You’ve built a successful wholesale insurance operation. Your underwriters know their markets, your relationships with carriers are strong, and your book of business is growing. But there’s one question keeping many insurance executives up at night: Is our technology holding us back?

If you’re running an MGA, program administrator, or underwriting operation, you’re facing pressures that didn’t exist five years ago. New regulations seem to pop up monthly. Cyber criminals target insurance companies daily. And your systems need to handle more complex programs while your team works from anywhere.

The companies that thrive aren’t just fixing tech problems as they happen—they’re planning ahead. A strategic IT roadmap is your blueprint for turning technology from a headache into a competitive advantage.

What Is an IT Roadmap? (And Why Should You Care?)

Think of an IT roadmap as your GPS for technology decisions. Just like you wouldn’t drive across the country without directions, you shouldn’t make tech choices without a clear plan.

For wholesale insurance companies, this means having a strategy for:

• Keeping your core systems (like Vertafore and ImageRight) running smoothly
• Making sure your remote underwriters can work without interruption
• Staying ahead of new insurance regulations before they bite you

“Insurers must embrace digital transformation to meet changing customer expectations and industry pressures.”
(National Association of Insurance Commissioners [NAIC], 2023)

Here’s the reality: Your competitors are investing in technology. The question isn’t whether you need better systems, it’s whether you’ll plan for them or scramble to catch up later.

The Real Cost of “Winging It” with Technology

Let’s talk numbers that matter to your bottom line:

When Systems Go Down, Money Goes Out the Door

Small and mid-size firms lose hundreds of dollars every minute during system outages. Imagine your quoting system crashes during renewal season, or your carrier submission portal goes down when you’re trying to bind a large account. Those aren’t just IT problems, they’re business emergencies.

Security Breaches Hit Where It Hurts Here’s a scary stat: 85% of businesses faced cyber attacks in 2024, with 11% caused by employees using unauthorized apps and tools (Zluri, 2024). In wholesale insurance, one data breach can destroy relationships you’ve spent years building with carriers and producers.

Compliance Failures Can Kill Your Business Regulations like SOC 2 and NAIC Model Laws aren’t suggestions—they’re requirements. Fall behind, and you’re looking at failed audits, damaged reputation, and potentially losing your ability to write business in key states.

Your 5-Step Plan to Build a Winning IT Roadmap

Step 1: Know What You Actually Have

Before you can plan where to go, you need to know where you are. Take inventory of everything:

• What software are you using, and when do the licenses expire?
• How old is your hardware, and what needs replacing soon?
• Are your security tools actually protecting you?
• Which systems does your team rely on most?

For insurance companies, pay special attention to your core platforms like NetRate, IMS, or ImageRight. If these aren’t running at peak performance, everything else suffers.

Step 2: Connect Technology to Your Business Goals

Here’s where most companies get it wrong, they make tech decisions in a vacuum. Instead, start with your business plans:

• Are you expanding into new states or program lines?
• Do you need to hire more remote underwriters?
• Are you considering acquiring another agency or program?

Your technology should make these goals easier to achieve, not harder.

Step 3: Find Your Security and Compliance Weak Spots

Don’t wait for a problem to find you. Use proven security frameworks like NIST to identify risks before they become disasters.

“Shadow IT often introduces risks and compliance concerns due to lack of visibility and control.”
(Zluri, 2024)

Make sure you have these basics covered:

• Backup plans that actually work (test them regularly)
• Two-factor authentication on all important systems
• Encrypted data storage and transmission
• Secure connections to carrier platforms

Step 4: Organize Your Tech Improvements by Priority

Not everything can be fixed at once. Group your needs into three categories:

Fix Right Now: Anything that could shut down your business or violate regulations

Improve Soon: System upgrades that will boost efficiency and reduce frustration

Plan for Later: Advanced tools like automation and analytics that will give you an edge

Set realistic timelines and budgets. Review progress with your leadership team every quarter.

Step 5: Get Expert Help (Because You Have Better Things to Do)

Most wholesale insurance executives didn’t get into the business to become IT experts. You’ve got producers to manage, carriers to negotiate with, and programs to grow.

“Small and medium businesses can gain efficiency and security by outsourcing IT to qualified third-party providers.”
(Federal Communications Commission [FCC], 2022)

A good Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) who understands insurance can:

• Keep you compliant with changing regulations
• Monitor your systems 24/7 so problems get fixed before you know about them
• Handle the technical stuff so you can focus on growing your business
• Turn your business goals into technology solutions that actually work