According to Ivans’ 2025 Insurance Agency-Carrier Connectivity Trends Survey Report, real-time risk appetite information is the top factor influencing carrier selection, indicating that people are abandoning traditional priorities such as policy downloads.
“This year’s report reveals a clear view from agencies: Automation and real-time data from carriers are critical components of building strong, lasting agency-carrier partnerships that enhance customer service, streamline workflows and drive shared business success,” said Ivans.
Survey data from more than 700 professionals, including agents, carriers, MGAs/wholesalers and technology providers, revealed that the commercial submission process is an area where insurance agencies would like to see greater automation from carriers, with 72% of respondents stating this.
This highlights our continued drive to eliminate manual workflows and employee inefficiencies. Followed by data uploading of management systems and books, both at 51%.
For the first time, real-time preference information in the agency’s preferred rating solution is a major deciding factor agencies consider when selecting carriers and MGA partners – 29% of respondents said this is up from 12% in 2024.
Additionally, policy downloading, usually the highest-ranking activity in previous years, ranked second this year at 23%. Commercial quoting and submission via preferred rating solutions follows in third place (22%).
This shift highlights the increasing emphasis on data-driven adjustments and real-time connectivity rather than traditional service capabilities.
The survey also shows that agencies still value quality products, with 52% of respondents saying they prefer operators that offer customized, needs-based products. This is significantly more than operators who focus primarily on product diversity (35%).
This preference signals a shift in the market that favors carriers that offer customized coverage options and competitive pricing that match specific customer needs.
“This year’s survey results clearly demonstrate that strong partnerships are built on real-time data and easy-to-use workflows,” said Michael Streit, president of Ivans. “Agents want to be connected to carriers in the workflows they use every day, and those who invest in agent-carrier connections will be rewarded with deeper relationships and more business opportunities.”
