ACT Roundtable Report

AI, DATA & CONNECTIVITY.

During Ivans Connect in October 2025, the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT) facilitated roundtable sessions where stakeholders from across the insurance distribution channel shared practical insights, real-world concerns and strategic ideas that offer a clear path forward. 

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The Industry is Ready to Move Forward—But Only If We Move Together.

AI, data, and connectivity are advancing fast, but the independent agency channel is still navigating fragmented systems, inconsistent data sharing, and unclear frameworks. ACT convened 10 roundtables at Ivans Connect to understand what agents, carriers, MGAs, and tech providers need most—and where alignment can happen now.

A Shared Message to the Industry:

Now is the time to connect them. ACT will continue convening the conversations—and providing the frameworks—that help the industry move forward, together.

Top Themes.


Data Isn’t the Problem—Data Consistency Is

Increasingly abundant, yet inconsistently structured and accessed.

  • The friction: Everyone has data, but no one structures it the same way.

  • The impact: Rework, manual entry, download errors, and delayed service.

  • What stakeholders want: A simplified, shared data foundation industry-wide

AI is Full of Potential—But Lacks Clarity & Confidence

AI is full of potential, but still in the early stages of meaningful adoption.

  • The friction: confusion around AI, automation, and augmentation.

  • The impact: Slow adoption, limited use cases, staff uncertainty.

  • What stakeholders want: Real examples, shared language, practical training

Connectivity Works—Until Things Get in the Way

There are breakdowns in connectivity, causing disruption in workflows and efficiency.

  • The friction: Something like MFA breaks real-time connections, systems don’t talk, and roles aren’t aligned.

  • The impact: Workarounds, delays, agent frustration, and inconsistent experience.

  • What stakeholders want: Secure, usable connectivity designed with agents in mind.

MGAs & Surplus Lines Are the Missing Piece

E&S partners are growing rapidly, but most still operate through manual, disconnected processes that slow down the entire distribution channel.

  • The friction: Fast-growing lines remain manual and disconnected.

  • The impact: Gaps in efficiency, visibility, and consistency.

  • What stakeholders want: Integration templates, data access standards, and pilot projects.

Everyone is Innovating—But Not Together

Carriers, vendors, MGAs, and agencies are all building new tools – just not in sync -creating fragmented solutions instead of a unified, scalable ecosystem.

  • The friction: Vendors, carriers, and agencies solve problems independently.

  • The impact: Fragmented tools, duplicative solutions, friction across the ecosystem.

  • What stakeholders want: Shared roadmaps and transparent collaboration.


Fall 2025 at Ivans Connect.

Interested in learning more about Ivans Connect?

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Highlights From Ivans Connect & The Road Ahead.


Big Picture

Participants consistently noted that data flow, system usability and fragmented standards create the most friction.

In the Real World

Stakeholders shared real-world proof points of how AI and automation are saving time, improving accuracy, and freeing up staff. 

Future Focused

Participants shared that while AI and automation are top of mind, many stakeholders still lack the context, training or use-case clarity to take the first step.

Collaboration & Responsibility

Industry alignment is often disrupted when different players lack shared understanding, language or timelines.

Shared Value

Participants envisioned a future where standards enable seamless exchange, AI enhances, not replaces, the agent experience, human insight and digital tools work in harmony.


Strategic Areas of Opportunity for the Independent Agent Channel.

The roundtable sessions revealed these five focus areas that represent the most pressing and widely shared opportunities for the industry to align, simplify, and evolve together. 

1. Aligning on Core Data Standards:

Establish clear, simplified, consistent rules for the data we already exchange.

2. Demystifying & Deploying AI with Confidence:

Provide examples, training, prompts, guardrails, and predictable pathways.

3. Modernizing Connectivity in a Secure, Usable Way:

Co-design MFA, roles, and workflows that keep data safe and usable.

4. Bringing MGAs & Surplus Lines into the Digital Fold:

Standardize data, enable access, and bring them into the tech fold.

5. Encouraging Cross-Sector Collaboration Over Siloed Innovation

Reduce fragmentation by aligning priorities.

Watch highlights & see the energy that brought the industry together.

Watch the highlights

Thank you to our volunteer partner facilitators, we couldn’t have done this without you!


Alvito Vax

ID Federation

Angela Adams

Angela Adams Consulting

Bob Whitis

BrightFire

Chris Cargill

Westfield Insurance

Max Smith

ReFocus AI

Dale Steinke

Liberty Mutual

Jerry Fox

HawkSoft

Joe Clabaugh

Cincinnati Insurance

Jon Gorman

NetVu

Doug Mohr

Vertafore

Mark Harrison

Amplo

Rose Hancock

Zywave

Sherrie Clevenger

Zywave

What’s Next for the Industry & How You Can Get Involved.

ACT Is Building the Next Phase of Alignment. Join Us.

The roundtable insights are only the beginning. Progress happens when the industry builds together—and ACT is your neutral forum to do exactly that.

Here’s how to take the next step:

AI • Data • Connectivity

Help shape solutions, share real-world challenges, and collaborate with peers across agencies, carriers, MGAs, vendors, and associations.

Want to participate? Email us to get matched with the right group.

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From AI guides and data-quality tools to connectivity best practices, our resources are built to help independent agents and industry partners turn insight into action.

View the latest toolkits, webinars, and templates.

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Have an idea? Want to collaborate? Looking for support in your state or organization?

Contact us and start the conversation.

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