State Auto Insurance Joins Roost®’s Home Telematics Program

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 26, 2018 -- Roost, a leader in Home Telematics for property insurance carriers, today announced that the State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company (State Auto), has joined Roost’s Home Telematics Program (HTP). In partnership with Willis Towers Watson, and other industry leaders, the HTP is working to apply advanced analytics to reveal meaningful insights into the effect of home installation of Roost smart sensors on fire and water loss mitigation as well as customer engagement.

“We are thrilled to welcome State Auto, our first announced partner, into this exclusive industry group of insurance leaders looking to achieve unique insight into the impact of home telematics,” said Roel Peeters, CEO, Roost. “By bringing together data from all HTP members we are working to expand objective understanding of the growing impact and importance of smart sensor devices in homes. Members will also learn best practices for communicating with policyholders and deploying low cost and easy to install smart home devices. These devices help mitigate loss and enable valuable engagement between insurers and their valued customers.”

As a participant carrier group, State Auto will have access to a variety of Roost Smart Sensors, including the Roost Smart Battery (for smoke alarms) and the Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector. These innovative devices deliver notifications to customers’ smartphones when a suspected water leak or fire event occurs.

“In our digital transformation, it is natural to expand the usage of the smart devices that are appearing more and more in homes today. The HTP is a timely solution to deepen our digital connection with our policyholders as we tap into the power of these smart sensors to both mitigate loss and improve our pricing accuracy,” said Jason Berkey, SVP Personal Lines, State Auto. “Roost has always demonstrated a singular commitment to helping the insurance industry incorporate Home Telematics to better meet policyholders’ needs. With their strategic focus on the insurance industry, it is no surprise that they should be the company to lead the charge for the HTP.”

The award-winning Roost Smart 9V Battery is a simple retrofit solution that transforms existing smoke alarms into smart alarms. If the alarm sounds and no one is home, a smartphone notification is delivered. The Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector is designed to sense water leaks as well as humidity and freezing temperature situations. Easily locate in places around the home most prone to water leaks such as sinks, hot water heaters, toilets and various appliances. It then delivers smartphone alerts via the Roost app to help minimize water damage and loss. These Wi-Fi enabled smart sensors don’t require a hub and set up in less than five minutes.

Roost’s Home Telematics solutions are changing the way insurers engage with their policyholders, mitigate fire & water claims and drive new business growth.

About Roost
Roost is a technology company headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA. As creators of the Roost Smart Battery and the Roost Smart Water Leak and Freeze Detector, Roost has developed a unique, patented, connected platform of data sensors that deliver the ultimate in installation simplicity and the most affordable way for insurers to provide Home Telematics solutions. Roost’s primary go-to-market approach is through Insurance companies deploying directly to their policyholders. The effect is a reduction in claim cost expenses (fire and water perils costing $20B per year in the US), as well as driving policyholder engagement through a content rich, digital mobile app experience, impacting retention and customer acquisition. For more information, please visit www.getroost.com.

About State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company
State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company, headquartered in Columbus, OH, is a super regional property and casualty insurance holding company. The company is primarily engaged in writing personal and business insurance products exclusively through independent insurance agencies in 33 states and is proud to be a Trusted Choice® company partner.

State Auto Mutual is part of the State Auto Group. The State Auto Group markets its insurance products throughout the United States, through independent insurance agencies, which include retail agencies and wholesale brokers. The State Auto Group is rated A­- (Excellent) by the A.M. Best Company and includes State Automobile Mutual, State Auto Financial Corporation, State Auto Property & Casualty, State Auto Ohio, State Auto Wisconsin, Milbank, Meridian Security, Patrons Mutual, Rockhill Insurance, Plaza Insurance, American Compensation and Bloomington Compensation. Additional information can be found online at www.StateAuto.com.

Media Contacts:
Peter Evers
Natron Communications for Roost
+1 (415) 888-3314
[email protected]

Stephanie Staudt
State Automobile Mutual Insurance Company
+1 (614) 917-6058
[email protected]