Manulife Hong Kong launches virtual face-to-face agency sales platform

In a statement, the insurer said that its newly-launched “virtual face-to-face” agency sales platform will be available for all its individual insurance products in Hong Kong, except investment-linked assurance schemes, and that the sales process requires no physical meeting or wet-ink signature.

Read more: Manulife Hong Kong recognised as trusted brand by Readers’ Digest

The platform was developed following the Insurance Authority’s (IA) announcement encouraging insurers to provide temporary facilitative measures that allow consumers to purchase certain insurance products without attending a physical meeting in person with an agent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was approved by the IA through the Insurtech Sandbox programme, which provides a testing ground for new technology to be applied in business operations.

“We’ve continued to see strong demand for insurance products as people become more health-conscious and think of their protection needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Damien Green, chief executive officer of Manulife Hong Kong and Macau. “The recent facilitative measures and Insurtech Sandbox from the Insurance Authority have created a prime opportunity for us to do the right thing for customers, breaking the short-term constraint on face-to-face meetings with a new insurtech solution. It has the potential to become a meaningful alternative to traditional in-person face-to-face meetings, for customers who want choices and greater ease and convenience.”