Canadian Underwriter

Topic Technology

Autonomous car sensor system concept for safety of driverless mode car control
News ClaimsPersonal AutoTechnology

Safety tech in cars isn’t reducing insurers’ claims costs

February 27, 2024 by David Gambrill

Much has been made of the new electronic safety tech in cars, but it doesn’t seem to be making a dent in auto insurers’ claims costs, according to a new report by Rates.ca. “You might expect that with more safety

Saving coins to represent high cost insurance coverage for cyber attacks
News BrokersClaimsCommercialCyberInsurersTechnology

Pricing still affects brokers’ ability to sell cyber

February 27, 2024 by David Gambrill

To the surprise of no one in the broker channel, the ongoing hard market in cyber still plays a significant role in why clients decline to buy coverage. About 40% of brokers responding to a recent CU survey selected ‘Price

Air Canada Boeing 777 taking off from Vancouver International Airport during sunset. Date: Feb 11, 2022
News BrokersCyberEmerging RisksInsurersLiabilityLoss ControlTechnology

Air Canada chatbot error shows liability implications of AI

February 21, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Air Canada has been ordered to uphold a policy fabricated by its AI customer chatbot in a recent Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) dispute.   The decision is a cautionary tale for why clients need to be sure their AI chatbots

COVID-19 hacker
News ClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveCommercialCyberTechnology

Inadequate security led to breach that compromised Canadians’ info: watchdog

February 16, 2024 by Jim Bronskill – The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – Government departments lacked adequate protections to fend off a “sophisticated and co-ordinated” cyberattack that compromised the sensitive information of tens of thousands of Canadians, the federal privacy watchdog has found. In a report tabled Thursday, privacy commissioner Philippe

Electronic filing cabinet concept
News ClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveCommercialCyberOntarioTechnology

Toronto cyberattacks show public bodies need to boost security, experts say

February 14, 2024 by Maan Alhmidi – The Canadian Press

As the Toronto Public Library gradually works to restore full service following a crippling October cyberattack, experts are warning that public organizations need to find ways to bolster their ransomware defences, despite having limited resources. A few months after the

Data analytics
News Claims TechnologyCommercialInsurersOperationsTechnology

Why you need to know the limits of your underwriting models

February 13, 2024 by Jason Contant

Vendors of underwriting models need to be transparent about the models’ limitations so underwriters and actuaries can understand where these limits could come into play, a speaker said last week at the CatIQ Connect conference in Toronto. Every single data

Close-up of an insurance policy
News Business InterruptionClaimsClaims Canada ArchiveClaims ProfessionalsClaims TechnologyCommercialInsurersOntarioOperationsTechnology

KPMG buys insurance claims practice

February 2, 2024 by Jason Contant

Professional services firm KPMG in Canada has purchased an insurance claims practice that offers income replacement benefit and related calculations, as well as commercial loss claims calculations for insurance companies and their customers. The acquisition of the claims practice of

Robotic process automation to automate business tasks
News BrokersCommercialOntarioOperationsTechnology

The state of bot automation in Canadian brokerages

February 1, 2024 by Jason Contant

Brokerages in Ontario are rapidly embracing bots to automate repetitive tasks, the provincial brokerage association told Canadian Underwriter.  “Like all new technology, it takes time to drive awareness and articulate value, but the adoption curve seems to have accelerated more

Six business leaders sit at a conference table looking toward a software presentation on screen
News InsurersTechnology

Insurtech funding slumps in 2023

February 1, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatino

Global insurtech funding dropped 43.7% year over year to the lowest level since 2018, according to a new report by Gallagher Re. Funding went from US$8.0 billion in 2022 to US$4.51 billion in 2023, according to the Global InsurTech Report. 

Electric vehicle charging station
News EnvironmentalOntarioPersonal AutoPersonal HomeTechnology

Are your clients concerned about electric vehicle insurance costs?

January 31, 2024 by Jason Contant

Consumer interest in electric vehicles (EVs) in Ontario appears to be waning as drivers raise concerns over costs and charging infrastructure, said a new survey from LowestRates.ca. While 43% of polled Ontario drivers said they were considering making an EV

Cyberattack on a network
News CommercialCyberTechnology

Global Affairs Canada investigating ‘malicious’ cyberattack and data breach

January 31, 2024 by Jason Contant

OTTAWA – Global Affairs Canada announced Tuesday it is investigating a cyberattack and data breach that has forced it to limit remote access to its networks. The department said in a statement, which confirmed earlier media reports, that early results

City taxi at night
News AlbertaBrokersClaimsCommercialCommercial AutoInsurersLoss ControlLoss TrendsTechnology

How one brokerage is making good risks out of its urban taxi clients

January 31, 2024 by Alyssa DiSabatino

With its taxi clients left in the lurch from insurer market withdrawals, one regional brokerage ventured to improve taxi fleet safety. After conducting research and leveraging data, CMB Insurance Brokers developed a loss program using telematics to ensure its clients