Vienna Insurance Group AG to establish a new assistance company in Serbia called Global Assistance Belgrad

Vienna Insurance Group AG to establish a new assistance company in Serbia called Global Assistance Belgrad

(PRESS RELEASE) VIENNA, 28-Mar-2022 — /EuropaWire/ — Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe (VIE: VIG), one of the largest international insurance groups in Central and Eastern Europe, has announced its plan to establish in April 2022 a new assistance company in Serbia called Global Assistance Belgrad. The newly formed company will help the insurer expand further its dedicated companies for digital customer service. According to the company, customers in eleven countries will be supported by the Group’s own service companies by the end of the year (2022).

Offering added value  
VIG Group’s goal is to offer assistance services via its own companies rather than third-party companies. There are two key advantages to this approach, as VIG Managing Board member Harald Riener, who is responsible for assistance, explains: “Firstly, we are creating tangible new supplementary services that we want to offer independently of risk protection. This approach is increasingly important given that the frequency of contact with customers is decreasing, which in turn makes our visibility as an insurance partner all the more crucial. Secondly, with this approach we are able to provide a single-source solution for the entire process, from the quote through to claims management and assistance. The concept creates clear added value for customers, and it allows us to significantly influence and improve service quality by controlling the process cycle for claims management from the first contact through to compensation payments.”

A total of eight dedicated companies for eleven countries
The first VIG Group Global Assistance company was launched in the Czech Republic in 2013. Additional companies followed in Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Latvia, and most recently Georgia in autumn 2021. With the launch of this eighth assistance company in Serbia, VIG Group can now serve customers in eleven countries (North Macedonia is supported from Bulgaria, and the Latvian company currently covers all three Baltic states, which will be serviced by the end of 2022 at the latest). So far, more than 400,000 assistance cases have been recorded annually.

State-of-the-art technical solution with comprehensive offering 
VIG has a proprietary software system for assistance cases; this system is used by the dedicated assistance companies to organise and process digital services. In addition to managing assistance cases, the VIG companies can monitor customers’ service cases with precision using GPS tracking, allowing them to provide assistance as quickly as possible. Furthermore, customers have the option to track the services online and respond efficiently. Since the beginning of 2022, assistance cases within the participating VIG countries can also be processed digitally networked and provide policyholders with fast and precise assistance even when abroad. Whether it’s a car accident, a breakdown or an injury suffered during a holiday, the Global Assistance call centre can locate VIG customers as necessary and quickly organise assistance, even if they are on holiday and not in their home country. Assistance services are offered for motor, travel, household and health.

Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe (VIG) is the leading insurance group both in Austria and in the entire Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. Around 50 insurance companies in 30 countries form a Group with a long-standing tradition, strong brands and close customer relations. The more than 25,000 employees in the VIG take care of the day-to-day needs of more than 22 million customers. VIG shares have been listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since 1994. The VIG Group has an A+ rating with stable outlook by the internationally recognised rating agency Standard & Poor’s. VIG cooperates closely with the Erste Group, the largest retail bank in Central and Eastern Europe.

Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements that concern future developments in Vienna Insurance Group AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe (VIG). These statements are based on current assumptions and forecasts made by the management. Changes in general economic developments, future market conditions, capital markets and other circumstances could result in actual events or results differing significantly from these forward-looking statements. The VIG assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements or modify them based on future events or developments.

Media contact:
VIENNA INSURANCE GROUP AG Wiener Versicherung Gruppe
Wolfgang Haas
Head of Communication & Marketing
Schottenring 30, 1010 Vienna
Phone: +43 50 390-21029
mailto: wolfgang.haas@vig.com

SOURCE: Vienna Insurance Group