The Making of Insurhub, a Mobile Insurance App by Würth Financial Services, TWINT, and Modeso

The challenge:
Build a product under tight security constraints and a strict deadline

The business concept driving Insurhub – aggregating insurances from various providers and offering them to private clients through the TWINT app – was developed by Würth and TWINT. Our task was to implement this concept within a short timeline to be able to verify the business case.

In the world of TWINT products, speed is often a luxury, with internal certification processes and security approvals typically stretching timelines by several months. Because the product had to deal with sensitive information, a critical requirement we had to fulfill was ensuring robust security measures. To outline our strategy for safeguarding payment information, we had to formulate a security concept – a comprehensive document detailing our proposed implementation with flowcharts illustrating payment processes and clearly delineating security boundaries.

Despite the significant effort we put into the security concept, the Insurhub project raced from inception to completion in a mere three months – a feat deemed remarkable even by TWINT's standards.

The key to this lightning-fast development? An existing relationship. Thanks to our established partnership with TWINT and our expertise in building applications for this company, we were able to bypass many of the usual hurdles and expedite the development process significantly.

Key project milestones from MVP to expansion

Our work on Insurhub can be divided into four milestones. The first milestone was enabling users to purchase six insurance products from Allianz, the world's largest insurance company. What set these products apart was their simplicity. Imagine a phone insurance or a warranty extension – simple products that require minimal input from the user. The most complex decision users had to make was the choice between coverage amounts and whether to extend the coverage to a household. With just a few clicks, customers could secure coverage, seamlessly integrated and payable through TWINT. Pricing was standardized, ensuring accessibility for all users.

As demand grew, we expanded our offerings to include products from additional insurers like HanseMerkur and Helvetia Insurance. With each new product, the complexity evolved slightly, but we remained committed to maintaining a user-friendly experience. Even as we introduced products like bike insurance, which required input on factors like bike price and age, we kept the process streamlined – just one page of fields to fill out.

Every new feature evolved into a standalone mini-project, scoped out post-initial launch, and gradually implemented on a month-to-month basis. This iterative approach allowed us to adapt and evolve Insurhub gradually, ensuring that as the product range expanded, the user experience remained intuitive and efficient.

Here is an overview of our core milestones:

Milestone 1:
Launch of MVP v1 with Allianz integration

Insurance partner:
Allianz

Insurance products

Cyber care

Event care

Mobile care

Online care

Travel care

Warranty care

Implementation highlights:
With direct integration into Insurhub, sales reporting, and claims processing were seamlessly managed, with data flowing directly from Insurhub to Allianz.

Milestone 2:
Integration with HanseMerkur and expansion of insurance offerings

Insurance partner:
Hanse Merkur

Insurance products

Velo (bicycle) insurance

Car rental insurance

Travel Insurance

Implementation highlights:
Just like with Allianz, the integration with HanseMerkur was direct, enabling seamless sales reporting and claims processing (facilitated through SFTP reports).

Milestone 3:
Integration with Anivo for back-office operations

Insurance partner:
Helvetia Insurance

Insurance products

Ski insurance

Gadget insurance

Implementation highlights:
Anivo assumed responsibility for managing sales reporting and claims processing for the newly introduced insurance products.

Milestone 4:
Integration with ERV

Insurance partner:
ERV

Insurance products

Pet insurance

Implementation highlights:
Sales reporting and claims processing were implemented by Modeso. Now ERV is transitioning from the MVP stage to implementing advanced features by involving Anivo in back-office operations.

Insurhub insurance purchase flow

Insurhub allows users to conveniently access insurance products right from their mobile devices. An intuitive user flow makes purchasing and managing insurance policies a seamless experience. Here is how it works:

Open the TWINT app

A user launches the TWINT mobile app on their device.

Navigate to insurances

A user taps on the "Insurances" button within the TWINT app interface.

Browse insurance options

A user can explore the range of insurance offerings available, including pet, mobile, ski, and gadget insurance.

View details (Optional)

If desired, a user clicks on each insurance option to delve deeper into the details and coverage specifics.

Download the terms and conditions

A user can access and download the terms and conditions for their chosen insurance policy as a PDF for reference.

Customize your coverage

A user selects whether they want insurance coverage for themselves only or for their entire family.

Enter personal details

A user fills in the personal information required for the insurance purchase.

Review terms and conditions

A user can review the terms and conditions associated with the insurance policy.

Authorize payment with TWINT

A user clicks to confirm their authorization for regular monthly payments through the TWINT app.

Complete purchase

Once confirmed, they proceed with the purchase, finalizing the transaction securely through the TWINT payment system.

