Case Study: Farmers Mutual Group achieves rapid earthquake response and improved decision-making with SAS

Farmers Mutual leverages its customer data for better decision making and reporting

Farmers Mutual Group (FMG) is a New Zealand mutual insurer serving rural customers since 1905. When a 7.1‑magnitude earthquake struck near Christchurch on Sept. 4, 2010, FMG faced the urgent challenge of identifying and contacting potentially affected policyholders, estimating financial exposure (including government‑supplemented quake cover), and prioritising response amid damaged communications and difficult access to rural areas.

Using SAS’s end‑to‑end data warehouse, analytics and web reporting tools, FMG quickly extracted accurate customer lists, ran risk and exposure models, and populated visual maps to prioritise action. Within two hours assessors were deployed, the company chartered a helicopter to reach the most at‑risk customers, the contact centre remained fully staffed, and by day two FMG had almost all critical information to support claims planning and ongoing updates.

Farmers Mutual Group

Craig Skett

Manager, Business Information & Analysis Services