An excerpt from our latest eBook: click here to download the full version.

Last year’s record insured losses, $144 billion globally according to Swiss Re, have proven to be a catalyst for reinvigorating P&C insurers’ focus on driving efficiencies in the commercial underwriting process—ideally for minimal cost and disruption.

One of the key issues emerging is a gap between the wealth of information that is now abundant and insurers’ ability to process all that information—there’s both a deficiency in speed to information and the ability to harness its value. This deluge of data, in particular natural hazard risk data, is hindering the performance of property underwriters. But it doesn’t have to.

There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about technology, innovation, and the “underwriter of the future.” Well, the underwriter of the future is here, right now in 2018. The technology to streamline and automate property underwriting exists now. And, the hazard data and advanced analytics to select and assess risk with a new level of confidence and precision exist as well. If you’re like me, however, you may sometimes put off trying something new (and better) in favor of the status quo. So, what gives?