Transforming Life Insurance in North America with INSTANDA

Facing mounting competitive pressures and increasing operational costs, life insurers are searching for solutions that enhance efficiency while facilitating growth. According to Celent’s 2025 report on IT priorities for life insurers, nearly 50% of insurers identify operating cost reduction and efficiency as their top driver for IT investments. Yet, with 61% of insurers planning to increase their IT budgets, the quest for smarter, cost-effective solutions remains critical.

Cutting Costs Without Compromise

Many insurers operate under the misconception that quality IT systems must come with prohibitively high costs. Will Wood, INSTANDA’s Director of Life & Health, reflects on this widespread notion.

“There’s still an expectation that IT costs have to be expensive for you to get quality technology inputs,” he explains. “Coming from an insurer where multi-million-dollar IT investments were once the norm, and then working in the Insurtech market, I’ve seen firsthand that equally rich IT capabilities are available for a fraction of the cost."

Traditional IT systems not only require significant investment but often come with hidden costs associated with system upgrades or even small configuration changes. “I frequently hear from insurance companies that making even small changes can cost tens of thousands of dollars,” Will adds. "The reality is that with modern technology like INSTANDA, you can achieve these changes rapidly and far more cost-effectively.”

By enabling business users to build, deploy, and manage critical applications without writing a single line of code, INSTANDA empowers insurers to: 

• Reduce Operational Expenses: Slash IT spend by eliminating the need for expensive developer resources. 

• Streamline Processes: Automate routine tasks and modernize existing systems with agile, ready-to-deploy digital solutions. 

No Developers? No Problem 

In an era where 42% of insurers cite a shortage of developer capacity as a critical barrier, INSTANDA’s developer-independent approach offers a competitive edge. Its intuitive interface and pre-built modules empower business teams to launch innovative digital products and rapidly build distribution portals, accelerating speed to market and enabling IT Teams to refocus on high-value initiatives. 

Creating Dynamic Distribution Portals

For life insurers, whose growth often hinges on expanding their distribution channels, modern technology is a game-changer.

Celent’s report highlights a surge in investments toward front-end components like portals and distribution management systems. INSTANDA’s platform not only facilitates the rapid creation of tailored distribution portals but also seamlessly integrates with existing workflows, enhancing both agent efficiency and customer experience.

With customizable, plug-and-play portals, life insurers can swiftly adapt to market demands without overhauling their core systems or incurring prohibitive development costs. 

Discussing the growing focus on customer experience, Will shares, “When people reflect on customer experience in insurance, they typically think about online services like purchasing or managing policies. This is important, but modern technology goes beyond just what’s visible to the end customer to streamlining internal operations, and empowering self-service.”

For instance, providing customers with a seamless way to self-serve—such as updating an address—improves their experience while ensuring operational efficiency. “At the same time,” Will notes, “it’s equally critical to equip internal teams, like claims handlers and call center agents, with systems that allow them to respond at speed.” Whether it’s during a call or while acting on other customer needs, this behind-the-scenes efficiency is as much a part of the customer experience as the front-end interfaces.

With INSTANDA, insurers gain this holistic customer service advantage—offering exceptional experiences that are both visible and invisible to the end customer.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Technology Partner

“Understandably, there’s often a feeling of uncertainty when bringing new technologies into a business,” Will explains. “You’re asking yourself— ‘Is this the right solution?’ It’s especially important to choose a technology vendor that prioritizes strong partnerships, transparency, and long-term cost predictability.”

Will warns that relying solely on functional questions when evaluating solutions can lead to oversight of critical longer-term implications. “If you’re focused only on, ‘Can this tool meet my current needs?’ you might miss hidden costs or operational challenges down the line. The right technology partner will ask questions like, ‘How do you operate today? What challenges do you currently face?’ By understanding your business holistically, they can ensure smoother implementation and fewer surprises later.”

This underscores the strength of INSTANDA’s partnership approach. With a focus on transparent collaboration, INSTANDA aligns with insurers to provide solutions not only for today’s challenges but for future growth.

Adopting a No-Code Mindset

A real game-changer for insurers, no-code technology drives business agility and accelerates speed to market. However, adopting no-code requires a mindset shift.

“I often talk about my own experience at a large insurer,” Will shares. “The challenge isn’t just adopting the technology —it’s educating teams and fostering comfort with what no-code is and how it works. The key message is that we’re not here to replace jobs. No-code empowers teams to operate differently, driving agility, speed, and efficiency.”

Competitive Advantage Through Modernization

INSTANDA’s platform is uniquely positioned to help life insurers achieve operational efficiency, enhance customer experience, and gain a competitive edge. By reducing reliance on scarce developer skills, providing cost-effective agility, and enabling rapid deployment of customer-centric solutions, insurers can thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

With IT budgets already comprising 8.5% of premiums in 2024 and set to grow further, the case for agile, cost-effective technology investments has never been stronger. INSTANDA delivers a future-proof approach that aligns perfectly with industry trends and the strategic priorities highlighted by Celent’s report.

Concluding Thoughts

Life insurers stand at a critical juncture. In Will’s words, “Modernizing IT systems doesn’t just reduce costs; it fundamentally repositions businesses for growth and resilience.” With INSTANDA’s no-code platform, life insurers are equipped to meet today’s challenges while preparing for tomorrow’s opportunities.

Contact us today to explore INSTANDA today and find out how we can drive meaningful transformation in your organization.