For insurers writing policies, it is essential to accurately price risk. Location is one of the most important types of data used to calculate premiums, especially for home and car policies, where factors like crime rates and nearby threats are key. The more accurate an insurer’s risk assessment, the more accurate your policy. In some cases this could mean a reduction in premium, in others this could mean spotting a risk which was previously overlooked. What is ‘location data’? ‘Location data’ refers to electronic information about location, defined by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as ‘information collected by a network or service about where the user’s phone or other device is or was located’. As a consumer, you may be familiar with location services on your mobile phone. Location data has grown to become almost ubiquitous across modern technology, from getting directions across town to ordering a cab. You have to give consent to every individual app or website which asks to access them, as location data is collected by a network or service and, understandably, there are tight security controls surrounding it. However, data can also be GPS-based, created outside of phone networks by smartphones, tablets or sat-navs, or collected at a local level for example by home or business wi-fi equipment. This is less regulated. What does it have to do with insurance? Technology-driven location data can provide more than just a dropped pin on a map. For insurers, it could also give context. Think average house values, the distance of a building from coastlines or rivers, nearby business competitors, vehicle density of an area and relevant crime statistics. Studies conducted by Perr & Knight for Pitney Bowes found that around 5% of homeowner policies and as many as 10% auto policies in America could be priced incorrectly because of unspecific location data. Forbes contributor Hugo Moreno notes: “In many cases, the gap between the estimated and actual location is small enough to be insignificant, but where it’s not, there’s room for error—and that error can be costly.” If you have a query about your home, car or fleet insurance policy, give us a call today and find out how we can help you.

As the temperature drops and we are getting closer to Christmas, here’s how you can help keep an eye on elderly neighbours and relatives over the period. During the winter, elderly people are more susceptible to illnesses including colds, flu, breathing and cardiovascular problems as the cold weather suppresses the immune system. These illnesses can be much more serious for vulnerable or frail people than younger, healthier people. Sadly, around 20,000 more people aged over 65 die in the winter months than at other times of the year. As the winter freeze hits, keeping an eye on elderly relatives and neighbours can go the extra mile at this time of year. Here’s how you can lend a hand: 1. Pop round regularly Visiting someone often makes it easier to spot any signs of illness, and get medical care quickly, especially if they live alone. Age UK says one million elderly people per month don’t regularly speak to family, friends or a neighbour, so at the very least dropping in for a cup of tea can provide companionship and help reduce depression. 2. Make sure their home is warm Older people lose body heat more quickly and take longer to warm up than younger people. Try to make sure their home is at least 18°C, and encourage keeping doors between rooms closed to help retain heat. Other things you can do include providing them with a hot water bottle, a warm drink and a throw or blanket. 3. Pop to the shops Simple errands can be a huge undertaking for elderly or frail people, especially if they are less mobile. Helping out with physical chores such as fetching shopping or putting the rubbish out can be a huge help, preventing fatigue, slips and trips, and overexposure to cold weather. 4. Prepare for the weather Spending a few minutes clearing an elderly person’s walkways of snow and ice could make all the difference. When venturing outside in icy weather, shoes should have non-slip soles which aren’t worn through. You can also check for worn rubber tips on canes or walking frames. 5. Check their entitlements Everyone over the age of 65 is eligible for a free NHS flu jab, which reduces the chances of contracting flu as well as complications including bronchitis and pneumonia. People born on or before 5 August 1953 are also entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment to help with heating bills. It's estimated, 10% of  Kent's elderly population (over 65) are lonely all or most of the time. Let's do what we can to make a difference.

Bringing to mind Apple Watches and FitBits, “wearable tech” has begun to revolutionise industries from entertainment to healthcare. Now, a new focus on children and parents brings to light a whole host of new uses for these futuristic devices. Parents across the globe will be familiar with the worry and helplessness that comes with an ill child, especially when they can’t describe what’s wrong with them or how you can help them. After a health scare with his eldest son, CJ Swarmy designed a wearable device to monitor children’s key biometrics and detecting unusual patterns. A brightly coloured device worn on the wrist, Good Parents Inc’s Kiddo monitors skin temperature, heart rate, sleep, perspiration and nutrition levels. It learns what is normal for your child through artificial intelligence and notifies you by mobile phone app if there is a significant change, also suggesting actions you could take. Another gadget available for anxious parents is the Tinitell, a GPS tracker with live map monitoring. As well as locating your child, the device doubles as both a watch and a water-resistant voice-recognition wrist phone. Great for older kids, this techy-looking gadget can be pre-programmed with 12 contacts and is managed by parents through the Tinitell admin app. Marketed as “your kid’s first mobile phone”, the Tinitell and similar gadgets once again raise long-debated questions over the appropriate age for children to start using a smartphone. How young is too young for a wearable device? Unlike smartphones, wearable tech does not demand screen time but is designed to operate in the background with minimal participation. The wave of child-focused devices has a positive focus on physical wellness and safety. However, critics argue even good-intentioned wearable tech creates a reliance on technology from an early age, and encourages “helicopter parenting” where parents hover over their children’s lives. We provide insurance to businesses in the wearable technology industry. Call Safeguard on 08456 888 284 or email sales@safeguardinsurance.co.uk to talk to our team.