The atriga advisory board in conversation:
Three questions for Harald Weber

An advisory board with specialists from science and practice supports atriga in further expanding its lead in the development of innovative solutions for digital and customer-centric demand management. Harald Weber is one of these experts. He has been an independent business consultant since 2018. Before that, he worked for Allianz Deutschland AG for over 34 years in various functions. During this time, he was, among other things, head of payment processes and responsible for collections/disbursements and receivables management in Germany.

Harald Weber’s major projects included the redesign of the collection/disbursement systems, the introduction of SAP, various merger and synergy projects and the development of central controlling. Weber was a member of committees of the German Insurance Association (GDV).

Mr Weber, what impact do you think the Corona pandemic will have on the digitalisation of the finance and insurance industry in Germany in the short, medium and long term?

“Compared to other industries in the IT sector, the insurance industry is significantly more characterised by a large number of legacy systems, some of which work in isolation. In addition, the Corona pandemic in the insurance industry has had a strong impact on the development of insurance products, claims development and the assessment of new risks.

But I think it is much more decisive that the pandemic has significantly changed customer behaviour. Customers have learned to appreciate the value of modern technology and expect simple, easy-to-understand products, a quick and uncomplicated response to their wishes and fast service. The insurance companies that consistently pursue customer-focused digitisation will be the winners.”

“The performance of IT and the use of data will take on a central role. Only if the incasso sector reorganises its IT from the ground up it will stand a chance of success.”

Member of atriga’s advisory board, Harald Weber, has been an independent management consultant since 2018. Previously, he worked for Allianz Deutschland AG for more than 34 years in various functions, including as head of payment processes and responsible for collections/disbursements and receivables management in Germany.

How will receivables management develop in the coming years in terms of technology and content?

“On the one hand, there is the customer and debtor interaction with changed expectations and new possibilities for customised and solution-oriented communication. On the other hand, there are the external influences with new requirements on the part of regulation, the associated cost pressure and the increasing entry of new competitors into the market. I therefore expect a further development or redesign of the business models up to a complete repositioning in the value chain of the entire accounting, dunning and receivables system. The performance of IT and the use of data will take on a central role. Only if the debt collection industry reorganises its IT from the ground up will it have a chance of success. If this reorganisation does not succeed, in my view others will do it.”

What are the advantages of working with atriga for companies in the financial and insurance sectors?

“In addition to the high recovery rate, cooperation with atriga primarily relieves the client’s workload through processes that are precisely geared to the customer. In addition, there is the differentiated and flexible customer approach through the use of all essential channels on the basis of demographic data.”