Complete SWOT Analysis of Progressive – The Third-Largest Auto Insurance Company In America

Quick Stats on Progressive

Founder	Joseph Lewis and Jack Green
Year Founded	1937
Origin	Mayfield Village, Ohio, USA/td>
No. of Employees	43,000
Company Type	Public
Market Cap	$59.61 Billion (2021)
Annual Revenue	$42.658 Billion (2020)
Net Income/ Profit	$5.704 Billion (2020)

 

Products of Progressive

There is so much more to this insurance company and what it has to offer to its customers than its intelligent and lovable spokesperson. The company also offers a wide variety of affordable insurance products and Progressive mobile and web apps. It deals with:

• Life insurance
• Boat insurance
• Auto insurance
• Trailer insurance
• Motor insurance
• Pet insurance

Competitors of Progressive

Progressive’s top five major competitors are

• Safeco insurance
• Mercury insurance
• GEICO
• Allstate
• Auto-owners insurance

Now that we have understood the company’s core products and services, let’s dive deep into the SWOT analysis of Progressive.

SWOT Analysis of Progressive

SWOT analysis is a study which is undertaken by the majority of companies to determine their core strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It is a framework that is used to evaluate a company’s competitive position which later helps in strategic planning. SWOT analysis can be conducted by any popular brand or any brand which is still new in the market can make use of this template to evaluate internal and external variables that might influence the brand authority and market development.

To better understand the SWOT analysis of Progressive, refer to the infographics image below:

Below is a step-by-step detailed guide to help you with the SWOT analysis of Progressive.

Strengths of Progressive

The strengths are basically what makes the brand different from the other competitors and what the organisation excels at. Following are the strengths:

• Strong Reach and Customer Support: Progressive has a large number of local agents and customer support for any questions and concerns is available 24/7/365. This makes sure that the insurance products and care services are made instantly available to their customers at any time.
• Cost Structure: As we read earlier, the main motive is to make the insurance products available at a low rate so that they can be more affordable. Progressive’s low-cost structure helps them provide insurance that is low cost but with superior benefits.
• First Mover Advantage: Progressive has launched many innovations that its competitors don’t, such as in 2010 Progressive was the first major U.S. car insurer to release an Android™ app just for car insurance and there are many more which are listed on Progressive’s website.
• Financial Position: Progressive has a very strong financial position in the market with consecutive profits over the years along with accumulated profit reserves which can be utilised for future expenditures or marketing activities.
• Skilled Labour Force: Progressive has invested heavily in the employees that have made them not only skilled but are also highly motivated.
• High Level of Customer Satisfaction: Progressive has gained the trust of more than 18 million customers and has a very strong customer relationship management team through which they keep their current customers very satisfied and also enjoy a good brand equity status among potential customers.

Weaknesses of Progressive

The weaknesses are a major drawback that stops the organisation from performing at its optimum level. They are the areas in which businesses can make improvements. The major drawbacks are as follows:

• Research and Development: Progressive has a good share of expenditure on the research and development department but it is spending way less than a few of the players within the industry which have benefitted as a result of their innovative products.
• Diversity in the Workforce: The local workers contribute to the majority of the workforce at Progressive making it difficult for outsiders to adjust and hence resulting in the loss of talent.
• High Employee Turnover Rates: Progressive has a very high employee turnover rate as compared to its competitors which means it spends a lot on training activities as employees keep leaving and joining.
• Low Interest: Low-interest rate structure in the US decreases the profitability of people buying insurance from Progressive. 

Opportunities of Progressive

Opportunities are the favourable external factors that may give the organization a competitive advantage over others. The opportunities of Progressive are as follows:

• Social Media: Over the years the number of active users on social media channels has increased and with this Progressive can make use of its social media handles to promote its products, interact with customers and even provide after-sale services.

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• Transport Industry: The transport industry has been booming and is expected to boom in the next few years as well which has resulted in more auto insurance which is helpful for Progressive to scale its business.
• Globalisation: Increased globalisation doesn’t restrict Progressive anymore to conducting activities in its own country which can act as an opportunity to extend operation in other countries and thus enter new markets and unleash potentials of other new markets.
• Future of Insurance Company: Global life premium insurance growth is predicted to rebound to 3% with increased risk awareness owing to COVID-19 and global economic recovery set to accelerate the demand for life insurance products. 
• Future Trends: The next 10 years will see the insurance industry moving from traditional to more customer-centric products. In the post-pandemic era, due to personalized services, the products are given based on information collected from external sources and devices.

Threats of Progressive

Threats are those factors that have the potential to provide harm to the organisation in any form. The threats of Progressive are as follows:

• Technological Advancements: The technological advancements by a few competitors can pose a threat to Progressive as today’s customers are more attracted towards new technological advancements and may be lost to competitors’ offerings thus reducing the market share of Progressive.
• Competition: There is always an ongoing competition that puts downward pressure on the prices. This could lead to lower profits if it makes changes in the price or may also result in lower market share if it doesn’t make price changes.
• Controversies & Allegations: Progressive has been caught in several court cases and customers allegations in the year between 2002-12 which has considerably affected the trust and reputation of Progressive among its customers. 
• Fluctuating Interest Rates: The interest rates keep on fluctuating and don’t provide a stable financial and economic environment.
• Exchange Rate: The exchange rate also keeps fluctuating and makes it difficult for a company like Progressive because it extends service internationally while its suppliers are local.

This ends our complete SWOT analysis of Progressive. Let us conclude our learning below.