Ellen Carney

Principal Analyst Serving Application Development & Delivery Professionals

Read Ellen's blog posts

Ellen is a principal analyst serving financial services technology decision makers in roles such as CIOs and enterprise architects in the insurance and wealth, investment, and asset management industries. Her research focuses on the technology decisions that financial services firms are investing in, including core platforms modernization and replacement and the integration of emerging technologies with legacy systems to drive better digital experiences and improved operational efficiency.

Previous Work Experience

Prior to her current research coverage, Ellen spent eight years providing strategic analysis and advice to Forrester’s insurance digital business strategy clients, focusing on eBusiness strategies and best practices in digital and customer experience as well as adoption trends for property and casualty, life, group, and health insurers.

Ellen brings 30 years of experience in delivering technical and professional services to clients in a variety of industries and markets. She joined Forrester from the former ThruPoint, a New York-based professional services firm, where she was a principal consultant focusing on IT service business strategy to Global 100 clients in securities, banking, and insurance; telecommunications; and media and entertainment. Before joining ThruPoint, Ellen was a director and principal analyst for Gartner, following the infrastructure services market, including consulting, support, and managed services.

Ellen has presented on vertical-industry and role-based marketing in a variety of Forrester and client events. She has been cited in Forbes, Fortune, the New York Times, the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, Best’s Review, Carrier Management, Rough Notes, Digital Insurance, New Scientist, and American Banker.

Education

Ellen received a B.S. in economics from Southern New Hampshire University.

Print Bio

Ellen Carney

Principal Analyst Serving Application Development & Delivery Professionals

Read Ellen's blog posts

Previous Work Experience

Education

Ellen received a B.S. in economics from Southern New Hampshire University.

Research Coverage

Ellen Carney's Research

Most RecentMost Popular

For Application Development & Delivery Professionals

REPORT: How Five Drivers Will Shape Insurance Business Technology Investments In 2019

Take Three Key Tech Investment Actions In 2019

January 31, 2019Ellen Carney

Insurance business technology teams caught a few breaks in 2018, including fewer (but more costly) insured weather losses and new thinking by regulators when it comes to disruptive technology. But in 2019, a potential recession, lackluster customer experience results, and threats from big tech will drive different business technology strategies. This report details the key drivers shaping the insurance landscape and the key actions that insurance application design and delivery (AD&D) professionals must take in 2019.
For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

REPORT: Make It Clear Why Prospects Should Insure With You

Digital Feature Fix: Give Prospects Compelling Reasons To Choose Your Insurance Company

December 5, 2018Ellen Carney, August Du Pont

Many people think insurance companies are all the same. And it's partly insurance companies' own fault. Our reviews for our Forrester Industry Wave™ evaluations often reveal that digital teams at insurance companies don't say clearly how their firm is different or show prospects why they should choose their insurance company over the competition. This brief illustrates some good practices from leading firms and helps digital teams understand how to display their value proposition to prospects effectively.
For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

REPORT: Steer Your Customers' Insurance Journeys With Benchmarks

Benchmarks: The Digital Insurance Strategy Playbook

November 2, 2018Ellen Carney

Digital touchpoints must constantly evolve to reflect how consumers and small businesses research, buy, and use insurance. Digital insurance strategy leaders need to deploy digital services that result in loyal customers and drive revenue. This report, which forms part of our digital insurance strategy playbook, details how digital insurance teams can apply Forrester's Industry Wave™ benchmark methodology to assess how well their firms' digital touchpoints help the business win, serve, and retain customers. This is an update of a previously published report; Forrester reviews and updates it periodically for continued relevance and accuracy.
For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

REPORT: Case Study: Geoffrey Insurance Boosts Customer Engagement With Personalized Interactive Video

Personalized Video Increases The Value Of New Customer Communications

September 17, 2018 Nick Barber, Ellen Carney

Insurers struggle to communicate effectively with customers. In an industry rife with dense language and even denser business processes, how can digital business leaders engage customers and sustain their attention to ensure that communications have the intended impact? The UK's Geoffrey Insurance turned to personalized videos to onboard new customers, increase customer engagement, and improve operating performance.
For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

