Ageas making ‘market-first’ move to better protect policyholders against extreme weather

Ageas UK is bolstering the way it supports customers most at risk of extreme weather in what it claims is a market-first move.

In a statement released yesterday (25 January 2024), the insurer said it was installing WeatherNet’s SurgeCast application with the precise geographical location of its policyholders.

The application will give Ageas access to comprehensive and granular weather data from its network of weather stations and remotely sensed sources.

In turn, this will help the firm identify and support customers that are most at risk of inbound extreme weather.

“Not only does SurgeCast enable us to prepare our most at risk customers through timely advice and support, but we can also ensure we have the consultants and suppliers ready to respond,” Ageas claims director Stephen Linklater said.

“With a focus on our technical capabilities, we are finding innovative ways to better protect our customers and help minimise the impact and disruption that these extreme weather events can cause.”

Forecasts

Bad weather has battered the UK recently, with Storm Henk, for example, leaving homes and roads flooded at the start of January.

As part of the new partnership with WeatherNet, Ageas will regularly update its risk view as climate models evolve and more data becomes available.

Stephen Roberts, managing director at WeatherNet, said that SurgeCast would provide Ageas with weather forecasts for the postcodes of its policyholders up to 16 days ahead, refreshed four times every day.

“Ageas is the first to apply deep learning from a detailed study of historical severe weather events to predict the impact of forecast ones,” he added.

“The insight SurgeCast offers enables Ageas and its customers to be more prepared in advance of extreme weather events and we are pleased our technology is part of the solution helping keep policyholders safe.”