Argentinian ICMIF member the San Cristóbal Group has recently launched the ‘Elbow to Elbow’ (or ‘Codo a Codo’ in Spanish) programme which forms part of the Group’s response to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of the ensuring lockdown on the organisation’s value chain. The programme consists of a number of initiatives from the difference business units within the Group and are aimed at customers and policyholders; commercial channels; and the Group’s network of key suppliers and the community.
The main objectives of the programme are to try to cushion the effects of the crisis on the value chain; to protect value generation processes; and to support the Group’s strategic partners and guarantee the continuity of the operation whilst minimising negative impacts and articulate alliances. The Group is also working with civil society organisations to help meet emerging health and social needs.
Within this programme, actions by the insurer include single signature loans with a competitive rate (36%) and accessible within 48 hours for suppliers enabling them to meeting short and medium-term obligations and thereby ensure the continued provision of services to policyholders while the economy is reactivating. Such target suppliers include doctors, brokers, wheel and tyre fitters, etc. It is estimated that there are around 600 suppliers who could benefit from these products across Argentina.
The ‘Elbow to Elbow’ programme includes other actions aimed at strengthening the value chain, including the digital development of the insurance intermediaries in San Cristóbal facilitating the development of their own website for e-commerce, as well as training and support to enhance the marketing of insurance online.
In addition, the programme includes actions such as free access to telemedicine services for members, access to digital self-management platforms for producers, suppliers, providers, and customers.
As part of its programme of actions to try to alleviate the effects of COVID-19, San Cristóbal deployed a social investment plan that included personal accident cover for volunteers from isolation centres; supporting research and development efforts towards the production of equipment for specific respiratory conditions of COVID-19; the coordination with civil society organizations to meet social and health needs. The Group has also supported the Argentinian “Una sola hinchada” (“Fans United” in English) campaign which collects small donations from the general public to fund community dining rooms and provide family assistance centres with food, essential cleaning products and hygiene kits, through the Argentine Network of Food Banks and Charities.
