MBF launches new generation website in dynamic upgrade of self-help customer service

Release date: August 8th, 2007

DIVERSIFIED private health insurer MBF today launched the new face of mbf.com.au, a next generation website that combines the best features of online financial services and online retailing.

A personalised customer area - myMBF - provides self-help capability and access to health and wellbeing information, special offers and tools.

The new look site is designed to help customers navigate the sometimes complex world of health insurance, select health insurance cover to suit their needs and conduct transactions at a time that suits them.

It also features more intuitive pathways to information and tools including a product comparator that allows direct comparisons of our product features and benefits to enable customers to select cover that best meets their needs.

In keeping with MBF's objective of helping customers take control of their health and wellbeing, there is a useful tool leading to Health and Lifestyle Assessments that provides an individual health plan based on customers' input.

"MBF is moving beyond simply providing online transactions to having an ongoing dialogue with our customers," said MBF group executive Customer and Distribution John Cowan. "We have taken the best features of online financial services and the best features of online retailing to create a more compelling and personalised customer experience."

The launch of the next generation website is in line with increasing consumer use of eCommerce. More than half of the world's online users made an online purchase in the past year.*

Also significant is the uptake of broadband to 37%** of Australian households, the number of devices in use in those households and a youth market brought up as ‘natives' to all things digital.

"These trends involving increased inter-connectivity and growing adoption of eCommerce means that doing business online has become an inextricable part of consumers' everyday life," Mr Cowan said.

"With the new look www.mbf.com.au, we are responding to this consumer movement in a dynamic way to assist customers to do business with us. The new site is a first step to deliver a broader e-commerce strategy to provide a sales and service channel that can drive greater customer engagement."

*OMD- It's a Family Affair- The Media Evolution of the Global Family in the Digital Age".
** ABS