AMS+ screenshot

How does an AMS differ from a CRM?

An Agency Management System vs. a Generic CRM: What's the Difference?

When comparing an insurance agency management system (AMS) with a generic CRM, there are three significant differences: who specifically it's built for, what features it includes, and how productive it makes you and your team.

Generic CRMs are built in a way that businesses of all sizes and industries can often utilize them. There are generic CRMs that are more geared for sizes of businesses, like small business, mid market, and large enterprises.

However, for insurance agencies to use CRMs effectively, they often need to build extensive customizations that can cost a significant amount of time and money. Many agencies have to seek out a developer or third party to assist in these customizations. Alternatively, an insurance-specific AMS includes important CRM capabilities, but is built for the specific needs of insurance agencies and includes specific field types (coverage types, policy details, etc.), policy management, contact type distinction (individuals vs. groups), sales and compliance management, and more. 

Key Features of an Insurance Agency Management System

Tour an Industry-Specific AMS

Steps to choosing an agency management system (AMS)

How to Choose the Right Agency Management System

You want to ensure you're making the right decision for your health, benefits, and senior insurance agency when choosing a new agency management system (AMS). The right AMS can be the backbone of your agency, so it's critical to ensure you're doing your due diligence. 

Step 1: Identify Your Pain Points & Goals
Identify what is and isn't working in your current process to ensure your agency can reach its future goals.

Step 2: Identify Your Needs & Wants
Now that you know your goals, it's time to identify which tools and features you need to achieve them.

Step 3: Research Your Vendors
Do your due diligence and find the AMS vendor that fits your agency's needs and goals best.

Step 4: Make a Decision
This is the most important step. If you don't make a choice, things will likely not change.

Step 5: Manage the Change
Maximize the opportunity and create a process your whole team can follow to find success.

Ready to start the process of choosing your agency's new agency management system? Download our eBook for a complete guide through this process.

AgencyBloc's Insurance-Specific Solutions

AgencyBloc's Plus Suite: An Unparalleled Agency Management Platform

With a range of insurance-specific agency management and CRM tools, plus our industry-leading training and support, we've got you covered.

AgencyBloc's AMS+ solution

Sales, Retention, & Compliance CRM

AMS+ is the #1 agency recommended AMS for health insurance agencies and uplines. Streamline and centralize many of your day-to-day process to one solution that helps your agency increase sales, improve client retention, maintain compliance, reduce manual processes, and so much more.

AMS+ features include:

Explore AMS+ Features

AgencyBloc's Commissions+ solution

Commissions Processing for Insurance Agents

AgencyBloc's Commissions+ solution makes commissions processing more efficient and reliable. For over 15 years, Commissions+ has helped insurance agencies and uplines streamline commission management, recover thousands of dollars in missing commissions, and regain their sanity.

Commissions+ features include:

Explore Commissions+ Features

AgencyBloc's Engage+ solution

No-Stress Digital Marketing

AgencyBloc's Engage+ solution is the insurance agent's go-to tool for smart digital marketing. Most insurance agents know they need a stronger digital presence, but they don’t have the time, tools, or expertise to make it happen. Engage+ makes it effortless for agencies to strengthen their online presence, attract and nurture clients, and grow their business. Features include:

Explore Engage+ Features

AgencyBloc's Quote+ solution

End-to-End Group Benefits Quoting & Enrollment

AgencyBloc's Quote+ solution is the only end-to-end quoting and enrollment solution for small group benefits advisors. Quote+ provides benefits agencies with a multi-carrier marketplace, customizable proposal builder, HIPAA and HITECH compliant MHQ data collection tool, and carrier-specific submission capabilities.

Quote+ features include:

Explore Quote+ Features

See Real Client Experiences

"We have been with AgencyBloc for almost 10 years and they have been great. They are open to our suggestions for improvements and are always there to help when needed. So glad we have them as our CRM!"

Justin B.
RIS

"I love AgencyBloc!! It's a great system, but even greater than that is the staff that supports it. I thought for sure that, sooner or later, the support that I am accustomed to would come to an end, but I have since decided that this is just AgencyBloc's culture."

Michelle M.
Medicare Advisers of the Triad, Inc.

"AgencyBloc has streamlined our business. It has operationally helped us in more ways than one. We’ve been able to take our business to the next level and grow because of our partnership with AgencyBloc."

Cristin H.
The Brokerage, Inc.

"We are very happy we found AgencyBloc after searching and evaluating several CRMs for our insurance business. The most impressive thing I walked away with from the demo was the amount of support. It seems to be the one thing that is overlooked with most software solutions. AgencyBloc truly cares about their customers. They have followed through with everything they said they would, which is a rare trait."

Brandon W.
Translating Insurance

"We've been a member of AgencyBloc for 5 years now. It's hard to put in words how much gratitude I have for this program and the people behind it."

David E.
Integrity Advisors

Frequently Asked Questions About Agency Management Systems

Learn more about what you can expect from an AMS with these commonly asked questions.

  • An AMS, or agency management system, gives your health, benefits, or senior insurance agency the ability to work more efficiently with built-in industry-specific tools like policy management, industry compliance documents, workflow automation, and more.

    See All AMS+ Features

  • Definitely! An AMS gives independent agents and small agencies the tools they need to operate efficiently and stay competitive. Using the right AMS can help you sell more policies, improve client retention, maintain compliance, and accelerate growth.

    Explore How Agents Use AMS+

  • Potentially. Many AMS solutions offer integrations. For example, AMS+ integrates with many of the top quoting, enrollment, and lead acquisition platforms on the market.

    Learn More About AMS+

  • With built-in compliance documents, like the Scope of Appointment and ACA Consent to Contact, agents can easily stay in line with different regulations without the worry.

    Learn More About Compliance in AMS+

  • Security should always be the top priority for any AMS vendor. Here at AgencyBloc, we take security seriously. Our solutions are HIPAA compliant and regularly audited for HITRUST and SOC 2 Type II, which are industry-leading security standards.

    Explore Security in AMS+

  • Moving from one system to another involves a process called data migration. Each system and data migration is unique. Reach out to your vendor to learn about their requirements, support, and costs.

    Ask These Data Migration Questions