This sounds like a massive project, and our IT team is already drowning for the next few months."

Start small, but start now

Here's the thing though - getting AI up and running doesn't have to be like overhauling your entire financial life overnight. It's more like setting up that pension contribution - start small, but start now, because the compound benefits over time are where the real value lies. Just like those early pension pounds grow exponentially through compound interest, investing in AI today delivers compound returns through commercial gains, operational efficiencies, and transformative experiences for both your customers and your staff.

We're well versed with integrating Pipr (our specialist conversational AI Agent for insurance providers), both for our own business and for clients. Our record to date is 7 weeks from start to finish. Through these deployments, we've learned how to integrate seamlessly with miltiple systems - policy admin platforms, quote engines, data enrichment bureau, credit providers, fraud checkers, you name it. The key approach? We use secure API connections that integrate smoothly without disrupting what you've already got in place.

Now, don't get me wrong - every setup is different. It's like how everyone's financial situation has its quirks. The key is being crystal clear about what does what, so everything talks to each other properly when it needs to.

Right data, right time

One thing you've got to sort out early is who owns the data and where it lives. It's not just about ticking regulatory boxes - it's about making sure the right information is shown to the customer at the right time. Think about it: if your AI can pull up someone's details from your existing systems, why make them fill out the same form again? Or better yet, use that info to ask smarter questions that help you price their risk more accurately.

Your infrastructure, your domain

And let's talk about security for a minute. With hackers increasingly targeting third-party connections, you want to make sure everything's locked down tight. Ideally, you want everything living in your own secure environment where you control who gets in. That's exactly how we've built Pipr - it operates within your infrastructure, using enterprise-grade cloud technology that's built to scale reliably.

Bottom line? 

You don't need to become a tech expert or sacrifice your entire IT team's bandwidth. Find a partner who knows what they're doing (like our team at PeppercornAI), let them handle the technical implementation, and focus your energy on maximising your AI investment. After all, just like that pension you wish you'd started earlier, there are compound benefits of AI - better commercial returns, smoother operations, and experiences that wow both customers and employees.

Start small, learn fast, start building compound interest! At PeppercornAI, our Proof of Value pilots are designed to do just that.

Jon Byford - Underwriting, Risk & Compliance Director