InsurTech/M&A/Financeđ°/Collaboration
Kinetic Insurance Scales with Novideaâs Workersâ Comp Solution | Insurance Innovation Reporter
When Kinetic Insurance (New York) decided to move from selling wearable technology to underwriting workersâ compensation insurance, the change proved transformativeâbut not without its challenges.
The MGU had developed devices to help industrial workers avoid strains and sprains. By 2021, the company pivoted to selling comp coverage while providing its injury-preventing technology at no cost.
The strategy worked immediately. Partnering with Nationwide (Columbus, Ohio), Kinetic went from zero premium to $25 million in its first year. But the business was running on technology that would not scale.
âWe went from working in Google Sheets to suddenly having this pain of hundreds of policies,â comments Haytham Elhawary, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Kinetic Insurance. âIt was not sustainable.â
That problem is hardly unique. âOur number one competitor in the industry is either Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel,â remarks Jeff Heine, Chief Revenue Officer, Novidea (Herzliya, Israel). For Kinetic, the need was clear: replace spreadsheets with a modern, scalable system that could handle both traditional policy data and the nontraditional data streams generated by its technology.
Insurance Innovation Reporter
OEMs & Auto Insurance
Automakers challenge traditional carriers with their own insurance options
Traditional insurance carriers now face competition from automakers as original equipment manufacturers (OEM) like Honda and Tesla enter the marketâgiving drivers a one-stop-shop for insurance coverage and vehicle ownership.
In July, Honda joined Tesla by launching its own licensed insurance agency, saying the new company would provide personalized insurance needs to Honda and Acura customers in all 50 U.S. states, including coverage options for motorcycles, RVs and homes.
OEM-Insurer Partnerships Could Drive Consumer Loyalty
A new report shows both automakers and insurance carriers are facing declining customer loyalty, but by working together, they could help each other retain business.
Nearly half of U.S. drivers actively shopped for new auto insurance policies in the past year, according to a new Deloitte report that points to a growing need for collaboration between insurers and vehicle manufacturers to reinvent the customer experience.
The report, Reinventing the Insurance Customer Experience for Loyalty, revealed 49% of auto insurance consumers explored new policy options over the last 12 months -- likely a reaction to premium increases that averaged 26% from 2023 to 2024, as cited from the 2024 J.D. Power Shopping Study.
âAuto insurers and OEMs are both grappling with declining customer loyalty,â Deloitte said. âTo recapture loyalty and stay competitive, OEMs should seek to create a cradle-to-grave loyalty experience with each car.â
The report suggests that building seamless, embedded insurance options directly from OEMs could drive future loyalty. One-third of U.S. consumers expressed interest in buying âembeddedâ insurance from vehicle manufacturers, citing cost, convenience and time savings. Interest is even stronger internationally, the report said.
The rise of connected, electric and automated vehicles also presents new insurance challenges and opportunities. Deloitte anticipates regulatory shifts may soon assign more liability to OEMs and system partners instead of drivers, prompting a need for proactive industry transformation.
Announcements
Tractable and NTT-ME Announce Strategic Agreement for Japan Property Business
Tractable announces the acquisition of its Japan Property business by NTT-ME to accelerate innovation and focus on its core automotive AI platform.
Tractable, the company building AI for visual assessment, today announced it has reached a definitive agreement with NTT-ME Corporation to acquire its Property Insurance business in Japan. This strategic move allows Tractable to focus on the automotive ecosystem, accelerating innovation and investment in the solutions that repairers, dealerships, recyclers, and insurers rely on.
About the Transaction
The sale of the Japan Property is a deliberate step to sharpen our focus and ensure that every one of our strategic priorities in the automotive space is properly resourced. We are incredibly optimistic about the opportunities ahead of us and believe this strengthened focus will accelerate our growth and innovation, enabling us to explore new solutions that can increase top-line revenue for our automotive partners.
