Assurant, Inc. a global protection company that safeguards and services connected devices, homes, and automobiles in partnership with the world’s leading brands, announced the launch of F&I On Demand, a virtual staffing solution designed to help auto dealerships address personnel shortages in finance and insurance (F&I) departments.
As dealerships manage hiring, training, and staffing challenges, F&I On Demand is a patent-pending process utilizing a proprietary scheduling tool that connects dealer teams with Assurant’s highly trained, virtual F&I specialists. Unlike basic video-call solutions that only present various products, Assurant’s F&I On Demand is the industry’s only fully integrated, end-to-end solution that operates like an in-house F&I department.
“As the automotive industry continues to grapple with significant technological and operational changes, we saw a clear opportunity to provide a streamlined, end-to-end digital experience that addresses both the evolving needs of dealerships and the demands of consumers,” said Gary Bosses, senior vice president, Assurant Dealer Services. “In addition to staffing flexibility for dealers, we also see opportunities for them to drive revenue and customer satisfaction scores through the personalized experience provided by our virtual F&I specialists.”
The virtual F&I specialist is an Assurant employee who is available on-demand for dealerships. The specialists present each customer with a clear menu of potential products and options. A feature of F&I On Demand is Assurant’s Warranty Insights, a dynamic visual analysis and product awareness tool that helps consumers clearly understand manufacturer warranty limits and identify potential coverage gaps. By leveraging Assurant’s extensive claims history, the tool quantifies the real-world benefits and potential savings across mechanical, cosmetic, tire, and technology-related component failures.
“Assurant’s F&I On Demand remote finance manager services have streamlined our deal flow and delivered consistent, professional customer experiences,” said John Smith, Jr., Dealer Principal and President, Smith Auto Group. “It has proven to be an invaluable extension of our team.”
Assurant developed the F&I on Demand product in collaboration with their innovation and auto teams to address the major pain points that dealerships face with managing the high costs and bandwidth requirements of their F&I departments.
