Drones and unmanned systems are new technologies many insurance providers and adjusters are now using to make inspections much faster, safer, and cheaper than ever before. Insurance companies are capitalizing on the new opportunity.
Why Drones?
Roofers and their related roles are the fourth most dangerous job in the United States, experiencing a fatality rate of 41 per 100,000 workers.
A Cognizant report suggests that drone usage will make claims adjusters’ workflow 40 to 50% more efficient, cutting down time on roof inspections, which typically take anywhere from 45 minutes to four hours.
Why Are Drones Useful for Insurance Providers?
Drones can bring many safety and ease-of-use benefits to insurance providers who are doing claims adjustments. By using drones, adjusters are able to stay off the roofs and out of dangerous situations. Drones also reduce risks as they are unmanned vehicles and can fly very close to assets and infrastructure. They save time by allowing large quantities of data to be captured in minutes.
For insurance providers, drones also may remove Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for adjusters in the field. Drones can also help to reduce operational costs by replacing human effort and increasing accessibility. Finally, drones also provide the opportunity to capture large-scale events faster and more efficiently than manual alternatives.
How Do Insurers Use Drones?
Roof Damage Inspections
Inspections can be dangerous if a roof is steep or has suffered fire damage. Rather than climb onto the roof to take pictures, an adjuster can use a drone equipped with a camera.
Post-Disaster Claims Inspections
From floods and earthquakes to hurricanes, natural disasters oftentimes make the areas they affect unsafe. Drones can obtain access to these unsafe areas for quicker and cheaper inspections for adjusters.
Boiler Inspections
Many states require periodic inspections of boilers and pressure vessels, which can be large and cumbersome to inspect. Additionally, drones can make these inspections faster, safer, and easier.
Integration with Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) is providing inspectors and adjusters the ability to quickly evaluate photos at speeds never seen before. When paired together, drones and AI can revolutionize inspections, and save time and money.
Pre-Disaster Mapping
Cut down on fraudulent insurance claims by mapping infrastructure and assets before natural disasters occur.
Learn More About Drones for Insurance Providers
Learn more about the costs of setting up a drone program, the FAA rules and regulations, risks of lawsuits, and which drones are best for insurance providers by reading our guide, “How Insurance Providers Are Using Drones”. You can access all this information, and more, by completing the form below:
