Olivia Overman

Applied Systems has announced a submissionless commercial insurance solution with The Travelers Companies Inc. (TRV) as its first anchor carrier partner. Powered by Cytora’s agentic artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the solution enables carriers to proactively deliver renewal quotes directly within Applied Epic before agencies begin the remarketing process.

May brought news of moderating pressures in the long-suffering personal lines space, with early signs that increases in reconstruction costs and personal auto premium hikes may be beginning to slow. Meanwhile, Independent Agent magazine also explored how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing customer expectations, workflows and the ways independent agents deliver value.

April brought the end of an era as the Safeco brand retired after more than a century, with Liberty Mutual taking up the mantle as a more recognizable brand to further the impact of the independent agent channel. Meanwhile, Big “I” University faculty experts answered an agent’s question about a personal property theft. Independent Agent also covered the impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on the insurance industry.