Leading insurtech Send Technology Solutions Ltd has released its Underwriting Trends Report 2026, identifying the year ahead as a critical inflection point for underwriting strategy, performance and decision-making across the global commercial and specialty insurance market.
The report highlights a convergence of market forces reshaping underwriting models, including softer pricing conditions, increasing operational complexity, heightened regulatory oversight and the rapid industrialisation of artificial intelligence. Together, these dynamics are driving structural change in how insurers assess risk, manage portfolios and collaborate with brokers, MGAs and reinsurers.
Rather than focusing on short-term market cycles, the report examines longer-term shifts influencing underwriting in 2026. Key themes include the growing importance of data quality, broker–carrier connectivity and scalable decision-making frameworks. While speed remains a priority, the findings show increasing expectations around consistency, transparency and governance in underwriting outcomes.
The report also points to a mounting talent challenge across the industry. An ageing workforce, combined with strong demand for new professionals, is forcing insurers to balance attraction and retention with the need to equip teams for a more data- and AI-driven environment. Automation is reshaping underwriting workflows, creating opportunities for efficiency while introducing new considerations around knowledge transfer and skill development.
Technology adoption across the market continues to mature. AI is beginning to influence underwriting outcomes in targeted areas, particularly where insurers have invested in clean data, effective ingestion and robust governance. At the same time, evolving distribution models and reinsurance structures are placing new demands on operating models designed for a less connected market.
Set against ongoing geopolitical, climate and regulatory pressures, the report highlights a widening gap between insurers strengthening their underwriting foundations and those constrained by legacy processes, with potential implications beyond the current market cycle.
Andy Moss, Co-founder and CEO of Send, said:
“Underwriting in 2026 is less about predicting the next market turn and more about building the capability to respond, consistently and at speed, to whatever comes next. What we’re seeing across the market is clear: strong data foundations, seamless connectivity and robust governance are now essential to supporting underwriting judgement at scale.”
The Underwriting Trends Report 2026 draws on insights from insurers, brokers, reinsurers and market experts across the UK, US and international markets. The full report is available to download and provides practical guidance for underwriting, operations and technology leaders preparing for the year ahead.