NTT-ME, a technology company and a leader in providing disaster support solutions for local municipalities within the NTT East Group, is the ideal partner to grow and support the Property product and its customers. The business being transferred includes the AI solutions Property Estimator (for calculating building repair costs) and Property Underwriter (for creating home inspection reports).
What This Means for Tractable
This partnership strengthens Tractableâs commitment to its automotive AI platform, enabling the company to deliver enhanced capabilities more quickly to its customers. By focusing on our auto business, we are doubling down on our commitment to the Japanese market. Tractable will still work with the same clients, but with a clearer, more focused approach on the Auto business.
Sfara, received the Best Paper Award at the ITS World Congress 2025 đ
Weâre proud to share that Ali Ghomashchi on behalf of Sfara, received the Best Paper Award at the ITS World Congress 2025 in Atlanta this Thursday. đ
Co-authored by Dr. David Schiebener, Dr. Jon Guez, Ali Ghomashchi, Pramod Manjunatha and Sascha Simon, the recognition is the reflection of Sfaraâs ongoing commitment to shaping the future of intelligent transportation and road safety.
The ITS World Congress is the worldâs leading event for innovation in mobility, and weâre honored to be recognized on such a global stage.
Congratulations to the entire team â and thank you to ITS World Congress for bringing together the brightest minds driving the future of mobility.
Embedded & Parametric Insurance
Mitsui Sumitomo rolls out parametric weather insurance product to address climate risks - Artemis.bm
Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, a subsidiary of MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, has unveiled its new parametric insurance product, âWeather Insurance Indexâ, a new offering designed to help insurers manage financial losses caused by severe or unusual weather.
As a parametric solution, the product has been designed to provide an automatic fixed payout whenever predefined weather conditions are met.
The product relies on an index built from key weather data points, including temperature, rainfall, wind, snow, and sunshine.
Once the data crosses the agreed threshold, claims are settled swiftly and efficiently, without the need for a physical damage assessment.
The Japanese insurer noted that the need for risk transfer is increasing, while also highlighting how traditional insurance continues to encounter obstacles, including the challenges associated with loss assessment, which places a significant strain on both clients and insurance providers.
This method also faces difficulties in delivering adequate compensation, except for risks related to property damage that are covered by fire insurance and similar policies.
Embedded Insurance for Freight | Insurance Thought Leadership
Embedded insurance technology revolutionizes freight cargo coverage, replacing day-long manual processes with instant digital solutions.
With about three million "18-wheeler" trucks operating in the U.S. and the demand for timely delivery of cargo, the transportation sector is often defined by its complexity and the speed at which decisions must be made.
For freight brokers and motor carriers, arranging cargo insurance has, until recently, been a manual and time-consuming process. The value of many shipments is higher than the $100,000 basic cargo insurance coverage carried by most trucking companies. It could take a day or more to secure supplemental coverage for high-value or specialized loads. In an industry where hours can mean the difference between winning and losing a shipment, this lag is more than an inconvenience; it is a money-loser.
Recent advances in embedded insurance technology are beginning to emerge as a game-changer. In consumer transactions, embedded insurance has been commonplace for years. Examples of this are the travel insurance offered during flight bookings or ticket insurance at checkout for major sports events and concerts. But in business-to-business (B2B) transactions, embedded insurance has been limited. Now, that is shifting, and the implications for freight risk management are significant.
Moving Beyond the Consumer Model
Christopher Snyder, CLU, ChFC, is a senior consultant with Logistiq Insurance Solutions.
Parametric solutions: using technology to enhance the claims process | ITIJ
From identifying a flight delay instantly to quick payments for delayed bags, parametric insurance is making waves in the travel insurance sector. Alysia Cameron-Davies explores the benefits, challenges, and whatâs needed for broader adoption
Parametric insurance is emerging as a powerful complement to traditional models, offering real-time support for customers. Based on predefined triggers, such as flight delays, weather events, or lost luggage, these solutions provide automatic payouts without the need for paperwork or lengthy claims processes.
