JAVLN partnership powers insurance innovation at McDonald Everest

McDonald Everest Insurance Brokers was selected as one of the pilot sites and after 12 months of working together, the 14-person brokerage has transformed its operations, elevating client services and efficiency.

"We knew JAVLN hadn’t been built to its full capacity when we went live and needed some extra features, but that's the whole idea of a new system - as long as it can be built on and there's progress, we are happy with that." explains Tinaca Parkes, Managing Director at McDonald Everest.

The transition represented more than just a technology upgrade. With new leadership taking the helm, McDonald Everest took the opportunity to rethink its workflows and operations.

"We're relatively new to all of this, which is exciting because it means we’re learning something new and evolving every day," Tinaca reflects on the leadership transition that coincided with their digital transformation.

The journey hasn't been without challenges. Transitioning from their legacy system meant significant change for the team, particularly for experienced staff members with deeply entrenched workflows.

McDonald Everest took a proactive approach to change management, recognising that different team members would adapt at varying paces.

"For a person who’s been doing things a certain way for years, it's massive. It was massive for all of us. But that's where you need your team leaders to keep it positive."

The organisation took a hands-on approach to people development during the transition. They brought in fresh talent, including a school leaver who started with data enrichment tasks and has since joined full-time. This highlights how new technology can create opportunities to bring young people into the industry, while strengthening internal capabilities.

The results are already showing. The JAVLN platform is “a lot better” than McDonald Everest’s previous system, especially for domestic insurance processing. The team can now handle renewals more efficiently and provide better service to clients, which in turn means that we are meeting our obligations as financial advisers.

"The great thing with JAVLN is connectivity - you've got all three insurers in one area with one question set. With so much change in the domestic market, having that unified view is amazing," says Tinaca.

McDonald Everest is excited about JAVLN's roadmap, particularly advancements in workflow automation and productivity improvements. JAVLN’s continued investment in its team and platform has reinforced McDonald Everest’s confidence in the partnership.

McDonald Everest's experience has established them as informal advisors to other brokers in their network undergoing similar transformations. "We've had a few NZbrokers group members come to town, and we're friendly with them all," Tinaca explains. "I'm happy to help and show them the ropes."

This collaborative approach reflects the unique nature of New Zealand's insurance broking community, where firms can be both competitors and collaborators in driving industry innovation.

"The great thing with JAVLN is connectivity - you've got all three insurers in one area with one question set. With so much change in the domestic market, having that unified view is amazing," says Tinaca.

As McDonald Everest continues to leverage JAVLN’s evolving capabilities, the focus remains on maximising client service and team efficiency.

The partnership demonstrates how technology driven transformation, when approached with a collaborative mindset, can drive industry innovation. Both organisations share a commitment to building something that goes beyond traditional vendor-client relationships.

By working together openly, sharing insights, and maintaining a strong focus on continuous improvement, McDonald Everest and JAVLN aren’t just implementing a system. They’re shaping the future of insurance broking.