The Netherlands Insurance Landscape in a Nutshell

Published on Aug 21, 2019

Updated on Apr 3, 2020

‘What more could people want’ in a nation that already ranks highest in terms of press and economic freedom, human development, quality of life, and happiness? On another note, insurance companies and the government must have been doing something right — over 99.8% of the Dutch population is insured!

This might portray the Netherlands as a saturated market for insurance. However, while the overall Dutch populace has health insurance, there’s still scope for life, non-life and better health insurance products.

The following infographic on Netherlands’ Insurance landscape can shed some perspective.

Insurance Challenges in the Netherlands

KPMG reports, 65% of CIOs (Chief Insurance Officers) agree that the shortage of skills is preventing them from matching the pace of change. [The skills shortage here corresponds to big data, analytics, AI, enterprise and technical architecture and DevOps]

Privacy-Technology paradox is one of the main reasons for the gap between insurance products and personalization. Strict European privacy regulations create a barrier for advanced technologies that relies on data.

Insurance is on the Tech-Radar

The Dutch insurance companies are not only thriving to match the pace of change but also inclined towards investing in futuristic technology. Many of these technologies can be collectively called Artificial Intelligence. But, the impact of individual technologies and how the insurance sector is deploying them is what matters.

Current Technology Trends in Insurance in the Netherlands

Microservices

Microservices breaks down large insurance schemes to their simplest core functions. Organizations treat every microservice as a single service with its API (Application Program Interface).

Insurers in the Netherlands concur that getting into microservices architecture early can bring a bigger competitive advantage to them. Microservices in travel and vehicle insurance promises to be a great prospect in the Netherlands.

Blockchain

Blockchain corresponds to smart contracts in a distributed environment.

You might also like to read about how distributed ledgers can revamp insurance workflows.

The insurance industry is already using distributed ledgers for insuring flight delays, lost baggage claims, and is expanding to shipping, health insurance, and consumer durables domains.

Edge Computing

Edge computing brings computation and data storage closer to the consumer’s location. It improves response time and at times can take real-time actions. Autonomous vehicles, home automation, smart cities, etc. are the sectors that deploy edge computing effectively.

Insured assets with edge computing capabilities help insurers offer better deals and customized policies.

Cognitive Expert Advisors

Augmenting customer service units with AI-powered bots and AI-assisted human advisors add to the superior customer experience. The cognitive expert advisor is a combination of both.

Cognitive experts use advanced analytics, natural language processing, decision-making algorithms, and machine learning. This technology breaks the prevailing trade-offs between speed, cost, and quality in delivering insurance policies and products.

Fraud Analytics

It involves social network analytics, big data analytics, and social customer relationship management for rating claims, improving transparency, and identifying frauds.

AXA insurance has been using fraud analytics in its product OYAK to integrate all customer-related data into a coordinated corporate vision. The technology has enabled AXA to link two slightly records from the same customer preventing fraudulent instances.

AI-based Underwriting

AI-driven unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as drones can examine sites, which are otherwise extreme for humans to visit.

Using such technologies for geological surveys makes the underwriting process more accurate. Insurers are aligning their risk management strategies with AI-based underwriting.

Join our Webinar — AI for Data-driven Insurers: Challenges, Opportunities & the Way Forward hosted by our CEO, Parag Sharma as he addresses Insurance business leaders and decision-makers on April 14, 2020.

Machine Learning (ML)

ML relies on data patterns and is capable of performing tasks without external instructions. In this system, the computer listens to the customer’s data, learns from it, and begins to automatically handle similar instances.

InsurTech is leveraging machine learning to quote optimal prices and manage claims effectively. It is a cost-effective technology that works on different sets of user-persona.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics studies current and historical facts to make predictions about future or otherwise unknown events.

Leading insurers in the Netherlands are using predictive analytics for controlling risks in underwriting, claims, marketing, and developing personalized products.

Predictive Analytics in Insurance Use Case: Zurich

Switzerland’s largest insurer- Zurich uses predictive analytics to identify risks that their customers are ‘actually’ going to face. Predictive analytics incorporates machine learning to anticipate events beyond statistics and probability.

