Strategic Priorities 2026: A New Era of Innovation and Disruption Offers Real Business Value

If the last 25 years are any indication, the next quarter-century will continue to deliver volatility and rapid change, driving further transformation in the insurance industry. Predictable pricing, risk, and growth are over. Now, relentless change compels insurers to adapt with speed, meeting challenges head-on and capturing new opportunities as they emerge.

The continuing challenges underscore the urgency for insurers to adopt new operating models and technologies. The way forward for insurers is to pair operational improvements with bold innovation to redefine the business model and rebuild the technology foundation. At the core of that innovation is AI, including GenAI and Agentic AI.

Over six years of tracking, insurers who invested more in the six strategic activities consistently achieved higher growth multiples than their lower-activity counterparts. Every strategic lever clearly shows that the companies that act boldly outperform those that move cautiously.

Across every strategic dimension – innovation, business model change, product evolution, channel expansion, and core system modernization— Leaders are accelerating which highlights their focus on rethinking their business and technology foundation as compared to Followers who are selective with a modest pace, and Laggards who reflect entrenched stagnation reflecting completely different business and competitive realities

This report highlights the urgent need for insurers to be bold and change. There is great potential in reinventing the business operating model and technology foundation that can more easily adapt to the challenges and changes in the industry. While insurance is risk averse, it should be apparent that not changing creates greater risk for the company.

Download this Thought Leadership to gain insights into:

• How strategic priorities and execution—not intent—separates insurance Leaders from Followers and Laggards
• Where leaders are investing across business operations, technology, AI, products, and channels—and why it matters
• How intelligent core platforms, GenAI, and Agentic AI can fundamentally reshape cost structures, productivity, and growth