Content claims in excel?

In an age where insurance is being reshaped by automation, the process of handling contents claims still feels stuck in the past. At the heart of many complex claims cases lies a surprisingly manual tool: the spreadsheet. And while Excel is a powerful application, it simply wasn’t designed to handle the scale, challenges, and demands of modern contents claims.

It’s time to ask a simple question: Is this really the best we can do?

The unique challenges of large and complex contents claims

It’s not uncommon to see itemised inventories built by hand, only to be retyped into spreadsheets when an incident occurs. Contents claims, especially those tied to large or complex damages, come with unique challenges:

😅 Hundreds, and even up to thousands, of individual items.
😅 A wide variety of items – everything from electronics to sofas and jewellery.
😅 Items in different conditions and with different actions required.
😅 Multiple stakeholders – inspectors, claim handlers, restoration companies etc.

The Real Problem with Excel for Contents Claims

Excel quickly turns into a fragile system held together by complicated formulas, error-prone copy-paste, and manual versioning.

Formulas break. Links disappear. Filters confuse. And none of it is intuitive for new users or external parties trying to collaborate. Inspectors may start an inventory. Then the restoration company edits it. Then the claim handler gets a copy. By the time it reaches the policyholder, it’s unclear what’s changed—or who changed it.

One broken formula, or wrong version used, and the whole chain of a contents claim collapses. And good luck finding where it went wrong if someone accidentally deleted a cell reference.

And the Cost? Real.

📉 Underpayment: Incomplete or wrong data leads to unsatisfied customers.
📈 Overpayment: Poor depreciation logic costs insurers more than necessary.
🔁 Rework: Same information entered several times by several people.
🚫 No data insights: Valuable information and insights to learn from gets lost.

But it Also Limits Future Innovation

Using Excel for contents claims is like using a notebook and pen to manage your company finances—technically possible, but reckless at scale.

But manual entry in Excel doesn’t just slow down today’s claims—it blocks tomorrow’s innovation. Without structured, high-quality data from the outset, there’s no foundation for digital decision support, AI training, or automated workflows.

There’s a Better Way. It’s Already Here.

Conclusion: Move On From Excel

Insurance customers expect more. And rightly so. The process of restoring their belongings after a loss should be as smooth and fair as possible. Relying on spreadsheets for contents claims belongs to a time when digital transformation was just a buzzword.

It’s not anymore.

Let’s make claims easier. Not by adding more macros or fancier templates—but by replacing outdated tools with purpose-built solutions. The result? Faster claims. Smarter decisions. Happier customers.