The open-source machine learning model brings the organization the following benefits.

Zurich is capable of scaling analytics across the larger volumes of data generated through smart devices.
There’s a flexibility to introduce new data sources and features and test against them in real-time.
Data scientists can mix-and-match tools to experiment and curate different data sets.

Predictive analytics is Zurich’s key differentiator enabling it to move with the speed of the fastest product in the market.

For AI-based solutions, customer experience and deep-tech consulting, drop us a ‘hi’ at hello@mantralabsglobal.com.

Future Technology Trends That Have Potential to Disrupt Insurance Industry

“You’ll need other skills now. I tell my colleagues: go out, attend seminars, what closely when doing groceries. Because you can learn from a customer-centric view at any moment.”
Wim Hekstra, CEO, Aegon Wholesale

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)

BCI allows computers to interpret the user’s distinct brain patterns. At present researchers are focusing on using BCI for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. This can change medical-underwriting schemes.

Human Augmentation

It refers to creating cognitive and physical improvements integral to the human body. The present-day insurance policies cover human and assets. The future calls for insurance for superhumans.

Smart Dust

It is a system of many tiny micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Smart dust includes a microscopic cluster of sensors, robots, cameras, etc. to identify changes in light, temperature, etc. This can help the insurance industry by triggering information against events, which are susceptible to changes.

The future brings enormous opportunities for insurers with Augmentation, AI, and Machine Learning. The insurers’ intent towards accuracy, cost-optimization, and personalized products is the driving force to experiment with technology.

The insurance industry thrives on relationships—but it can only scale through efficiency, precision, and timely distribution. While much of the digital transformation buzz has focused on customer-facing portals, the real transformation is happening in the field, where modern sales apps are quietly driving a smarter, faster, and more empowered agent network.

Let’s explore how mobile-first sales enablement platforms are reshaping insurance sales across prospecting, onboarding, servicing, renewals, and growth.

The Insurance Agent Needs More Than a CRM

Today’s insurance agent is not just a policy seller—they’re also a financial advisor, data gatherer, service representative, and the face of the brand. Yet many still rely on paper forms, disconnected tools, and manual processes.

That’s where intelligent sales apps come in—not just to digitize, but to optimize, personalize, and future-proof the entire agent journey.

Real-World Use Cases: What Smart Sales Apps Are Solving

Across the insurance value chain, sales agent apps have evolved into full-service platforms—streamlining operations, boosting conversions, and empowering agents in the field. These tools aren’t optional anymore, they’re critical to how modern insurers perform. Here’s how leading insurers are empowering their agents through technology:

1. Intelligent Prospecting & Lead Management

Sales apps now empower agents to:

Prioritize leads using filters like policy type, value, or geography
Schedule follow-ups with integrated agent calendars
Utilize locators to look for nearby branch offices or partner physicians
Register and service new leads directly from mobile devices

Agents spend significantly less time navigating through disjointed systems or chasing down information. With quick access to prioritized leads, appointment scheduling, and location tools—all in one app—they can focus more on meaningful customer interactions and closing sales, rather than administrative overhead.

2. Seamless Policy Servicing, Renewals & Claims

Sales apps centralize post-sale activities such as:

Tracking policy status, premium due date, and claims progress
Sending renewal reminders, greetings, and policy alerts in real-time
Accessing digital sales journeys and pre-filled forms.
Policy comparison, calculating premiums, and submitting documents digitally
Registering and monitoring customer complaints through the app itself

Customers receive a consistent and seamless experience across touchpoints—whether online, in-person, or via mobile. With digital forms, real-time policy updates, and instant access to servicing tools, agents can handle post-sale tasks like renewals and claims faster, without paperwork delays—leading to improved satisfaction and higher retention.

3. Remote Sales using Assisted Tools

Using smart tools, agents can:

Securely co-browse documents with customers through proposals
Share product visualizations in real time
Complete eKYC and onboarding remotely.

