July 20, 2017—Nationwide has enhanced its current skill for Amazon Alexa by adding a SmartRide capability. The goal is to provide a new way to communicate with Nationwide members about its safe-driving, usage-based insurance program.
Usage-based insurance, which FenderBender wrote about in its June issue, is a "pay-as-you-go insurance model" that is popular among millennials. The trend has gained steam recently, with Mitsubishi and LexisNexis partnering to develop usage-based insurance solutions and J.D. Power predicting that telematics will increase use of usage-based insurance.
To encourage safe-driving habits and help drivers save money on their auto insurance premiums, eligible Nationwide SmartRide members can now access critical personalized driving information through the Nationwide skill for Amazon Alexa.
"We recognize that digital voice technologies are becoming an increasingly popular method of communication, enabling consumers to quickly gain access to information, products and services through voice-recognition technology," said Sam Rassekh, vice president of Enterprise Digital Optimization. "The Nationwide skill for Amazon Alexa gives our members an exciting way to connect with us. And, we are encouraged to know that the data they receive about their personal driving habits through the SmartRide capability within the Nationwide skill serves the greater purpose of promoting safe driving."
Including SmartRide into the Nationwide skill for Amazon Alexa gives members who use the SmartRide plug-in device the ability to easily obtain SmartRide's robust set of personalized data about their driving habits. Armed with important information, members can then adjust the way they drive to reduce their monthly premiums. Alexa rounds out the communications available to SmartRide program participants, which includes the program's website and ongoing email communications.