Applied Systems has named 18 carriers and managing general agents (MGAs) as recipients of its 2026 Spark Award. The award recognizes companies that advanced digital connectivity with independent agency partners across the policy lifecycle. The winners were announced at Applied Net 2026, Applied's annual conference for the independent agent channel in Washington, D.C.
Eleven carriers earned Gold awards: Chubb, Elephant Insurance Services, Farmers Insurance, Grange Insurance, The Hartford, Lemonade, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Progressive Casualty Insurance Company, Ryan Specialty, Travelers, and Zurich North America.
Seven received Silver recognition: Acuity Insurance, Dryden Mutual Insurance Co., Encova Insurance, GEICO, Integrated Specialty Coverages, NEXT Insurance, and Orion180 Insurance.
The Spark Award recognizes carriers and MGAs that use technology to support independent agents at each stage of the insurance transaction, from submission and quoting through to servicing and renewal. Applied said winners demonstrated measurable business value to their agency partners across the full policy lifecycle.
Michael Streit, president of Applied Carrier, said carriers that invest in connectivity see returns across submissions, the underwriting process, and distribution. He said those returns compound over time as distribution relationships deepen.
Carriers that score well on connectivity metrics tend to move faster on submissions and provide cleaner data exchange throughout the policy lifecycle. The 2026 winner list spans the spectrum from large national carriers like Chubb and Travelers to digital-native players like Lemonade and NEXT Insurance. Investment in agency connectivity is no longer a differentiator confined to established carriers.