REPORT: Help Customers Connect With You When They Need Answers To Insurance Questions

Digital Feature Fix: Offer Customers Both Self-Service And Human Help

August 1, 2018Ellen Carney, August Du Pont

Digital insurance teams have made their firm's sites and apps much easier to use to speed up quoting, buying, and servicing for customers. But customers will always have questions, even when visiting the best-designed insurance sites. Digital teams must get customers' questions answered quickly or risk losing potential new customers to a competitor that can provide the needed help. This brief explains how digital insurance teams can expand the contact options available to customers and make them easier to use and illustrates good practices from leading firms.

For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

REPORT: The Future Of Insurance Is Mobile

February 2, 2015Ellen Carney

Smart, portable devices in pockets, purses, and now wrists are opening up a series of opportunities and challenges for insurance eBusiness. The unrelenting pace of innovation means that mobile insurance strategies must be dynamic and fluid to stay relevant. This report lays out Forrester's vision of how digital insurance teams can capitalize on the opportunities being created by mobile devices. This is an update of a report originally published on September 28, 2012; Forrester reviews and updates it periodically for continued relevance and accuracy, and we substantially revised this edition to factor in new ideas.
For B2B Marketing Professionals

REPORT: Industry Essential: The US Insurance Market

August 10, 2007Ellen Carney, Marc Cecere

The US insurance industry is the fifth largest industry sector in the country. The industry generated almost $1.4 trillion in revenues in 2002, yet, on average, it earns less than a penny for every premium dollar received. Insurance is regulated at the federal and state level, and the need to comply with 51 regulatory bodies drives a number of IT solution considerations. What do you need to know when selling technology goods and services into the US insurance market? This market overview describes the structure of the US insurance industry, its business and technology trends, industry leaders, strategic technology suppliers, and technology investment forecasts. It addresses the property and casualty, life and annuities, and reinsurance segments. Health insurance will be treated in a separate document.
For B2B Marketing Professionals

REPORT: Industry Essential: The US Retail Banking Market

May 19, 2008Ellen Carney

At the end of 2007, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured banks in the US held nearly $6.9 trillion in deposits, supported more than 73,000 branches, and employed 1.8 million people. With changing demographics, increasing choices for consumer financial services, and pressures to reduce costs, retail banks are looking to improve the efficiency and productivity of their assets and create enduring relationships with customers. Even in a challenging economic climate, the banking industry is more dependent on information technology than ever before. How should vendors position their technology to buyers and influencers in the US retail banking market? Forrester's Industry Essential report explains the structure of the US retail banking industry, its business and technology trends, and technology investment forecasts.?
For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

REPORT: The Digital Insurance Imperative

Vision: The Digital Insurance Strategy Playbook

April 26, 2017Ellen Carney, Oliwia Berdak

Digital technologies will change the insurance industry irrevocably over the coming decade. New entrants will disrupt the value chain. Vertically integrated firms will be too slow to adapt. Firms that fail to change will find their very existence under threat. Digital insurance strategy leaders must reinvent their companies to become fundamentally digital, from underwriting through to claims settlement. Insurers will differentiate based on core competencies around rapid product development, intense personalization, the ability to drive volume through distribution, and back-office operational efficiency.
For eBusiness & Channel Strategy Professionals

REPORT: Steer Your Customers' Insurance Journeys With Benchmarks

Benchmarks: The Digital Insurance Strategy Playbook

November 2, 2018Ellen Carney

Digital touchpoints must constantly evolve to reflect how consumers and small businesses research, buy, and use insurance. Digital insurance strategy leaders need to deploy digital services that result in loyal customers and drive revenue. This report, which forms part of our digital insurance strategy playbook, details how digital insurance teams can apply Forrester's Industry Wave™ benchmark methodology to assess how well their firms' digital touchpoints help the business win, serve, and retain customers. This is an update of a previously published report; Forrester reviews and updates it periodically for continued relevance and accuracy.