Managing insurance claims effectively is critical for any organisation in the risk management sector. For CEIRA, an insurance cooperative in Canada, handling claims on Excel spreadsheets was once sufficient. However, a dramatic increase in claims due to avian influenza in 2022 drove the need to evolve their tracking and reporting.
“We were basically running everything on Excel spreadsheets, which wasn’t too bad when we were handling 15-20 claims per year,” says Andre Patry, General Manager at CEIRA. “But when bird flu hit North America hard in 2022, claims skyrocketed, and we were drowning in spreadsheets.”
To modernise their operations and gain better control over claims tracking, reporting, and compliance, CEIRA turned to Figtree Systems' General Insurance Claims Management Software—a proven, flexible, and scalable solution designed for insurance providers.
Why Figtree? A Solution That Came Highly Recommended
CEIRA didn't rush their decision. Andre and his team explored multiple software solutions, visiting other cooperative insurers to review different claims management systems.
“There are approximately 35 similar cooperatives in Canada , with 19 of them part of an association of insurance cooperatives,” explains Andre. “We saw that many of them were already using Figtree, and the system came highly recommended.”
Ultimately, Figtree stood out due to its:
✅ Powerful Reporting & Data Management – a key priority for CEIRA
✅ Seamless Integration Capabilities – future-proofing their investment
✅ Proven Industry Experience – trusted by similar insurance cooperatives
✅ Strong Customer Support & Customization Options – backed by a responsive team
“When we started this road, we met with other providers who had built their platforms from the ground up. The product looked great, but the reliance on one person or a small team to support the system represented too much risk,” Andre explains.
“Figtree had the right mix of product reliability, strong support, and proven success in the industry. It was the clear choice.”
Implementation & Early Challenges: Building for the Future
CEIRA officially implemented Figtree Systems in late-2023, but like any digital transformation, the transition required adjustments.
“We worked closely with Ayaz and the team at Figtree for the initial setup,” Andre recalls. “We’re still in the early days of using the system, tweaking it to optimise it for our needs.”
One of their biggest opportunities? Customising Figtree to match their unique reporting needs.
“Our goal is to hit a button and generate the required reports instantly,” says Andre. “Right now, we’re still in the audit period for regulatory filing, so there’s a lot of data structuring and fine-tuning happening behind the scenes.”
CEIRA also plans to integrate Figtree with their finance software in the future, ensuring a seamless flow of claims and financial data.
“We’re not there yet, but we’re on our way,” Andre says confidently.
The Benefits of Figtree’s General Insurance Claims Management Solution
While still optimising the system, CEIRA is already seeing key advantages in using Figtree for claims management and reporting.
1. A True ‘Single Source of Truth’
One of the biggest pain points with their previous spreadsheet-based system was data fragmentation.
“With Excel, pulling the right information was a nightmare,” says Andre. “Now, Figtree is becoming our ‘single source of truth.’ Instead of searching through multiple spreadsheets, everything is centralised.”
2. Automated, On-Demand Reporting
Reporting is critical for CEIRA, particularly with complex regulatory filing requirements.
“In Canada, insurance regulators require an 80+ tab spreadsheet for reporting,” Andre explains. “Our vision with Figtree is to assist with this process so we can generate reports instantly.”
3. Improved Efficiency & Scalability
By replacing manual processes with automation, CEIRA is saving time and reducing errors.
“We had a really heavy November and December for claims, and now we’re in the audit period until February,” says Andre. “Despite the workload, Figtree is already helping us manage claims more efficiently.”
4. Secure & Reliable Support
One of the biggest risks of a custom-built system is the lack of long-term support. With Figtree, that’s not a concern.
“We know Figtree’s team is there when we need them,” says Andre. “They work closely with us to ensure the system is optimised for our needs.”
The Future: A Fully Integrated, Automated Claims System
Looking ahead, CEIRA has ambitious goals for their Figtree-powered claims management system:
🔹 Automating regulatory filings – eliminating some of the manual data entry
🔹 Seamless finance system integration – ensuring financial and claims data work together
🔹 Expanding analytics & reporting – using Figtree to uncover deeper insights
“We’re still in the optimization phase, but Figtree is already proving to be a game-changer,”
says Andre. “With time, it’s going to make claims management and reporting faster, easier, and more efficient.”
A Smart Investment in the Future
For CEIRA, choosing Figtree Systems was about future-proofing their claims management processes.
✅ A scalable solution that will grow with their needs
✅ A powerful reporting engine to automate compliance
✅ A trusted system used by industry peers
“Figtree is helping us build a stronger, more efficient claims management process, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.”
Are you looking for a smarter way to manage insurance claims?
Learn more about Figtree’s General Insurance Claims Management Software at www.figtreesystems.com/insurance-claims-management-software.
