Online subscriptions increase. Online insurance purchases are expected to double over the next three years, according to a survey carried out by Accenture among 78 insurance companies active in Europe. According to the survey, insurance policies taken out online in Europe could be worth €25 billion a year by 2016, as opposed to the €12 billion in 2012. This increase will, however, vary from country to country. With 37% of insurance policies taken out online in 2012, the British online market is already in the lead and is expected to increase again slightly to 42% over the next three years and will continue to be the driving force in the European market. Progress will be more pronounced in Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland), with the current market share of 17% expected to rise to 28% in 2016 and in Spain (from the current 10% to 17% in 2016). On the other big markets, the survey is expecting increases of: 5-11% in Italy; 4-8% in France and 3-9% in Germany. Overall, insurance companies do not appear to be ready for this development, with 60% of them declaring that they do not yet have a digital strategy for their products. They are, however, expecting to see increased competition with the emergence of foreign players in the insurance market, such as Google and e-commerce companies. (IL/transl.fl)