November 14, 2025

Resources

Outdated Technology Poses New Problems: The Hidden Risks of Legacy Insurance Systems

In a marketplace where change is constant, innovation is no longer a choice—it's the standard for staying competitive. Customer expectations are digital-first, regulatory demands for insurance compliance are evolving rapidly, and competition is fiercer than ever. Yet many insurers, Brokers & MGAs remain tied to legacy systems that slow them down, hinder growth, and introduce significant risks to long-term success.​

Insurance & technology leaders who continue to rely on ageing platforms risk falling behind. It is time to rethink the role insurtech insights play in modern insurance operations and embrace cloud-native insurance technology that drives efficiency and innovation.​

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Legacy Systems: A Roadblock to Innovation

Creating and adapting insurance products should be fast, agile, and customer-centric. However, outdated platforms often turn what should be a seamless process into a drawn-out, costly ordeal. Legacy systems were simply not built for the speed and flexibility today's market demands, making product launches sluggish and expensive.​

The opportunity cost is massive. Insurance penetration across regions such as Asia (3.6%), Denmark (5.6%), Sweden (10.6%), the UK (11.8%), and South Africa (14.1%) highlights untapped potential for innovative, accessible insurance technology solutions. Insurers and Brokers & MGAs relying on rigid legacy platforms risk missing out, unable to respond swiftly to evolving customer needs.​

Modern cloud-native insurance technology empowers insurers with faster, smarter product development—enabling them to meet emerging risks and new consumer expectations head-on. If any of these challenges sound familiar, it's time to explore easy-to-use modern core systems that prioritize efficiency and innovation.​

The Heavy Cost of Maintaining the Past

It's not just agility that suffers under legacy infrastructure. According to industry research, around 70% of an insurer's IT budget is still spent on maintaining outdated systems—resources that could be better invested in modern innovations such as document workflow automation software, artificial intelligence underwriting company solutions, and data analytics.​

These tools are not merely desirable—they are essential for gaining a competitive advantage. AI insurance companies are leveraging artificial intelligence underwriting to personalise products, optimise pricing strategies, and predict customer behaviour with greater accuracy. Underwriting technology powered by AI has reduced average underwriting decision time from three to five days to just 12.4 minutes for standard policies, while maintaining a 99.3% accuracy rate in risk management.​

Document management dms and automated underwriting systems reduce manual work, increase speed, and improve accuracy across both direct-to-consumer and business channels. Technology should enhance human expertise, not replace it—the most effective insurance operations combine smart automation with skilled professionals focused on high-value, complex tasks.​

Regulatory Compliance Is Increasingly Complex

Regulatory pressures for insurance compliance and regulatory reporting are intensifying. Data transparency, security, and governance are now top priorities for insurers worldwide. Yet ageing systems make it harder to keep up, as manual workarounds and fragmented data create operational risks and open the door to costly non-compliance.​

The stakes are high: inefficiencies tied to legacy systems cost organisations billions annually. Multiple outdated platforms often create data silos, complicating compliance efforts and increasing the risk of errors. Without integrated, real-time document management capabilities and robust audit trail systems, insurers face slower response times to regulatory changes—and greater exposure to audits, fines, and reputational damage.​

A unified, modernised cloud-native insurance technology platform forms the foundation for strong data governance, streamlined regulatory reporting, proactive audit trail management, and comprehensive risk management. Modern insurance tool kits enable insurers to maintain transparency and accountability while reducing compliance-related operational costs.​

Scaling Across New Distribution Channels Is Challenging

The insurance distribution model is transforming rapidly, especially for Brokers & MGAs. APIs, ecosystems, and embedded insurance are becoming the norm—yet legacy systems, lacking modern rating engines and interoperability, make seamless integration a significant hurdle.​

Insurtech news reports warn that insurers who fail to embrace APIs and ecosystem partnerships will quickly lose their competitive edge. Modern insurance technology solutions offer embedded insurance capabilities, open APIs, and dynamic product personalisation, ensuring rapid connection to new distribution opportunities. Document management on sharepoint and cloud-based systems enable distributed workforce enablement, allowing Brokers & MGAs to decide how processes are administered—in-house, remotely, or by associates.​

Slow Product Launches and High Development Costs

Speed to market is critical when capturing new opportunities in the competitive insurance & technology landscape. However, legacy systems often require manual, repetitive configuration across multiple platforms, delaying launches and inflating costs.​

