Vrieling's challenge within the camper insurance brand Aveco:
Vrieling works daily with a range of insurance products, focusing specifically on camper and caravan insurance for the Aveco brand. Their goal was to update Aveco’s camper and caravan insurance offerings to ensure they Aveco is prepared for the future.
Vrieling also wanted to simplify the process for customers to request quotes or buy insurance directly from Aveco’s website. They aimed to make this process fully automated (known as straight-through processing) so that customers could accomplish more with fewer steps. To achieve this, Vrieling needed to make changes not only to the product but also to the IT systems.
The situation
In the original situation, Vrieling used several separate systems within Aveco to insure campers, and these systems didn’t communicate with each other. Each step, from getting a quote to finalising the insurance, had to be done in different systems and at different times. This was inconvenient. Vrieling therefore wanted to improve this with a flexible solution to make updates easier while still maintaining quality.
The execution of the process:
To achieve ‘straight-through processing,’ an integration layer was built to allow the different systems to communicate with each other. This layer knows which systems (like the CRM, quotation, or policy systems) need to be accessed at each stage. It also ensures that any change made in one system is automatically updated in the others.
Additionally, Intercept helped Vrieling improve its software development processes. By adopting a DevOps approach, Intercept set up a system for automatically updating Vrieling’s Azure environments through release-on-demand. Using Infrastructure-as-Code and Azure DevOps Pipelines, Vrieling’s Azure environments are now updated automatically.
The result:
- Straight-through processing: changes in one system are now automatically implemented in the other systems. The integration layer also makes it easy to modify systems at a later stage without replacing everything.
- Increased stability: With asynchronous message processing, a message is first received and stored on the service bus. This approach enhances system stability and helps protect data.
- Traceability: It is important to be able to track every step in the process and detect errors. The solution significantly improved monitoring and overview, making it easier to identify and resolve problems quickly.
- Optimising software knowledge: Intercept helped Vrieling learn how to get the most out of its software, making their approach to software more mature. This supports customer satisfaction and enables faster delivery.
The effect of these solutions for Vrieling:
In summary, the integration layer has made Vrieling much more flexible in working with other systems. Vrieling can now transition gradually without needing to change everything at once. Furthermore, adjustments only need to be made in one location instead of multiple places. The new system is more powerful and better scalable than the old one, allowing Vrieling to handle a larger volume of requests, such as insurance applications, more easily. This means Vrieling can operate with greater flexibility and is well-prepared for the future!
In summary, the integration layer has made Vrieling much more flexible in working with other systems. Now, Vrieling can make now transition gradually rather than all at once, and updates only need to be made in one place instead of multiple locations. The new system is also more powerful and scalable, allowing Vrieling to handle a larger volume of requests, such as insurance applications, more easily. This means Vrieling can operate with greater flexibility and is well-prepared for the future!
How did Vrieling experience cooperation with Intercept?
Vrieling had a very positive experience collaborating with Intercept. Intercept worked closely with Vrieling, ensuring that employees understood the decisions made and could later implement adjustments themselves. Important elements included:
- Knowledge sharing: As an Azure expert, Intercept shared important knowledge, which enabled Vrieling to make better-informed choices and solve problems.
- Workflow structuring: Intercept helped set up efficient workflows and enabled the reuse of functions.
- Flexibility: Intercept provided flexibility in hours and costs, allowing Vrieling to avoid being tied to fixed hours and enabling quick scalability.
- Expertise and communication: Intercept provided valuable expertise and maintained clear communication, ensuring Vrieling felt supported throughout the process.
Why was Intercept chosen as a partner?
The decision to partner with Intercept was primarily based on Intercept’s strong expertise and reputation as a reliable, knowledgeable partner. Intercept not only also helped build a reusable integration layer that could be applied across other departments. Their involvement went beyond technical support; Intercept trained our employees so they could manage future maintenance and development independently. This level of support was a important factor in our decision.We are very pleased with our choice and can wholeheartedly recommend Intercept as a trusted knowledge partner.
