Insurance Legacy Systems: How To Modernize Without Huge Costs

Forbes - Mar 28th, 2025
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Marcin Nowak, with over 20 years in insurance, highlights the challenges posed by outdated policy administration systems (PAS) in the insurance industry. Legacy systems, lacking modern APIs, struggle with integration and heavy loads, increasing operational inefficiencies and maintenance costs. Nowak suggests introducing an operational data storage (ODS) layer between the PAS and IT infrastructure to mitigate these issues. The ODS layer synchronizes data, allowing for efficient customer service and facilitating the use of fast APIs, enhancing competitiveness.

In addition to ODS, Nowak recommends externalizing configuration and business processes to modernize IT architectures. This approach allows insurance companies to adapt quickly without overhauling their core PAS. By shifting some processes to external components, such as rules engines for premium calculations or external tools for risk assessment, companies can respond faster to market changes and regulatory approvals. This modular strategy enables growth and improves efficiency without costly PAS replacements, positioning companies better in the competitive insurance market.

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RATING

5.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a focused examination of the challenges and potential solutions for modernizing legacy systems in the insurance industry. Its strengths lie in the author's expertise and the practical nature of the proposed strategies. However, the article's overall quality is hindered by a lack of diverse perspectives, supporting evidence, and transparency in the methodology behind the claims. While the topic is timely and relevant to industry professionals, the article would benefit from a more balanced approach and greater engagement with external sources to enhance its credibility and impact. Additionally, clearer explanations of technical concepts would improve readability for a broader audience.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article presents several claims regarding the modernization of legacy systems in the insurance industry. While the general issues and proposed solutions align with common industry challenges, the article lacks specific data or sources to verify these claims. For instance, the assertion that modern technologies are forcing carriers to adapt their outdated systems is a recognized trend, but it would benefit from supporting statistics or expert testimonials. The claim about the high costs and time involved in implementing new PAS systems is plausible but requires concrete figures or case studies to substantiate it. Overall, while the claims are plausible, the lack of detailed evidence reduces the article's accuracy.

5
Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of the author, Marcin Nowak, who has extensive experience in the insurance industry. While his insights are valuable, the article lacks a balanced view as it does not include alternative perspectives or counterarguments. For example, while the challenges of legacy systems are highlighted, there is no discussion of potential benefits or reasons why some companies might choose to retain them. Additionally, the article could benefit from including viewpoints from other industry experts or stakeholders to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the issue.

7
Clarity

The article is generally well-structured and clearly written, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the challenges and potential solutions for modernizing legacy systems. The language is straightforward, and the tone is professional, making the content accessible to readers with a basic understanding of the insurance industry. However, some technical terms and concepts, such as 'operational data storage' and 'externalizing configuration,' could benefit from further explanation to enhance clarity for a broader audience.

4
Source quality

The article relies heavily on the author's expertise and personal experiences without referencing external sources or data. While Marcin Nowak's background in the industry lends some credibility, the lack of diverse and authoritative sources limits the article's reliability. Incorporating industry reports, surveys, or expert opinions would enhance the credibility and depth of the analysis. The absence of such sources raises questions about potential biases and the overall impartiality of the reporting.

5
Transparency

The article provides some context about the challenges of legacy systems in the insurance industry, but it lacks transparency in terms of the methodology behind the claims. The author does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases that may influence his perspective. Additionally, the basis for some of the claims, such as the costs and time involved in PAS implementation, is not clearly explained. Greater transparency in explaining the sources of information and the rationale behind the proposed solutions would improve the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://openkoda.com/insurance-legacy-systems-modernization/
  2. https://interactions.acm.org/blog/view/service-blueprints-laying-the-fou
  3. https://finys.com/hidden-costs-of-legacy-systems/
  4. https://insurance.nttdata.com/post/modernizing-legacy-systems-in-insurance/
  5. https://blog.adacta-fintech.com/insurance-legacy-systems