How Zander Insurance Transformed After-Hours Support with ASC

What great service looks like after hours
Large Graphic Message Zander Asc

Zander Insurance, a nearly century-old brokerage, helps customers nationwide find the best insurance for their needs, including home, auto, and life insurance. With significant growth in recent years, Zander faced the challenge of providing excellent customer service after hours. Answering Service Care (ASC) stepped in as a trusted partner, helping Zander expand its capabilities and improve both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.  

We recently spoke with Phillip Maddox, Assistant VP of Technology at Zander Insurance, about how ASC has impacted their operations and why other businesses could benefit from similar services.

The Challenge: Extending Service Hours & Improving Customer Support

Zander Insurance relies on its answering service operations to provide timely assistance to clients. However, ensuring top-notch service outside of business hours proved challenging. Phillip said, “Our company is very heavy on call center activity. When we close our doors, there are still needs for our customers—existing and potential—that needed to be solved.” After considering how Answering Service Care has helped combat this challenge, he continued, “ASC provided a way to ensure touchpoints after hours, allowing us to gather messages and details efficiently for follow-up the next day.”

The Solution: Flexible Services & Data-Driven Integration 

What started as a simple need for after-hours support quickly evolved into a more comprehensive partnership. Answering Service Care now supports Zander Insurance with advanced solutions, such as:  

  1. Streamlined Call Handling: ASC ensures calls are routed and managed efficiently with four specialized accounts covering different call types (e.g., home and auto insurance through Personal Lines accounts and life insurance through Life accounts). In December alone:
    • Average Handle Time for Personal Lines Service calls: 3.9 minutes
    • Average Handle Time for Life Insurance Service calls: 2.8 minutes
    • Average Handle Time for Personal Lines Sales calls: 3.15 minutes
    • Average Handle Time for Life Sales calls: 2.69 minutes  
  2. Enhanced Data Integration: ASC streamlines workflows by capturing detailed call data and integrating it into Zander’s proprietary API. This data automatically feeds into Zander’s CRM, Salesforce, eliminating the need for manual processing and enabling quicker response times.
  3. Focus on Sales Efficiency: Sales calls are Zander’s most frequent call type, comprising 263 of 387 calls in December of 2024. These calls primarily come from potential clients seeking the best insurance rates. ASC’s agents ensure that calls are handled with care and professionalism, providing valuable data that helps Zander convert leads into customers.
  4. Proactive Account Management: Phillip highlighted the exceptional support from ASC’s customer success team, particularly Maria Smith, saying, “Maria has been a fantastic partner. Whether addressing billing questions or finding creative solutions to optimize service, her responsiveness has been top-notch.”

Through innovative solutions and seamless integration, Answering Service Care has transformed how Zander Insurance handles after-hours support and call management. By streamlining processes, capturing rich data, and maintaining a high standard of customer care, ASC has become a trusted partner in driving Zander’s efficiency and success. This flexible and proactive collaboration sets the foundation for continued growth and excellence in customer service.

Results: Improved Customer Experience & Operational Efficiency

The partnership with Answering Service Care has delivered measurable benefits for Zander Insurance, including:  

  • Increased Availability and Customer Satisfaction: ASC’s 24/7 availability ensures that Zander’s clients never feel ignored. Live agents handle inquiries and provide reassurance, even after hours.  
  • Operational Efficiency: With an average of 454.5 calls per month and 1,430 minutes used over the past eight months, ASC has helped Zander Insurance scale its operations without overextending its internal team.
  • Enhanced Lead Conversion: ASC captures detailed information from sales inquiries, improving Zander’s ability to follow up and convert leads into loyal customers.  
  • Future-Ready Processes: ASC is working with Zander to implement first-call resolution (FCR) for sales calls, further reducing inefficiencies and improving service.  

The partnership with ASC has empowered Zander Insurance to deliver exceptional service while optimizing operations. By ensuring availability, enhancing efficiency, and capturing valuable data for lead conversion, ASC has proven to be an invaluable ally. As Zander continues to refine its processes, this collaboration positions them for sustained success and a superior customer experience.

Key Takeaways for Other Businesses

Zander Insurance’s success with Answering Service Care demonstrates how businesses in any industry can benefit from a high-quality answering service:  

  1. Extend Service Hours: Keep your business available to clients 24/7 without straining your internal team.  
  2. Streamline Processes: Use call data integration to enhance workflows and reduce manual tasks.  
  3. Focus on Customer Satisfaction: Live agents improve customer experience compared to voicemail or online forms.  
  4. Leverage Expertise: Partner with a service that offers responsive account management and adaptable solutions.  

Zander Insurance’s experience with ASC highlights the transformative potential of a dependable answering service. From extending availability to enhancing workflows and prioritizing customer satisfaction, the right partner can help businesses thrive. No matter the industry, a high-quality answering service can elevate efficiency, build stronger customer relationships, and stay competitive.

Why Zander Insurance Recommends ASC

When asked why businesses should consider partnering with Answering Service Care, Phillip pointed to the tangible improvements in efficiency and customer satisfaction. He emphasized that the agents “represent us well and truly have the heart of a service person on the phone.”  

From handling sales and service inquiries to enhancing operational workflows, ASC has become integral to Zander’s strategy to provide top-notch insurance services. If your business is ready to elevate its customer service, Answering Service Care is here to help.