Insurers seek partners to carry out AI adoption and operating model redesign, achieving measurable business outcomes, ISG Provider Lens® report says

STAMFORD, Conn.: $III #AI--Insurance enterprises increasingly seek advisory relationships that combine strategic planning with the execution of long-term transformation, according to a new research report published today by Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm.

The 2026 ISG Provider Lens® global Insurance - Strategic Advisory and Enablement report finds that insurers are reassessing consulting engagements as industry pressures intensify. Margin pressures, regulatory complexity, changing customer expectations and the climate-related loss volatility are prompting organizations to seek advisory support that combines business strategy, operating model redesign and execution oversight. Insurers increasingly favor long-term transformation relationships that align strategic objectives with measurable operational outcomes.

“Insurance companies are seeking greater accountability from AI and transformation initiatives and clearer paths to business impact,” said Dennis Winkler, director, Insurance Industry, at ISG. “Organizations increasingly value advisory relationships that connect strategic priorities with practical execution and provide insights on buying AI transformation outcomes with true ROI.”

A growing number of insurers are designing AI-first operating models to improve underwriting, claims processing, fraud detection and customer engagement. Enterprises are seeking guidance on deploying AI at scale while maintaining data privacy, ethical standards and regulatory requirements. Advisory engagements increasingly include organizational readiness planning and workforce enablement to help insurers integrate AI into everyday operations.

Insurers are also reassessing business models to address persistent challenges to profitability. Many organizations are reviewing distribution economics, capital allocation, portfolio composition and cost structures to improve financial performance. As a result, increasingly seek consulting providers that offer research, actuarial expertise and scenario-driven decision support. Enterprises favor advisors that can translate strategic recommendations into practical actions with measurable business outcomes.

Large multinational insurers continue to pursue greater alignment across regions while managing diverse regulatory environments. Organizations are developing cross-border data strategies and evaluating regional growth opportunities as part of broader transformation programs. These priorities are increasing demand for consulting providers with established global insurance practices, deep regulatory knowledge and experience supporting complex multinational initiatives, ISG says.

“Insurers are becoming far more selective about the advisory relationships they maintain,” said Ashish Jhajharia, lead author of the report. “They increasingly favor consulting providers that can demonstrate sustained business impact over time and support transformation programs from strategy through operationalization.”

The report also explores other trends in insurance strategic advisory and enablement services, including increasing demand for responsible AI frameworks and greater emphasis on executive-level engagement in long-term transformation planning.

For more insights into the strategic challenges faced by insurance enterprises, along with ISG’s advice for addressing them, see the ISG Provider Lens Focal Points briefing here.

The report evaluates the capabilities of 45 providers in one quadrant: Strategic Advisory and Enablement Services.

The report names Accenture, BCG, Capgemini, Cognizant, Deloitte, EXL, EY, Genpact, IBM, Infosys, KPMG, McKinsey & Company, NTT DATA, Oliver Wyman, PwC, Sutherland, TCS and Xceedance as Leaders in the quadrant.

In addition, Kyndryl and Wipro are named as Rising Stars - companies with a “promising portfolio” and “high future potential” by ISG’s definition - in the quadrant.

In the area of customer experience, Sutherland is named the global ISG CX Star Performer for 2026 among insurance services providers. Sutherland earned the highest customer satisfaction scores in ISG's Voice of the Customer survey, part of the ISG Star of Excellence™ program, the premier quality recognition for the technology and business services industry.

A customized version of the report is available from Sutherland.

The 2026 ISG Provider Lens global Insurance - Strategic Advisory and Enablement report is available to subscribers or for one-time purchase on this webpage.

About ISG

ISG (Nasdaq: III) is a global AI-centered technology research and advisory firm. A trusted partner to more than 900 clients, including 75 of the world’s top 100 enterprises, ISG is a long-time leader in technology and business services that is now at the forefront of leveraging AI to help organizations achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm, founded in 2006, is known for its proprietary market data and research, in-depth knowledge and governance of provider ecosystems, and the expertise of its 1,500 professionals worldwide working together to help clients maximize the value of their technology investments.

Fonte: Business Wire