Modern easy-to-use low-code/no-code tools enable fast product prototyping, simplified configuration, and full process support across underwriting, claims, and billing. Cloud-native insurance technology platforms allow insurers and Brokers & MGAs to launch new products in weeks, not months, improving efficiency and market responsiveness.​

Limited Scalability and Flexibility

Older systems often buckle under the strain of increased workloads, leading to performance bottlenecks, outages, and frustrated customers. Worse still, they restrict the ability to introduce new product lines and grow business operations.​

Scalable cloud-native insurance technology infrastructure handles peak demands effortlessly and supports expansion goals. Document management in sap and modern cloud platforms ensure that operational performance and customer service excellence are maintained at all times, even during high-volume periods.​

Poor End-User Experience

Today's customers expect fast, seamless, and personalised experiences across every touchpoint. Slow processing times, inaccurate policy information, and difficult-to-use interfaces drive customers towards competitors.​

Easy-to-use insurance technology empowers insurers to deliver a customer journey that is intuitive, consistent, and personalised—from initial quotation through to claims processing. Document workflow automation software streamlines customer communications, building loyalty and driving sustainable growth. AI-powered systems enable real-time policy approvals, instant premium calculations, and faster claims settlements, creating a seamless experience.​

Declining Productivity

When employees are bogged down by manual processes and disjointed systems, productivity plummets. Research shows that modernised IT platforms can increase productivity by over 40%, enabling staff to focus on delivering value rather than fighting legacy technology.​

Modern document workflow automation software and document management dms solutions automate routine tasks and streamline end-to-end processes. By eliminating repetitive paperwork, teams can concentrate on innovation, risk management, and service excellence. AI insurance companies are reporting significant improvements in underwriter productivity—up to 50% increases—by deploying artificial intelligence underwriting platforms.​

Struggles with New Business Initiatives and Technologies

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence underwriting company solutions, machine learning, IoT, and telematics are redefining insurance operations. Yet many insurers find that integrating these technologies into legacy platforms requires costly re-platforming and customisation—and even then, results are often underwhelming.​

Cloud-native insurance technology platforms offer modularity and open integration capabilities, allowing rapid adoption of new technologies like underwriting technology powered by AI and advanced document management systems. These insurance tool kits keep organisations ahead of the competition while maintaining efficiency and compliance.​

Rising Cybersecurity Risks and Operational Disruptions

Cybersecurity threats are at an all-time high in the insurance & technology sector. Outdated systems often lack robust defences, leaving sensitive data vulnerable and business continuity at risk. High-profile ransomware incidents have demonstrated just how devastating a breach can be for insurers.​

Modern cloud-native insurance technology platforms are built with advanced security features, comprehensive audit trail capabilities, and rapid incident response mechanisms. These systems ensure resilience against the ever-evolving threat landscape while supporting regulatory reporting and risk management requirements.​

The Cost of Waiting Is Too High

The challenges posed by legacy systems are not isolated issues—they represent a systemic risk to growth, innovation, and sustainability for insurers and Brokers & MGAs. Modernisation is not simply about replacing technology; it's about enabling agility, scalability, insurance compliance, and exceptional customer experiences through cloud-native insurance technology.​

Insurtech insights reveal that the goal is to build an organisation ready to meet tomorrow's demands with easy-to-use, efficient solutions. Modern insurance technology platforms combine document workflow automation software, artificial intelligence underwriting, robust document management dms capabilities, and comprehensive audit trail systems to support Brokers & MGAs in achieving operational excellence.​

If current systems are creating barriers rather than opportunities, it's time to embrace transformation. Cloud-native insurance technology with integrated document management on sharepoint, document management in sap, and advanced underwriting technology solutions can help navigate the modernisation journey confidently—unlocking new opportunities and accelerating growth.​

Are You Ready to Leave Legacy Behind?

The insurance industry stands at a crossroads. AI insurance companies and forward-thinking Brokers & MGAs are already leveraging artificial intelligence underwriting company platforms, document workflow automation software, and modern insurance tool kits to gain competitive advantage.​

With comprehensive insurance compliance features, streamlined regulatory reporting, transparent audit trail systems, and robust risk management capabilities, cloud-native insurance technology represents the future of efficiency in insurance operations. The question is no longer whether to modernise, but how quickly organisations can transition to easy-to-use, scalable platforms that support sustainable growth and innovation.