While the insurance industry has realized strong premium growth from improved prices, making a profit is still a challenge. Many carriers depend on external partners to distribute their products and services. Therefore, the ease of doing business is critical for independent partners. Electronic wholesaling models that focus on self-service, assisted marketing, virtual sales, and advice for smaller distributors will enable carriers to increase profits.

The aging population presents another opportunity for insurance carriers. Many people close to retirement age collectively lost trillions of dollars due to the global economic crises. Insurance companies must identify new strategies that address this market, including transforming their role and value proposition through an ecosystem of services (such as wealth, health, and travel) that can be delivered to customers in the comfort of their homes through high-quality immersive teleconferencing systems such as consumer telepresence.