Most eBusiness executives wouldn't dream of putting comparisons of their products with those of their competitors on their own sites. But it's time to start dreaming. If the number of customers visiting comparison sites continues to grow, we will eventually reach the point where the majority of customers use them. It will make sense for some companies to offer comparisons long before that point is reached.

Since a couple of weeks, Dutch online insurer AllSecure — which is the online brand of Allianz — provides site visitors access to price comparison site premie.nl directly from its site. After filling in the license plate of the car that they want to insure, the site automatically pulls required car information like car brand, type, age, and price. Based on this information — and some personal data that the user needs to enter— he receives a personal quote that can be customized. Next to the quote, a box with a link to price comparison site premie.nl is presented.

Once the user clicks on the link, the personal data and car information is automatically used for a comparison query on premie.nl. A new browser window is opened that shows how AllSecur compares to four other providers.

AllSecure's initiative clearly makes sense: If online buyers use a comparison site as part of their research process anyway, why not offer them access to it directly on the provider’s site? By providing a “one-stop-shop” experience, the firm can limit the chance that the buyer will go to a comparison site directly and eventually buys somewhere else.

If you are a Forrester client and want to learn more about Forrester's take on the growing price comparison sector, please read my September 4, 2008, “Financial Comparison Sites Are Here To Stay” report which I am planning to update very soon.

Alexander