Send’s Underwriting Trends Report 2026 identifies inflection point for global insurers

13 January 2026 – Leading insurtech Send Technology Solutions Ltd (Send) has published its Underwriting Trends Report 2026, revealing 2026 as a critical inflection point for underwriting strategy, performance and decision-making across the global commercial and specialty insurance market. 

The report finds that after several years of transition, insurers are now facing a convergence of softer pricing, rising operational complexity, intensifying regulatory oversight and the rapid industrialisation of AI. Together, these forces are reshaping how underwriters assess risk, manage portfolios and collaborate with brokers, MGAs and reinsurers. 

Rather than focusing on short-term market cycles, the report examines structural shifts influencing underwriting in 2026, including the role of data quality, broker–carrier connectivity and scalable decision-making. It finds that speed remains important, but is increasingly accompanied by expectations around consistency, transparency and control. 

The findings also highlight a mounting talent challenge. An ageing workforce and strong demand for new professionals are forcing insurers to balance attraction and retention with the need to equip teams for a more data- and AI-driven environment. Automation is reshaping underwriting workflows, creating both opportunities and risks for knowledge transfer and skill development. 

Technology adoption across the market is maturing. AI is beginning to influence underwriting outcomes in pockets of the industry, particularly where insurers have invested in clean data, effective ingestion and strong governance. At the same time, evolving distribution models and reinsurance structures are placing new demands on operating models built for a less connected era. 

Set against geopolitical, climate and regulatory pressures, the report highlights a widening gap between insurers strengthening their underwriting foundations and those constrained by legacy processes, with implications that may extend beyond the current market cycle. 

Andy Moss, Co-founder and CEO of Send, said:

“Underwriting in 2026 is less about predicting the next market turn and more about building the capability to respond, consistently and at speed, to whatever comes next. What we’re seeing across the market is clear: strong data foundations, seamless connectivity and robust governance are now essential to supporting underwriting judgement at scale.”

The Underwriting Trends Report 2026 draws on insights from insurers, brokers, reinsurers and market experts across the UK, US and international markets. 

The full report is available to view here, offering practical insight for underwriting, operations and technology leaders preparing for the year ahead. 

ENDS  

For more information, contact: 
slocke-cooper@fullcirclecomms.co.uk  

Notes to Editors:  

About Send:     

Send is the leading insurance platform, trusted by world-class insurers to navigate complex risks. 

More than just an underwriting tool, the platform orchestrates people, data, AI, and processes to streamline underwriting operations from submission to bind, and beyond. 

Send combines the science and art of underwriting to help insurers write profitable business faster, and with greater confidence. 

With a growing presence globally, Send is helping MGAs and re/insurers address today’s most complex underwriting challenges with clarity and control.