Unleashinggrowth:theevolvingroleofunderwriters Streamliningtheunderwritingrolewithpowerful,advancedtechnologyboostsefficiency, accuracy,andexperiencetounlocknewbusinessgrowth. Inbrief •Underwritersmustassumeamoreconsultativerolewiththeendconsumerandbroker,deliveringpersonalizedrisksolutions. •Astheroleoftheunderwriterevolves,upskillingwithproduct,riskmanagement,andsalestrainingwill enabletheuseofimprovedtechnologyliketheUnderwritingWorkbench. •Advancedtechnologyenablesunderwriterstoworkfaster,attractmorebusiness,andsuccessfullyenterandgaintractioninnewmarkets. Underwritersplayapivotalroleinassessingrisks,settingpremiums,andensuringthefinancialhealthofinsuranceorganizations.Adeepsectorexpertiseandanunderstandingoftherisklandscapeenablesthemtofostermeaningfulinsuredrelationshipsandcontributetosignificantbusinessgrowth. Butdespitebeinghighlyskilledandwell-compensated,accordingtothe2024WorldPropertyandCasualtyInsuranceReport,almosthalf(45%)ofallcommercialandpersonalunderwritersstruggletomeetrisingbrokerandcustomerexpectations. Essentially,thesevaluable,strategicplayershavebeenstymiedbymanualprocesses,spreadsheetsandmenialtasks,whichimpacttheirefficiencyanddecision-makingabilities.Almosthalf(41%-43%)of commercialandpersonallineunderwriters’timeisspentonadministrativeactivitieslikedataentryandrecordkeeping,whileonlyathird(32%-33%)isdedicatedtocoreactivitiessuchasriskassessment,premiumcalculation,andbookmanagement,andaquarter(25%-26%)isspentonagent/brokercollaborationandsalesactivities. Butinsurersandunderwritersenvisionafuturewheretheunderwriterroleadaptstothechangingmarketandenhancesriskassessmentformoresustainablegrowth.Infact,70%ofsurveyedinsuranceexecutivesbelieveunderwriterscanbecomebroker/agentrelationshipandproductdevelopmentconsultantsand63%ofinsurersbelieveunderwriterscanaddvaluetothesalesprocess. Withtherighttoolsandtraining,underwriterscanupskilltopriceriskwithhigheraccuracy,adviseclientsonhowtomitigatetheirownriskpotential,deliverbetterquotegenerationexperiences,andoffermorepersonalized,innovativerisk,andcoveragesolutions.Theevolvedunderwriteradoptsamoreconsultativeapproach tobuildandfostervaluablecustomerandbrokerrelationships,whichenablesthemtoreachabroadermarketandgeneratemoresalesforthebusiness. Learnfromthetrailblazinginsurers Thereporthighlightsthatonly8%ofP&Cinsurersarecurrentlyimplementingautomated,data-drivenrecommendationsordecisionsintheunderwritingprocess.However,thetrailblazinginsurersthathaveembracedthisevolutionareexperiencingremarkableefficiencygains.Theyhaveboostedunderwriting speed,reducedunderwritingexpenses,andsignificantlyimprovedtargetachievementcomparedtomainstreaminsurers. Theseforward-thinkingcarriershavealsoexcelledintighteninglosscostsandstrengtheningfrauddetection,settinganewstandardfortheindustry. Figure1Trailblazersleadwithsuperiorefficiency,accuracy,andcustomer/brokerexperience 4% Efficiency Boostedunderwrittingspeed Boostedunderwrittingspeed 20% 4% 27% 0% Accuracy Tightenedlosscost Strengthenedfrauddetection 28% 9% 36% 13% Experience Increasednewbusinessflows 9% Enhancedretention TrailblazerP&Cinsurers 21% 23% MainstreamP&Cinsurers Source:CapgeminiResearchInstituteforFinancialServicesAnalysis,2024;WorldPropertyandCasualtyInsuranceReport2024GlobalInsuranceExecutives’Survey Trainingandtechnologypavethewayforward Underwritersrequirebothskillstrainingandtherighttechnologytoexpandtheirroles,addnewvalueandpromotesuccessacrossthebusiness. Advancedtechnologieslikecloud-basedself-assessmenttools,predictivemodelingandartificialintelligence(AI)/naturallanguageprocessingcapabilitiescanimprovetheaccuracyandproductivityofunderwriterdecision-making. RevolutionarytoolslikethedigitalUnderwritingWorkbenchprovideinstantvisibility,automatetasks,prioritizehigher-valuesubmissionsandleverageratingenginesandmodelstogiveunderwritersseamlessaccesstopertinentinternalandexternaldataatkeydecisionpoints.Insteadofhavingtosiftthrough andassimilateinformationfrommultiplesources,theworkbenchputsthedataandinsightsneededforinformedriskassessmentatthefingertipsoftheunderwriterandallowsthemtoshifttheirfocustoaccurateriskpricingandprevention. AccordingtoCapgeminiresearch,mostunderwritersindicatedtheyrequiretrainingacrossthreekeyareasofbusinesstohelpthempavethewayforward:product(81%),riskmanagement(69%)andsales(68%). Havingsuchatechnologicaledgeiscrucialintoday’semploymentenvironment,asasignificantportionoftheunderwritingworkforceispoisedtoretireandtherearechallengesrecruitingandupskillingyoungergenerationsintothisrole.Theold,tech-freewaysof legacyunderwritingarephasingout,whilethemillennialandGenZworkforceislookingtoleverageadvancedtechnologysolutionsthathelpthemworkfasterandsmarter. Inconclusion Whenunderwritersareelevatedwiththerighttrainingandpowerful,moderntechnologytheyproduceimpressiveresultsassalesenablers,brokerrelationshipconsultantsandbookmanagers. Whetheryourbusinesshasyettobegintheunderwriterevolutionorisonitswaytoharnessingbetterdata andinsightsandimplementingnewpolicysystemsorwo