Why do certificates hurt a small agency more than a big one?
A small agency has nobody whose whole job is certificates. Each request lands on a producer or a CSR who was doing something else, and it is urgent because a job cannot start without it.
The form is rarely the slow part. Finding the right policy, checking the wording against the endorsements, and getting back to the holder is what eats the afternoon. We go through the whole path in certificate of insurance automation.
Do we need certificate software?
Not if nobody on your team wants to run it. Software makes the person issuing certificates faster, but that person is still you or your CSR.
| Option | Who does the work | What your team does | Fits when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keep doing them in house | Your CSR or producer | Everything | Requests are rare and simple |
| Certificate software | Your team, faster | Learn it, run it, check it | Someone already owns certificates |
| Virtual assistant or outsourcing | A person you train or a vendor's team | Train, manage, review | Volume is steady and you can supervise |
| Cert Desk | Salience | Forward and approve | You want the work gone, not faster |
What does the agency actually do?
Two things. You forward the request, and you approve the certificate.
- A certificate request comes in. Forward it to your Salience address, or set one rule that sends them for you.
- Salience prepares the ACORD 25 and checks the request against the policy.
- You see the certificate and approve it, or ask for a change.
- It goes out, stamped with who approved it and when. Every request has an ID, so you can find any certificate in seconds.
A finished ACORD 25 for a fictional fabrication shop. This is what you approve.
What does it cost a small agency?
Less than your current overhead on certificates. Add up who touches a certificate, how long each one takes, and what that time costs you, then compare. You can start free, on real requests, before you decide anything.
What should stay with a person?
Anything that changes coverage. If a request asks for something the policy does not grant, the right answer is a note to your client about an endorsement, not a certificate. We flag those to you instead of guessing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best certificate of insurance software for a small agency?
If someone on your team already owns certificates, software can make them faster. If nobody does, a service such as Cert Desk fits better, because your team only forwards the request and approves the result.
How can a small insurance agency handle certificate requests faster?
Send every request to one address so it stops competing with the rest of the inbox, then hand preparation to someone else. With Cert Desk you forward the request and approve the finished certificate.
How fast do certificates come back?
After setup, most certificates are ready by the next business day.
Do we have to change our agency management system?
No. Cert Desk works with agencies on AMS360, and your team keeps working the way it does today.
Does anything go out without our approval?
No. You approve every certificate first, and each one shows who approved it and when.