Agents can conduct secure, interactive consultations from anywhere—sharing proposals, visual aids, and completing eKYC remotely. This not only expands their reach to customers in digital-first or geographically dispersed markets, but also builds greater trust through real-time engagement, clear communication, and a personalized advisory experience—all without needing a physical presence.

4. Real-Time Training, Performance & Compliance Monitoring

Modern insurance apps provide:

On-demand access to training material
Commission dashboards and incentive monitoring
Performance reporting with actionable insights

Field agents gain access to real-time performance insights, training modules, and incentive tracking—directly within the app. This empowers them to upskill on the go, stay motivated through transparent goal-setting, and make informed decisions that align with overall business KPIs. The result is a more agile, knowledgeable, and performance-driven sales force.

5. End-to-End Sales Execution—Even Offline

Advanced insurance apps support:

Full application submission, from prospect to payment
Offline functionality in low-connectivity zones
Real-time needs analysis, quote generation, and e-signatures
Multi-login access with secure OTP-based authentication

Even in low-connectivity or remote Tier 2 and 3 markets, agents can operate at full capacity—thanks to offline capabilities, secure authentication, and end-to-end sales execution tools. This ensures uninterrupted productivity, faster policy issuance, and adherence to compliance standards, regardless of location or network availability.

6. AI-Powered Personalization for Health-Linked Products

Some forward-thinking insurers are combining AI with health platforms to:

Import real-time health data from fitness trackers or health apps
Offer hyper-personalized insurance suggestions based on lifestyle
Enable field agents to tailor recommendations with more context

By integrating real-time health data from fitness trackers and wellness apps, insurers can offer hyper-personalized, preventive insurance products tailored to individual lifestyles. This empowers agents to move beyond transactional selling—becoming trusted advisors who recommend coverage based on customers’ health habits, life stages, and future needs, ultimately deepening engagement and improving long-term retention.

The Mantra Labs Advantage: Turning Strategy into Scalable Execution

We help insurers go beyond surface-level digitization to build intelligent, mobile-first ecosystems that optimize agent efficiency and customer engagement—backed by real-world impact.

Seamless Sales Enablement for Travel Insurance

We partnered with a leading travel insurance provider to develop a high-performance agent workflow platform featuring:

Secure Logins: Instant credential-based access without sign-up friction
Real-Time Performance Dashboards: At-a-glance insights into daily/monthly targets, policy issuance, and collections
Frictionless Policy Issuance: Complete issuance post-payment and document verification
OCR Integration: Auto-filled customer details directly from passport scans, minimizing errors and speeding up onboarding

This mobile-first solution empowered agents to close policies faster with significantly reduced paperwork and data entry time—improving agent productivity by 2x and enabling sales at scale.

Engagement + Analytics Transformation for Health Insurance

For one of India’s leading health insurers, we helped implement a full-funnel engagement and analytics stack:

User Journey Intelligence: Replaced legacy systems to track granular app behavior—policy purchases, renewals, claims, discounts, and drop-offs. Enabled real-time behavioral segmentation and personalized push/email notifications.
Gamified Wellness with Fitness Tracking: Added gamified fitness engagement, with rewards based on step counts and interactive nutrition quizzes—driving repeat app visits and user loyalty.
Attribution Tracking: Trace the exact source of traffic—whether it’s a paid campaign, referral program, or organic source—adding a layer of precision to marketing ROI.
Analytics: Integrated analytics to identify user interest segments. This allowed for hyper-targeted email and in-app notifications that aligned perfectly with user intent, driving both relevance and response rates.

Whether you’re digitizing field sales, gamifying customer wellness, or fine-tuning your marketing engine, Mantra Labs brings the technology depth, insurance expertise, and user-first design to turn strategy into scalable execution.

If you’re ready to modernize your agent network – Get in touch with us to explore how we can build intelligent, mobile-first tools tailored to your distribution strategy. Just remember, the best sales apps aren’t just tools, they’re growth engines; and field sales success isn’t about more apps. It’s about the right workflows, in the right hands, at the right time.