Manulife benefits balance skill for Alexa
is an insurance industry first in Canada
TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK:945
TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Manulife is launching
the Manulife Benefits skill for Amazon Alexa, a Canadian insurance
industry first. From tracking vision care to dental and other
medical account balances, Manulife group benefits plan members can
inquire through any Amazon Alexa-enabled device in Canada starting December 2017.
"The days of expecting plan members to fill out forms or wait
for a response on a quick balance check are over. Smartphones and
other technologies have changed the way people do things," said
Donna Carbell, Senior Vice
President, Group Benefits, Manulife. "They want to interact when
and where it's convenient for them, so we've made it easier than
ever for plan members to get the most out of their group benefits
plan."
Manulife Benefits was built for voice services, and uses voice
recognition technology to present customers with key account
information in a simple and conversational way.
"We are committed to innovations that allow us to be available
wherever our customers need us. Your connected smart home device is
one of those places," said Xavier
Debane, Vice President, Innovation and Business Development.
"Most of us speak much more quickly than we can type. There is
nothing easier than just having a conversation, which is exactly
what we want to deliver to our clients."
The world is complex and rapidly changing and it can be
difficult to keep track of everything. Benefits and pension plan
details are no different.
As Manulife embarks on this insurtech transformation journey,
expect to see a lot more innovations in the space of customer
experience and usability. Manulife is focused on moving to the
front of the pack in customer experience with a focus on innovative
technologies that better listen to clients, understand their needs
and improve their experience at every touchpoint.
"Conversational Artificial Intelligence is becoming the fastest
growing technology interaction method," said Jim Stirtzinger, Director, RED Lab, Manulife.
"If life is a juggling act, we've just given plan members an extra
set of hands. At Manulife, checking your balance is just the first
in a series of transformations aimed at innovating the experience
for people communicating with Manulife."
Manulife continues to look ahead and reinvent the way it
connects with customers. Interested in improving your financial
knowledge? Enable the Manulife IQ skill to build on your financial
literacy. Manulife develops skills through its innovation labs LOFT
and RED Lab in collaboration with business units across the
organization.
About Manulife:
Manulife Financial Corporation is a
leading international financial services group that helps people
achieve their dreams and aspirations by putting customers' needs
first and providing the right advice and solutions. We operate
primarily as John Hancock in
the United States and Manulife
elsewhere. We provide financial advice, insurance, as well as
wealth and asset management solutions for individuals, groups and
institutions. At the end of 2016, we had approximately 35,000
employees, 70,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners,
serving more than 22 million customers. As of September 30, 2017, we had over $1 trillion (US$806
billion) in assets under management and administration, and
in the previous 12 months we made $27.1
billion in payments to our customers. Our principal
operations are in Asia,
Canada and the United States where we have served
customers for more than 100 years. With our global headquarters in
Toronto, Canada, we trade as 'MFC'
on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges
and under '945' in Hong Kong.
SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation