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Insurance agents increasingly pick carriers based on submission friction
The 2026 Connectivity Survey of 702 independent agents found workflow friction now outweighs product and price in carrier selection for the first time.
Applied Systems said its 2026 Insurance Agency-Carrier Connectivity Trends survey found that friction in the submissions process has become the leading factor behind where independent agents place business, surpassing product and price for the first time.
The company attributed the shift to how carriers and agencies manage workflow, saying its technology investments are focused on making carrier interactions easier and on removing friction for both sides.
Applied Systems said the 2026 Connectivity Survey was completed by 702 independent agents between April and May 2026, with responses covering digital connectivity preferences, workflow pain points, and technology use.
The report draws on nine-year trend data, Ivans Exchange platform data, and executive advisory council interviews, as Applied Systems also highlighted its submissionless commercial insurance effort with The Travelers Companies as an initial anchor carrier.