At Clear Risk Solutions, leadership, teamwork, strategy and adaptability are not just buzzwords — they form the foundation to how the company approaches insurance program administration and risk management. With a focus on administering diverse public entity risk pools, the team is dedicated to offering comprehensive reporting services to their clients. So, after recognizing the need for more robust data-driven decision-making, Clear Risk developed an ambitious goal to produce over 600 customized member performance reports.
In the end, they not only transformed a time-consuming, manual reporting process into a seamless, automated system but also further empowered their members with deep, data-centric insights into their loss performance — demonstrating the company’s commitment to continuous innovation and excellence.
A reporting revolution
Before implementing the new system, Clear Risk Solutions relied on manual processes using spreadsheets and slide decks to compile data and create performance reports for a small subset of members who needed improvement. But this approach was simply not sustainable, especially given the need for detailed, customized reports across diverse pools, including nonprofit organizations, schools and municipalities.
Their manual approach was labor-intensive, and expanding it to all members seemed daunting, especially as the number of members grew from about 450 to 900. The value of the reports, however, was clear, and the team continued to explore ways to expand the program.
The breakthrough came when Clear Risk collaborated with a partner who had been working on a similar solution for school district members. Inspired by their approach, Clear Risk worked with the Arrowhead Data Science team to develop a programmatic system capable of generating customized reports for all members within minutes. This automation all but eliminated the need for manual intervention and standardized the reporting process.
Collaborative innovation and iterative solutions
However, developing the new system was not without its challenges — it required multiple rounds of refinement and extensive collaboration. At first, the team struggled to define both the format and usability requirements for the report, but feedback from internal risk managers, underwriters and brokers helped shape the final product into data-rich, user-friendly reports.
Once the format was established and the automated system was operational, implementing it across the other public entity risk pools was straightforward. But it’s clear that the collaboration between Clear Risk and Arrowhead was a key factor in ensuring that the final reports met the unique needs of the company’s diverse member base.
“I think it’s important to remember that this process is iterative, and it requires strong collaboration on both sides,” said Daren Eiri, director of data science at Arrowhead. “What worked well with Clear Risk was their availability and willingness to be there when we needed clarification on their data.”
Transforming member interactions
The benefits of the new automated approach were swift and significant. Reports that once took weeks to compile can now be generated in minutes, allowing Clear Risk to shift their focus to other meaningful member interactions. Detailed performance insights, which were previously difficult to produce at scale, are now facilitating data-driven discussions that have helped improve member retention.
By sending these customized reports alongside preliminary renewal information, Clear Risk enables members to better understand their performance, identify areas for improvement and anticipate pricing implications. This proactive approach has significantly streamlined the renewal process and reduced the burden on the Clear Risk team.
But the reports have also added value beyond internal use, as members can now leverage the data to pursue grants and other opportunities. By leaning on the power of technology and teamwork to drive innovation, Clear Risk has maximized productivity and performance for its members.
Ultimately, their revolutionary approach to member performance reporting has not only streamlined their operations but also set a new standard in the industry. “Having the flexibility and adaptability that these reports offer has put us in a significant spot compared to our competitors,” said Sarah McDonnell, director of NPIP at Clear Risk Solutions.
Charting the future
Reflecting on the successes of this project, the team emphasizes the importance of having a clear vision and involving key stakeholders early in the process. Understanding the needs of their audience and ensuring the data in these reports was presented in a way that was both useful and actionable were critical to the project’s success.
But the network within Arrowhead Programs has also played a significant role in the team’s success. “We wouldn’t have known about the capabilities and the shared services that allowed us to execute this project without those connections,” reflected McDonnell. “Kudos to Arrowhead for making that happen for us. Being willing to share what they’ve tried and what worked is big. Networking is important.”
This project has not only set a new industry standard but also laid the groundwork for future improvements and innovations. As Clear Risk Solutions continues to innovate and refine their processes, the team is excited about future possibilities. And with the lessons learned guiding their efforts to expand reporting to other pools and further enhance their data analytics capabilities, the team is poised for continued success and growth for years to come.