Underwriting efficiency in the age of AI

Rising submission volumes and mounting pressure to grow profitably have made underwriting efficiency a defining capability for modern commercial insurers. Amid an ever-rising tide of submissions and mounting pressure to grow profitably, underwriting teams are struggling with the limitations of manual processes, static guidelines, and disconnected systems.

In this environment, efficiency isn't just about speed—it's about enabling better decisions, faster.

Too much effort, too little impact

Underwriters today are spending a significant share of their time on submissions that are unlikely to bind or fall outside portfolio appetite. According to Federato’s 2025 State of Underwriting Report, on average, one in four submissions is misaligned, falling outside appetite, presenting incomplete data, or representing low binding potential. These inefficiencies lead to delayed quotes, strained broker relationships, and ultimately, missed opportunities.

At the same time, underwriters are working across multiple tools and systems, often toggling between email, spreadsheets, guidelines, and rating platforms to complete a single quote. That fragmentation slows decisions and creates friction throughout the policy lifecycle.

Underwriting efficiency requires more than triage

While some insurers have invested in submission triage tools to help sort incoming work, these systems are only solving part of the problem. True efficiency means going beyond submission intake to deliver:

• Real-time portfolio visibility that connects underwriting decisions with strategy
• Dynamic risk prioritization, so high-value submissions rise to the top
• Integrated workflows, where all tools and data sources live in a single environment
• Automated decision support, so underwriters can start from a draft quote—not a blank screen

The shift to AI-native platforms

Achieving this level of underwriting maturity requires more than layering AI onto legacy systems. It calls for purpose-built, AI-native platforms that enable agentic capabilities—systems that act autonomously in alignment with underwriting objectives—across the policy lifecycle. These platforms don't just automate tasks—they replicate the expert logic behind underwriting decisions, freeing up underwriters to focus on what matters most.

The result is faster, more consistent decision-making, sharper portfolio alignment, and improved outcomes for both carriers and brokers.

What leading insurers are doing differently

The most forward-thinking insurers aren’t waiting for the future to arrive—they’re building it. Here’s how they’re doing it with the Federato platform:

• Consolidating fragmented workflows into a single, seamless experience
• Using AI agents to instantly ingest, enrich, and analyze submissions
• Operationalizing and embedding strategic guardrails within workflows
• Leveraging real-time portfolio analytics to sharpen appetite alignment

This isn’t about replacing underwriters. It’s about giving them smarter tools, clearer context, and the time to focus on what matters most: expert judgment and meaningful relationships.

Transforming underwriting efficiency

True underwriting efficiency isn't about speed for its own sake—it's about optimizing time, data, and decision quality. That begins with moving beyond disjointed tools toward intelligent, integrated systems. 

Keep reading to learn how underwriting efficiency is impacted by submission intake.