Challenge
For the insurance industry, having intelligent property data can lead to reducing loss ratios and premiums. With the right information at the right time, property managers can take proactive measures to protect their assets.
Solution
OS data is core to Balkerne’s SmartResilience platform because it provides location accuracy. SmartResilience gives a risk rating for dangers including extreme weather events, flooding, armed robberies and even arson.
Using location data has become easier with the new OS Data Hub, with APIs giving easy access to OS data.
OS products that Balkerne use include Addressbase, to identify individual properties and UPRN’s (Unique Property Identifier Number). The UPRN is sent to the Linked Identifiers API, which returns associated TOIDs (Topographic Identifier), enabling Balkerne to fetch key information and features from the Features API, such as the extent of a property. This enables Balkerne to automate the assessment of risk accurately and provide real-time risk analytics to their customers. For example, Environment Agency data is used to identify areas which are at risk of flooding - down to individual buildings on a property.
Result
Using data from the OS Data Hub alongside their other sources means Balkerne can equip their customers with real-time risk analytics.
Managing General Agents (MGAs) can use the data to provide bespoke and unique propositions in the insurance market, differentiating themselves from the competition by targeting specific risks and modelling them within their own risk portfolio. Property Managers can assess risk to their properties and address the issues before they occur. Balkerne works directly with property managers to give a building-by-building risk assessment on their individual portfolios.
Balkerne’s SmartResilience platform is an example of the innovation that can happen when we make location data more easily available.
"To build accurate location intelligence from crime to flooding, accurate property data is fundamental and can only be obtained through an organisation like Ordnance Survey. For a fast-moving company like Balkerne, the OS Data Hub provides accurate, easy-to-use APIs to build, test and scale features in a cost-effective way. It also removes the headaches from requirement to host large OS datasets and manage complex licensing terms."
