Afni News

What Are the Benefits of Bilingual Skills in the Insurance Industry?

November 23, 2023 in

Knowing more than one language has always been beneficial when looking for a new job opportunity. In today’s ultra-competitive job market, we may say that bilingual speakers have more advantages over monolinguals. So, what are the benefits of bilingual skills in the insurance industry?

Stay as we elaborate on the benefits the insurance business has from bilingual employees. By explaining how bilingual skills may help in the insurance industry, you’ll understand why it’s important to invest in such training and development.

Continue reading to discover how language proficiency benefits insurance professionals and what its advantages are!

What Are the Benefits of Bilingual Skills in the Insurance Industry?

The insurance industry can use bilingual skills for improved customer relations, access to global markets, efficient claims processing, risk assessment and underwriting, compliance and legal requirements, employee advantages, and training and development. It has solidified its presence in the job market through risk management and analyzing certain outcomes.

The variety of insurance options also leads to an increasing diversity in the customer base. People of all demographics and backgrounds are interested in protecting themself and their assets from harm. Thus, the insurance industry is always in need of effective communication to ensure each client has the best solution for their unique circumstances.

As with any industry, even the insurance sector is made out of different businesses competing in the marketplace. That’s why having bilingual employees gives the business an advantage achieved through wider customer outreach. That being said, here are the advantages of bilingual employees in insurance:

Improved customer relations

The value of language skills in insurance careers can be mainly seen through improved customer relations. Not only is it beneficial for building trust with a diverse clientele, but it also leads to enhanced customer service. Giving the client an option to choose their preferred language shows that you actually care about your audience.

Furthermore, having someone on the team who knows how to speak the customer’s language will make it easier for the company to understand what the client needs and wants are. By speaking the same language as the client, coming up with the right solution for their case will take much less effort. Meeting the client’s needs through effective bilingual communication skills leads to higher customer satisfaction and retention.

Access to global markets

Having bilingual employees also allows the insurance business access to global markets. Since the goal of any business is to reach a wider customer audience, speaking more than one language allows the company to reach more people. Even though you may be satisfied by the results you’re pulling in your local marketplace, there are numerous advantages to expanding your insurance services internationally.

Connecting with non-English speaking markets may sound impossible if you’re operating from an English-speaking location. That’s why having a bilingual employee improves your chances of making the first contact with a global marketplace.

Furthermore, if you’re looking for opportunities for growth and market penetration, this is a sure way to stand out from your competition. Not only will your business have the needed bilingual skills, but you’ll also have a strategic advantage when dealing with the competition.

Efficient claims processing

Another use of the benefits of speaking more than one language in insurance is more efficient claims processing. If you wish to run a successful insurance business, you must be capable of gathering and analyzing all the needed information for determining the company's liability for each claim.

When dealing with non-English speaking clients, these claims may be submitted in their native language. Thus, it’s important to have bilingual employees who will efficiently process the claims without making any major mistakes. Faster and more accurate claims handling also leads to reducing misunderstandings and disputes.

Remember that making unnecessary mistakes during claim processing will negatively affect the relationships you’ve built with your clients and may even lead to financial losses. Furthermore, optimizing your claim-handling process will help you minimize the resources you use to achieve certain objectives.

Risk assessment and underwriting

Having bilingual communication skills can also aid in risk assessment and underwriting for multicultural markets. Since the insurance sector’s main goal is risk management, these are the two foundational pillars of every successful business in this industry. Since not everyone knows English, some applications from potential clients may be written in their native language if you’re branching out to global markets.

Having bilingual employees ensures faster and more efficient risk assessments and underwriting. Furthermore, it can help in identifying emerging trends and risks outside of your primary location.

By having a better understanding of the client’s location and circumstances, you’ll also be able to craft customized policy offerings. Having their individual needs and requirements in mind will help you build a loyal audience with higher user satisfaction.

Compliance and legal requirements

When dealing with global markets, you should always remember that there may be different legal necessities than what you’re used to. You’ll need to follow the different compliance and legal requirements. Some of the most common requirements are associated with storing the client’s personal information and money laundering.

Since they’re designed to protect both the clients and the overall market, it's essential to have a deep understanding of the legal requirements. Having someone on your team with proficient bilingual communication skills can help when dealing with multilingual documentation. This will aid in meeting regulatory obligations to avoid any costly compliance issues. Besides the fines and penalties, failing to follow these legal requirements can lead to sanctions and reputational losses.

Employee advantages

Besides having the business itself thrive due to the bilingual benefits, there are also numerous employee advantages. First, bilingual employees are always in high demand. Those having multiple languages listed in their resume are known to have higher chances of getting hired.

Having such a resume opens up numerous job opportunities and can aid in your career advancement. Furthermore, some studies suggest that those with bilingual skills experience higher salaries than native-only speakers. Being able to speak a potential client’s native language helps build stronger relationships and trust within a workplace. This also showcases your drive and motivation, which will not go unnoticed by employers.

Alongside the career opportunities, practicing different languages helps build your professional communication skills, which you can later use for networking purposes. You’ll be able to target specific locations during your job hunt and choose the ones that fit you best.

Training and development

To ensure you make the most of bilingual skills in the insurance workplace, it’s always recommended to invest in employee training and development. Even though providing language training programs may sound expensive at first, it’s beneficial in the long run. You can’t expect your business to evolve if you don’t focus your attention on improving your employees’ skills.

Another great opportunity is cross-cultural training for employees. With it, those working for global organizations will get instructions about the communication styles, work ideals, and body language in different cultures. Doing so allows you to optimize your work environment for international clients and solidify your presence on the global market.

Furthermore, investing in employee skill enhancement can lead to a more efficient team that’s prepared to devote their time and effort to the cause. They’ll be faster and more efficient when executing their tasks, which saves time and leaves a more professional impression.

Find Your Next Insurance Job with Afni

So, what are the benefits of bilingual skills in the insurance industry? After discovering the value of language skills in insurance careers, it’s safe to say that bilingual employees are widely sought after. If you’re looking for your next insurance job or are seeking a career change, check out the amazing offers on Afni!

We’re always open to new creative visionaries and passionate employees who are ready for the next chapter of their lives. With numerous opportunities available, you’ll surely find the best fit for your unique circumstances. Since we value all your efforts and achievements, you’ll have access to a fair job market and be compensated for your devotion.

So, contact Afni Careers today and begin your new career journey!

About the Author

Samantha is the Recruitment Marketing Manager for Afni and brings a wealth of knowledge and tips for job seekers. She holds a bachelor's degree in public relations and marketing from Mount Saint Vincent University as well as a masters degree in digital marketing and advertising from Liberty University.