Receive confirmation email

A user can expect a confirmation email shortly after the purchase, containing their policy details and PDF documentation.

Manage insurance products in the TWINT app

A user returns to the TWINT app and accesses the dedicated "Insurances" section. They can view active insurance policies and the history of their insurance payments.

Implementing robust security measures

Security was a top priority for Insurhub, given the sensitive nature of payment information and user data. To protect sensitive information, we used encryption and stringent access controls to ensure that unauthorized access is prevented, while our code changes underwent thorough review processes to maintain integrity.Here are essential security practices we've implemented:

Security concept development

Before any implementation could start, our security concept had to undergo thorough review and approval by TWINT. This ensured compliance with regulatory standards and best practices in handling payment details.

Google HSM for encryption

Google Hardware Security Module (HSM) served as our encryption solution, providing a secure and reliable platform for key management. Hosted within the Google Cloud environment, HSM offered robust protection for sensitive cryptographic keys.

Access controls

We strictly controlled access to sensitive data, ensuring that only authorized users could retrieve it. Our DevOps team was granted access on a need-to-know basis, with each request carefully reviewed and approved by the designated personnel from Würth Financial Services.

Code review practices

To maintain code integrity and minimize vulnerabilities, all code changes underwent rigorous review by at least two team members on our side. We enforced this practice using GitHub and merge controls, ensuring that only approved changes were implemented.

It was a team effort

The initial three months of Insurhub's development were a whirlwind of activity, fueled by the involvement of numerous stakeholders. Not only were we coordinating with Würth Financial Services, but also with TWINT and our internal teams. The collaboration was extensive, with each party playing a distinct role in the project's success.

TWINT's involvement and support

On the TWINT side, several key roles were involved. The integrations team, primarily focused on the technical aspects, provided essential support during the integration, certification, and testing phases. Their role was important in ensuring that the payment flow functioned seamlessly within the TWINT ecosystem. Additionally, the security team from TWINT conducted a thorough evaluation of our security concept, scrutinizing every aspect to ensure robust protection against potential vulnerabilities.

Representatives from TWINT were also actively engaged in the project's initial stages. Their involvement centered on ensuring that project targets were met and providing support where necessary.

Close collaboration with Würth Financial Services

On the insurance side, Würth Financial Services collaborated closely with us, adopting a pragmatic approach to user acceptance testing. Testing became a dynamic exchange, with feedback and adjustments smoothly integrated into the development cycle.

Modeso's organized operations

Within our own Modeso team, roles were clearly defined to streamline operations. Our technical lead oversaw the integration process, coordinating efforts and ensuring alignment with project objectives. Our DevOps team took charge of the security aspect, devising strategies to uphold system integrity and mitigate risks. And of course, our developers worked tirelessly to bring the project to completion.

In total, the collaborative effort involved up to 10 individuals across various teams, each contributing their expertise to ensure the success and security of Insurhub.

Facilitating Anivo's integration into Insurhub's framework

As Insurhub continued to evolve and the complexity of products increased, Würth Financial Services recognized the need for a partner more deeply specialized in insurance. This was always part of the plan. While Modeso was instrumental in the initial integration with TWINT and the development of simpler products, Würth needed the expertise of Anivo to develop their solution further. As the project progressed, Anivo joined forces with Modeso, providing backend support and API solutions to streamline communication with insurers.

Currently, the project is transitioning towards a more centralized backend provided by Anivo. This migration is expected to take place gradually over the course of the year, with Modeso facilitating the process. Our role includes transferring user registrations, payment authorizations, and ensuring stringent security measures are maintained throughout the transition.

Result:
Validated business case and product expansion

The integration of Insurhub into the TWINT platform has yielded significant results, validating the business case and demonstrating tangible value to both users and stakeholders.

15K insurance products sold

With approximately 15K insurance products sold directly through the Insurhub checkout flow, the platform has successfully tapped into a new market segment within the TWINT ecosystem.

Increased upsells and cross-sells

The integration of Insurhub has not only facilitated the sale of insurance products but has also empowered TWINT to capitalize on insurance-related upsell opportunities.

Continued growth

The platform continues to evolve. The migration to Anivo represents an exciting step forward for Insurhub, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and enhanced capabilities for the platform.

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The Story Behind Insurhub's Integration with TWINT: From a Fast Experiment to a Proven Business Model

The challenge:
Build a product under tight security constraints and a strict deadline

Key project milestones from MVP to expansion

Milestone 1:
Launch of MVP v1 with Allianz integration

Milestone 2:
Integration with HanseMerkur and expansion of insurance offerings