MGAs have always thrived by moving faster than the rest of the insurance ecosystem. Today, that advantage matters more than ever. As risks evolve, carriers shift capacity, and distribution expectations rise, MGAs are under pressure to operate with more speed, accuracy, and discipline.
AI is emerging as one of the most important tools to meet those demands. In our recent webinar with Datos analyst Eric Weisberg and Vertafore’s VP of product and technology, Dustin Lorres, we explored how MGAs can start putting AI to work and where the market is headed as we approach 2030.
A growing, more competitive MGA market
One thing is clear: the MGA market isn’t slowing down. As carriers retreat from complex or volatile segments and new risks emerge, MGAs continue to step in with specialized expertise and entrepreneurial speed.
But with that growth comes consolidation: Capital partners are becoming more selective, regulators are sharpening expectations, and technology requirements are increasing. The MGAs that succeed will be those that pair strong underwriting with modern, scalable operations.
That’s where AI comes in.
AI for MGAs: A clear path to speed and scale
While AI is a broad category, MGAs don’t need to think about it in abstract terms. The webinar surfaced, in several practical ways, how MGAs are already using AI to strengthen core processes.
Unstructured data intake is becoming more manageable
Most MGAs still receive submissions over email packed with PDFs, Excel SOVs, supplemental apps, and loss runs. Traditionally, this has meant hours of manual data entry. AI-powered document processing is now reducing that burden by automatically reading, extracting, and structuring incoming information.
Underwriting is gaining richer, faster insights
AI can sift through third-party data and thousands of property attributes in seconds, surfacing risk indicators and summarizing insights for underwriters. This allows underwriters to focus on decisions rather than data gathering. It’s not about replacing underwriters but about giving them more clarity earlier in the process to enhance their judgement.
Claims teams can work more efficiently
Searchable document repositories and fraud-detection models can help MGAs find relevant information faster and identify anomalies that may require closer review. These early wins are meaningful on their own but more importantly, they lay the foundation for operational scale.
Technology choices matter more than ever
As the panelists noted, MGAs don’t need a monolithic system overhaul to adopt AI. But they do need the right architecture: one that is API-friendly, modular, and designed to integrate new capabilities over time.
Concepts like a “skinny PAS” or dedicated underwriting workbench are becoming more common because they support exactly that: fast product launches, flexible rule changes, and the ability to layer AI into the workflow where it’s more useful.
The takeaway was clear: MGAs with adaptable platforms will be better positions to grow, respond to market changes, and integrate newly emerging AI tools.
Looking toward 2030: What MGAs should expect
This conversation also explored how these trends may shape the decade ahead:
- Straight-through processing could reach meaningful levels in some lines.
- Capital partners will expect deeper visibility into performance.
- More MGAs will diversify their capacity source to manage volatility.
- The tech stack will continue shifting toward automation, intelligence, and agility.
While no one can predict the future with certainty, it is apparent that AI will play a central role in MGA operations, and the organizations that plan for it now will be best positioned to thrive. Watch the full recording of our webinar From hype to impact: The AI balance for MGA efficiency, scale and growth to hear more on how MGAs can best prepare for and utilize AI as part of their tech stack.