Combined Insurance

Solving for Scale: Combined Insurance and The Marek Group's Blueprint for Smarter Field Enablement

 

About

Combined Insurance Company of America, a Chubb company, is a leading provider of supplemental health, accident, disability, and life insurance products. With over 100 years of success, Combined operates under two brands: Combined Insurance in the U.S. and Canada, and Chubb Workplace Benefits. Serving employers and individuals through over 18,000 field agents and brokers, Combined partnered with The Marek Group in 2019 to leverage Triptych software for compliant, customized marketing execution and sales enablement materials that support top-line growth and field agility. 

Triptych serves as Combined’s centralized marketing technology platform that enables field agents and marketers to easily access, customize, and distribute sales content. Its dynamic user permissions and integration capabilities make it a scalable solution for Combined's complex sales network.
Opportunity

Opportunity

As Combined Insurance’s voluntary sales grew—at times by as much as 58% annually—their ability to equip 18,000+ agents and brokers with timely, compliant marketing materials became increasingly critical. After 25 years with the same print vendor, Combined faced inefficiencies, a lack of strategic innovation, and rising costs that threatened continued momentum. They saw an opportunity to modernize their marketing supply chain, streamline field operations, and expand into the broker market—and required a strategic partner to execute with precision. 

CHALLENGES
1-1

Rising Costs

Print Spend tripled in 2024 due to poor vendor management and inefficient ordering practices.

2

Inventory Issues 

Inappropriately adding personalized content, such as pieces with agent-specific contact information, to stock resulted in waste and compliance exposure.

3

Visibility Gaps

Combined struggled to monitor and manage in-market content, complicating updates and risking noncompliance.

4-1

Compliance Risks

Outdated SKUs—left active after updates— triggered regulatory fines following a 2024 audit.

5

Manual Processes

A lack of automation across ordering, tracking, SKU lifecycle, and fulfillment slowed execution and obscured accountability. 

SOLUTION

The Marek Group delivered a tailored solution directly addressing Combined's operational and compliance needs:

Optimized Print Strategy

Introduced Print-on-Demand(POD) for personalized SKUs and vendor-managed inventory for static pieces—cutting waste, improving compliance, and maximizing efficiency. Production launched at The Marek Group's Waukesha, WI facilities in September of 2024.

Smart Ordering Controls

Remapped Single Sign-On (SSO) access and integrated pricing tiers and order limits across all print and promotional assets (e.g., agents capped at 20 units per asset, managers at 100) to curtail over-ordering.

Integrated Fulfillment

Streamlined kit-packing and print collateral ordering via Triptych, enhancing speed, tracking, and  accountability across field channels.

Compliance Management

Implemented real-time SKU update notifications and automated obsolescence workflows to ensure only current, compliant materials are in circulation, mitigating risk and reducing regulatory fines. 

Broker
Site Launch

Built a new Triptych site to support Combined's expanding broker market—equipped with advanced features like Co-Op and MDF funding and customizable discount codes to empower broker engagement and sales enablement.  

This custom solution blended Triptych's flexibility with The Marek Group's consultative marketing execution expertise and advanced technology-driven solutions, enabling Combined to scale, stay complaint, and empower their sales teams.

RESULTS 

The partnership continues to deliver measurable impact

Increased Adoption 

Triptych usage has steadily scaled from 400 users in 2020 to over 6,000 active users today—over one third of Combined's field force—with content  being accessed every 6 minutes.

Cost Savings

Improved automation and print strategy helped reduced penalties for compliance infractions and eliminated excess stock, preserving marketing budget.

Stronger Compliance 

Enhanced SKU governance and field controls minimized infractions, addressing concerns of unexpected fines resulting from the audit process—saving an estimated $500,000 on compliance penalties.

Scalable Growth

Combined now operates three Triptych sites (Chubb, Combined U.S., and Combined Canada) and is expanding its capabilities with a new site for their Medicare Supplement business. Additionally, they are focused on developing microsites for agents and brokers, agent pages for search engines, and onboarding pages for new clients.

Agent Enablement 

Over 2,500 unique, customizable sales materials—many created or updated in the last 12 months—can be produced quickly to meet marketing demands.
compliance management
1400
%

Increase in
User Adoption

Content
Accessed Every

6
Minutes
2500
+

Unique Customizable Sales Materials

Future Partnership

Looking Ahead 

The Marek Group and Combined Insurance continue to evolve their partnership with an eye on innovation:

Expanding Broker Enablement

With a dedicated broker site launched, future enhancements will focus on improving access, customization options, and co-marketing capabilities.

Strategic Partnership Evolution

The Marek Group remains committed to acting as a consultative partner—refining solutions and uncovering new opportunities to meet Combined's dynamic marketing and sales objectives.

Enhanced Automation & Print Optimization

Continued integration post-rollout will improve speed, scalability, and regulatory control.
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