Peter Smith, Senior Vice President of Travel and Mobility at Cover Genius, said that âdelays and travel disruptions are becoming more widespread, and parametric coverage can provide incredible value for customersâ. He explained: âUnlike traditional insurance, which compensates customers when they make a claim, parametric insurance pays out based on predefined events or âtriggersâ. These triggers can include flight delays, weather conditions, unexpected closures, etc.â He highlighted the streamlined claims process as one of the key benefits of parametric solutions.
âTravellers can ditch the often-complex processes, paperwork and wait times in favour of automatic compensation and perks like flight credits or lounge access. This minimises the financial impact of disruptions and transforms unexpected layovers into a more comfortable experience.â
Alysia Cameron-Davies is a copy writer for Voyageur Publishing
AI in Insurance
Insurance agents warm to AI but uptake remains uneven: Liberty Mutual
Artificial intelligence is making its way into insurance agencies, but adoption remains uneven, according to new research from Liberty Mutual.
The 2025 Independent Agents at Work Study, which surveyed more than 1,200 independent agency leaders and staff, suggests that while interest in AI is growing, many remain cautious about its role in day-to-day operations.
More than half of agency employees expressed interest in using AI at work, and over one-third reported already integrating AI tools into their activities. Yet, despite this growing familiarity, overall attitudes toward AI have not shifted dramatically. Skepticism persists, particularly among older staff, while younger employees and agency leaders show stronger enthusiasm for experimentation, according to the report.
For agency leadership, the study points to three clear priorities. The first is the creation of an AI policy. Even in organizations that have not formally adopted AI, employees may already be using outside tools, raising concerns around risk and data security. A policy helps set boundaries and ensures client information is protected.
AI for Policy and Claims: Should Insurers Build or Buy?
Executive Summary
AI Insurance COOs and senior leaders are under growing pressure to implement AI quicklyâwithout compromising trust, security, or regulatory standards. When the stakes are high, especially in areas like policy and claims review, should they build or buy AI solutions? Here, Dan Schuleman, CEO of Qumis, and an insurance attorney-turned-InsurTech founder who's built an AI tool for legally sensitive workflows, offers his take on benefits and drawbacks of both potential answers.
Claims
Commercial Property Claims in 2025: Repair Costs, Timeliness and Smarter Solutions
The commercial property insurance market is navigating a constantly evolving landscape in 2025, in which rising costs, labor shortages and the ever-present threat of business interruption are reshaping how claims are managed.
In response, many insurers and risk managers are moving away from ad hoc contractor relationships and toward managed repair models that emphasize trusted networks, transparent pricing and proactive project oversight.
Commercial claims are an intricate puzzle, and the pressures of todayâs market only magnify their complexity.
According to Verisk, U.S. commercial reconstruction costs climbed 5.7% year over year through Q2 2025, driven by material spikes, with concrete alone rising 9.3%, and compounded by persistent labor shortages, with nearly 900,000 skilled trade jobs still unfilled. Turner Constructionâs cost index shows a similar 3.8% increase in non-residential building expenses, underscoring how inflationary pressures continue to ripple through the sector.
By Ed Reis and Sarah Morris
Recommended Reading
A New Vibe for Insurance Technology | Insurance Innovation Reporter
Vibe coding lets insurers use AI and natural language to build solutions faster, reducing barriers and sparking innovation.
As a frustrated young communication consultant working at a carrier in the 1990s, I wrote a formal memo to a VP of IT. My brash request was that he extract a massive amount of data from the company mainframe and FTP the file to me so I could easily contact policyholders âfrom within the user-friendly environment of my desktop computer.â He promptly (and wisely) rejected my request. The world was not ready for that level of user enablement.
Things have changed.
I recently took part in a massive vibe coding hackathon. I saw firsthand that end-user toolsâespecially those that leverage natural language capabilities and deliver fully functional systems via AIâhave arrived as potential game changers.
Vibingâs Emerging Capabilities
Craig Weber is head of insurance strategy at Cognizant, an IT services firm. While he recently added vibe coding to his list of skills, he notes that this article and its well-placed em dashes are not the products of AI.