Digitalisation has transformed almost every industry, and insurance is no exception. Behind the Osiguraj.me platform stands a team developing its own technology platform with the goal of making the comparison and purchase of insurance simpler, more transparent and accessible to everyone. We talked with Denis Kosor about what it looks like to develop an insurtech product in a traditional industry.

To start, briefly introduce Osiguraj.me to us.

Osiguraj.me is a pioneer in the digitalisation of buying insurance online. Back in 2016, in cooperation with an insurance company, we offered the market the possibility for the user to complete the process of purchasing a car insurance policy entirely digitally, end-to-end, that is, online. From the first data entry to the creation and delivery of the policy, everything is handled by the user in interaction with the platform. We wanted to build a platform that saves users time, provides clear information and allows them to find the best solution in one place. The story developed in cooperation with the media company Nova TV and one insurance company, so that today we cooperate with almost all insurance companies. From the very beginning we didn’t want to be just another sales channel, but to develop our own technology that would digitalise processes in the insurance industry and simplify the experience for users.

What can users find on Osiguraj.me today?

We can offer users all types of insurance products. We are regulated by the regulator and have contracts with almost all insurance companies, but in our live online offer the focus is for now on car insurance, simply because in digitalisation we also depend on the degree of digitalisation of the offer of the insurance companies themselves. Since car insurance accounts for almost 45% of the market (mandatory and comprehensive insurance), that is not insignificant. In one place, in real time, users can immediately compare car insurance, review the offers of leading insurance companies and conclude a policy entirely online.

The policy is immediately visible at the technical inspection as well, and it does not need to be printed for the purposes of registration.

So, a user can check where they stand on the market and, if they wish, buy a policy without coming into contact with an agent. And if they want help or advice, our licensed agents are of course at their disposal. Our focus is on a simple user experience, transparency and speed – without unnecessary paperwork and complicated procedures.

Insurance is often considered a conservative industry. How challenging is it to introduce digital solutions?

The Osiguraj.me mindset is digital first. If it were up to us, all offers from all insurance companies would be listed in real time online. However, the reality is that the Croatian market, at least when it comes to the digitalisation of insurance products, is developing somewhat more slowly. A large part of the work happens “under the hood” – through API integrations, process automation and the development of systems that enable fast, reliable and fully digital insurance contracting. Users today expect the same simple digital experience they have when purchasing any other product or service. This means the platform must be intuitive, secure and flexible enough to respond to the different needs of users and partners. There are plenty of challenges here, because some things don’t depend solely on us, but also on partners from the insurance companies, who also have their own challenges. The transparency of the entire insurance system has room for improvement, so that the advantages of today’s technologies can be fully utilised. But that is a work in progress – the client must not feel it. So, it is challenging, sometimes quite a lot, but that is precisely why it is interesting to us. The long-standing experience of the entire team helps a great deal in solving such challenges.

What sets you apart from other players on the market?

Independence, transparency and openness.

Although we operate in the insurance sector, we primarily consider ourselves an insurtech, that is, a technology company that develops digital solutions in the interest of users.

In modern terms, you could say our USP (Unique Selling Proposition) is very simple – in just 60 seconds a user can completely independently check whether they are paying too much for their insurance. In one place we display the offers of leading insurance companies in real time, and if they find a suitable option, they can conclude the policy immediately. We are guided by the digital first principle and always put the user first. We present offers objectively, regardless of the level of commission or any bonuses we earn. We believe that it is precisely transparency and impartiality that build long-term trust.

How important a role does technology play in your business today?

Technology is the foundation of our business. We develop the entire platform with our own in-house team, which gives us full control over development, easier maintenance and continuous upgrading and scaling of the system. Such an approach enables us to quickly introduce new functionalities, greater flexibility and high cost-efficiency. Since we develop and improve individual services independently, the system achieves better performance, integrates more easily with new partners and technologies, and can be continuously developed without major interventions in the existing infrastructure. It is precisely this agility and the rapid development of the AI we use that is key in a dynamic insurtech environment where the needs of users and the market change quickly.

How do you see the current state of digitalisation of the insurance market?

The market is developing, but there is still plenty of room for progress. Most insurance comparisons still take place offline, with manual processing of offers, which slows down the process and makes it harder for users to make an informed decision. At the same time, part of the digital solutions offer a limited choice or favour particular insurers, which reduces the competitiveness and transparency of the offer. We believe that users today expect speed, simplicity and the ability to compare all relevant options in one place, and it is precisely in that direction that we are developing our platform.

What are your plans for the further development of the platform?

Over the years, our platform has been used by hundreds of thousands of users to compare offers, and a large part of them also to buy a policy. This confirms to us that there is a real need for this way of contracting insurance, but also that a large number of people have yet to discover how simple the whole process can be. We develop the entire platform with our own in-house team, which gives us full control over product development and the fast introduction of new functionalities. Soon, through new integrations, we will enable users to compare almost 75% of the car insurance offer on the Croatian market in real time, completely online. For insurance companies that have not yet fully digitalised their processes, our licensed experts are available to users to check all available options and help in choosing the best solution.

What does your team look like?

We bring together experts from different fields – from insurance and software development to marketing, sales and customer support. It is precisely the combination of domain knowledge and technological expertise that enables us to develop products that meet the real needs of users. As the platform grows, we are also planning further expansion of the team, especially in the area of product development and technology.

Partners outside the insurance industry

We are also proud of long-term business collaborations with partners such as HAK, Njuškalo and Studenac, so that our offer can also be found through their digital channels. At the same time, we are working on new partnerships that will be heard about soon. We believe that it is precisely the connection of technology, quality partners and an excellent user experience that represents the foundation of long-term growth.

What motivated you to join the Split Tech City community?

Split Tech City brings together companies and individuals who develop quality technology products and actively contribute to the development of the local IT scene. We want to be part of such a community, to exchange experiences, connect with other technology companies and participate in projects that encourage innovation.

Where do you see Osiguraj.me in a few years?

Our development takes place through clearly defined phases, with a long-term strategy of continuous improvement of the platform. We are focused on integrating new partners and services, developing new functionalities and further strengthening brand recognition. It is equally important to us to build users’ trust in the online purchase of insurance products, primarily car insurance, and to show that the whole process can be fast, secure and simple. We have a technically and operationally proven, lean and scalable platform, and we want to further increase its reach. Our goal is not to build just a platform for comparing insurance, but the leading Croatian insurtech company that, through its own technology, will change the way people buy, contract and manage their insurance. We believe that the Croatian market is only now entering a more serious digital transformation of insurance, and we want to be one of its drivers.

To conclude – what would you like to say to the members of the Split Tech City community?

We believe that the best ideas arise through collaboration. We are always open to the exchange of knowledge, partnerships and meeting people who share a passion for developing quality digital products. We don’t just want to follow changes in the insurance market – we want to create them.

We look forward to being part of the Split Tech City community and believe that, through the exchange of experiences, new partnerships and the development of our own technology, we will together contribute to strengthening the local tech scene.