- KPMG report reveals rapidly changing landscape, despite strong market conditions
- Commercial insurance industry under growing pressure from economic uncertainty, ESG activism and deglobalization
A new report from KPMG has revealed the world’s commercial insurance industry is performing well but faces a number of increasing pressures that threaten its long-term sustainability.
KPMG’s Future of Large Commercial Insurance report was compiled following extensive interviews and research with more than 400 industry leaders throughout the world. The report highlights five critical ‘signals of change’ that are already impacting the sector and could radically reshape the industry in the future. These are:
- Client and broker expectations
- Economic uncertainty
- Regulatory and legal deglobalization
- Technology evolution
- Environmental, social and governance (ESG) activism
The global commercial insurance industry is predicted to continue its growth trajectory over the next decade, with estimates suggesting the worldwide sector could generate revenues of more than $661 million by 2028, compared to $349 million in 20201. But, despite the positive financial outlook, there are fears growing external challenges could bring the industry’s success to a halt, if decisive action isn’t taken now by CEOs and other sector leaders.
The business landscape is changing rapidly. Despite strong market performance, traditional commercial insurance business models are coming under pressure from swirling changes that now have the sector on the cusp of a radical transformation. To survive and thrive in this new environment, commercial insurers shouldn’t stand still. They need to evolve and build new differentiated capabilities that connect across the organization. Technology will be critical, but digital transformation goes well beyond technology. Insurers need a clear, client-led business design of their end-to-end process that should be driven by deep client, broker and market insights. It should be underpinned by a digitally-enabled technology architecture and empowered workforce. In our view, it is only by taking this “connected” approach that insurers can achieve true value from their digital transformations.
Laura Hay
Global Head of Insurance
KPMG International
- Agile global player – optimizing the existing
- Innovative specialist – adapting and exploiting at pace
- Open-source risk manager – stock market of risk
To help ensure these winning business models will be successful, commercial insurers should focus on building new and differentiated capabilities that connect across their organizations. While leaders can’t do everything, they should identify which capabilities and models will help make the biggest difference to their business. Technology will be critical. But digital transformation goes well beyond technology. A clear, client-led business design of end-to-end processes is essential. It should be driven by deep client, broker and market insights. And it should be underpinned by a digitally-enabled technology architecture and empowered workforce. In our view, it is only by taking this “connected” approach that insurers can achieve true value from their digital transformations.
Mark Longworth
Global Head of Insurance Advisory
KPMG in the UK
