How We Helped a US Insurance Leader Reduce Policyholder Displacement Time

We partnered with a leading US insurance provider to develop a revolutionary housing portal that transforms how displaced policyholders find temporary accommodations after covered losses. The platform now serves multiple insurance carriers, has housed over 10,000 families after disasters, and reduces average placement time from 72 hours to under 10 hours, all while seamlessly integrating with existing claims management systems.

10,000+

families housed

85%

reduction in placement time

12-week

deployment

Client Introduction

Our client is a forward-thinking insurance technology company serving major carriers across the United States. They recognized that traditional approaches to temporary housing after disasters left policyholders stranded for days while adjusters scrambled to find accommodations. With climate-related disasters increasing annually and customer expectations rising, they needed a technology solution that could scale instantly during catastrophes while maintaining the personal touch policyholders expect during their most vulnerable moments.

Industry: Insurance Technology / InsurTech
Region: United States
Company Stage: Enterprise division
Primary Users: Policyholders, claims adjusters, housing coordinators, partner hotels

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What We Did

We built a comprehensive cloud-native insurance housing portal that revolutionizes disaster recovery accommodation. The platform features an intuitive policyholder portal where displaced families can instantly search and book pre-approved accommodations using just their claim number. For adjusters, we created a powerful dashboard showing real-time housing availability, automated budget controls based on policy limits, and integrated documentation for claims processing. The system includes a verified network of 25,000+ hotels and extended-stay properties with pre-negotiated rates that prevent price gouging. We implemented sophisticated fraud detection algorithms and automated payment processing that handles direct billing to insurance carriers, eliminating the need for policyholders to pay upfront and seek reimbursement.

How We Did It

Our approach began with embedding our team within the client's disaster response unit during an active hurricane season, observing real-world challenges as they unfolded. We interviewed 200+ policyholders who had experienced displacement to understand their journey and pain points. The development utilised event-driven architecture to handle sudden spikes during disasters, with auto-scaling capable of supporting 10,000+ concurrent users. We built intelligent matching algorithms that consider policy coverage, family size, pet requirements, accessibility needs, and proximity to damaged properties. Throughout development, we maintained strict compliance with insurance regulations while ensuring the interface remained simple enough for stressed policyholders to navigate easily.

Tech Stack & Integrations

Overcoming Challenges

Huge traffic during disasters (100× spikes): We use a serverless setup that automatically scales—guided by weather data and disaster alerts—so the system stays responsive.
Stopping price gouging in emergencies: We locked in fair, pre-negotiated hotel rates and set up automated monitoring that flags any rate violations.
Proving it’s really the policyholder, even if they’ve lost everything: We use multi-factor checks—claim number, phone verification, and adjuster approval—to securely confirm identity.
Many insurance systems that don’t play nicely together: We built one universal API adapter that speaks to 15+ claims platforms and keeps data in sync in real time.

Result & Impact

The platform transformed disaster response across the insurance industry. During its first major test a category 4 hurricane affecting three states - the system successfully housed 1000 families in 48 hours, a process that previously would have taken weeks. Customer satisfaction scores during claims increased by 45%, while operational costs decreased by 60% through automation.

Qualitative Wins

Industry recognition for innovation in disaster response
Expanded to serve 8 major insurance carriers
Enabled rapid response during 5 major natural disasters
Reduced adjuster workload by 70% during crisis events
Achieved 99.99% uptime during peak disaster periods

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does the system handle massive traffic during disasters?

‍We built the platform on serverless architecture with predictive auto-scaling. The system monitors weather patterns and disaster alerts to pre-scale resources before impact.

What prevents hotels from price gouging during emergencies?

‍The platform includes pre-negotiated rate agreements with our hotel network, automated rate monitoring that flags unusual pricing, and instant reporting to state insurance commissioners. Hotels violating agreements are automatically removed from the network.

How quickly can policyholders access housing after a loss?

‍With valid claim information, policyholders can search, book, and check into temporary housing within 2 hours. The system operates 24/7 with instant booking confirmation, and our support team assists with any special requirements.

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