Structured Data and the Future of Insurance: Why Now Matters 

One of the privileges of working with so many different people across the market, brokers, underwriters, operations teams, and senior leaders, is seeing the passion throughout this industry. Insurance is fast-moving, high-stakes, and at times chaotic, yet people throw themselves into it with grit and dedication. 

But alongside that passion sits something else: a deep reluctance to change how things are done. That reluctance is understandable, but it’s also dangerous. There’s comfort in the familiar. Exchanging emails, tweaking Word documents, stamping a PDF - it’s a rhythm that has served us for decades, yet today it holds us back. 

When we rely on static documents, things slip. Data gets lost in translation. Duplication creeps in. Accuracy wobbles. Hours vanish into rekeying the same information repeatedly. Automation - the very thing that should free us to focus on the real, value-driven work - remains agonisingly out of reach. 

The problem is not talent; this industry has that in abundance. The problem is process. That’s why structured data in (re)insurance contracts is not a “nice to have”, it’s the foundation on which the industry’s future will stand. 

Why Structured Data Matters 

Structured data doesn’t add complexity; it removes it. It strips away friction. When contracts are built with structured data, they stop being static records and become living, dynamic assets. They move smoothly through systems. They can be interrogated, shared, connected, and re-used. They underpin workflows that are faster, more accurate, and more collaborative. 

And here’s the crucial point: structured data doesn’t just improve the contract - it transforms the entire ecosystem around it. 

Once data is structured, it becomes portable. It can flow into a workbench, feed into dashboards, move into a policy administration system, update records instantly, trigger rules engines, pricing tools, exposure management, claims - even payments.  

Without structured data, these systems remain siloed, requiring human effort to connect the dots. With it, processes become fluid. Information travels at the speed of need. The vision of a fully connected insurance value chain - long discussed but never realised - suddenly becomes achievable. 

Overcoming the “Good Enough” Trap 

Of course, none of this is easy - change never is. When time pressures bite, there’s always the temptation to stick with what feels safe - the email, the Word document, the PDF. But “good enough” has a hidden cost. It slows us down, locks up value, and stifles the very creativity and judgement that should define our industry. 

The truth is this: people’s working lives are more enjoyable, more productive, and more fulfilling when they make the shift – I’ve seen it. Structured data removes the endless firefighting and duplication. It gives people back control of their time. It lets talent shine. 

But this is not a train that has already left the station. Yes, early adopters are enjoying the benefits. But those who take their first steps now still stand to make meaningful, lasting gains. Even small moves - building a handful of structured templates, capturing a few key data fields, experimenting with system integrations - can create foundations that pay dividends long into the future. 

Every journey starts with a first step. And here, even a small first step shifts the ground beneath your feet. 

The Human Payoff 

This isn’t just a systems story; it’s a human one. 

For brokers, entering structured data upfront can feel like an extra burden at first. But the payoff is profound: faster agreements, fewer errors, and more clarity for clients. It also puts brokers firmly in control of the contract’s DNA - the raw material of the deal - rather than leaving it open to interpretation downstream. 

For underwriters, structured data removes ambiguity. Submissions arrive cleaner, richer, and easier to process. That means more time spent on risk evaluation and client engagement, and less on sifting through inconsistent formats or chasing missing information. 

For leaders, the business case is compelling. Structured data means faster processing, smoother compliance, lower costs, and sharper analytics. It also creates cultures where employees feel empowered, not drained - essential for attracting and retaining the next generation of insurance talent. 

And for all of us, there is something subtler but more valuable: agency and creative freedom in our work. Less time retyping figures and chasing formatting changes, and more time solving problems, building relationships, and exercising judgement. In other words, doing the very things that make a career in insurance fulfilling. 

A Call to the Market 

This is not about instant transformation. No one is expecting the industry to flip a switch. What matters is momentum. Structured data is already proving itself in pockets of the market, but it’s not too late for anyone else to start. Quite the opposite: the tools are here, the training resources exist, and the market is still early in the adoption curve. There’s ample room to lead. 

The prize is not abstract. It is a market where contracts are dynamic, information flows seamlessly, duplication disappears, and collaboration thrives. 

It’s a market where the energy of its people is spent not on clerical repetition but on creativity, negotiation, and client service. Where “good enough” is replaced by genuinely better. 

Structured data is not a slogan, or a shiny add-on. It is the key that unlocks this future. 

The industry has always prided itself on resilience. Now is the moment to match that resilience with boldness. To step beyond comfort, and into possibility. 

The future is waiting. And it’s not too late. The only question is: when will you take the first step?