Jump to the following:

Ordnance Survey logo

Discover Ordnance Survey

Skip primary navigation
Site Search
Skip secondary navigation

QBE's Rob Saxon: innovate during difficult market conditions

With 10 years in georisk assessment in the insurance industry behind him, Rob Saxon is now delivering expertise to the commercial property division of QBE European Operations, one of Europe’s leading insurers and reinsurers.

How do you use our mapping data?

QBE European Operations, the specialist in business insurance, is launching a new property pricing tool, which uses Ordnance Survey data for all Great Britain risk locations and helps assess the risk from natural perils such as flood and subsidence as well as fire and crime risk.

What do you find most useful?

Ordnance Survey’s ADDRESS–POINT® product provides accurate geocoding data required in our business to assess the risk of key property perils such as flood risk. It can differentiate between commercial properties that are within river flood plains and those that are elevated outside risk zones. This level of detail is now provided to our underwriters automatically at the quote and pricing stage. QBE also utilises OS OpenDataTM as backdrops for internal presentations, which we use to promote our georisk ideas and support the business case.

Why did you become interested in geographic information?

QBE insures various types of property all over the world, from warehouses in Manchester to offices in Asia. However, the principal risk assessment process requires the underwriter to understand the exposure to natural perils and, therefore, the location of the risk is core to pricing our business. Geographic assessment is now a hygiene factor in the market, and by using Ordnance Survey data, QBE can demonstrate we are fully committed and willing to invest in these tools for the benefit of our brokers, clients and reinsurers.

What, in your opinion, are the key issues facing the insurance industry over the next three years?

Innovation during difficult market conditions. We are constantly thinking of new ways in which we can grow and develop our business to meet the demand of our clients. This could be designing and developing new tools for underwriters to ensure we provide a high-quality service.

Joined-up approach between insurers, reinsurance brokers and reinsurers. Geographic analysis of an insured’s portfolio is vital to the risk-placement process, so better underwriting systems and controls for accumulation and exposure management should equate to better data and more confidence in the insurer’s process. Ultimately, this should reduce the amount of time spent cleansing data and lead to improved data-capture rates and easier ways to purchase reinsurance.

Outsourcing GIS solutions. The key thing in any business is the ability to demonstrate a measurable return on investment of geographic solutions and services within an organisation. We need more collaboration across the insurance industry to share success stories and make it easier to consume geographic services and products.

Tell us something not many people know about you. A fun fact or claim to fame, for example.

I lived in Hong Kong for 18 months following university and worked on the construction site of the new Chek Lap Kok International Airport. Arriving at the old airport was quite a thrilling experience because of the sudden turn just before landing and was one of the reasons why it was relocated at Chek Lap Kok.

QBE's Rob Saxon

QBE use a mixture of detailed addressing and mapping data products in their systems.

Skip supplementary navigation

For general enquiries, complaints, feedback or suggestions, email: customerservices@ordnancesurvey.co.uk or call us on 08456 05 05 05