Business Overview
HaveNoFear Insurance LLC insures the makers of reality television programs, including everything from Fear Factor to Candid Camera. The growing reality TV media phenomenon requires insurance because of the dangerous, high-risk activities that make these shows so popular. The likelihood of a lawsuit from either a stunt gone wrong or mental abuse and humiliation from another contestant or panelist is high. As a result, insuring the sponsors, producers and staff of these shows has become a high-growth area.
The company is growing quickly, but also faces stiff competition. As a result, actuaries, risk managers, loss control engineers, underwriters and legal counsel must work together to efficiently set premiums for new shows, sometimes on a stunt-by-stunt basis, while keeping the company's costs down. Case managers, customer service reps and claims adjusters have to work together to resolve claims in a timely manner.
HaveNoFear plans to move its staff of 180 employees to larger headquarters and will require a new phone system. Upon occupying the building, HNF IT will install a high-bandwidth, high-quality LAN that will not be part of this RFI. While there are no satellite offices, about 20 employees telecommute from home and 30 additional employees have offices at headquarters but also travel extensively and telecommute from home occasionally.
The company is seeking basic, reliable, cost-effective communications, but it is also interested in improving efficiency of staff interactions and optimizing business processes.
Aside from traditional phone service, provided cost-effectively via VoIP, HNF is also interested in applications such as presence and unified messaging. The company hopes this new system will give it a competitive edge against larger, more well-established insurers that are increasingly attracted to the lucrative business of insuring those associated with reality TV.
