As insurance markets evolve, managing speed, information, and analysis became critical for broker and carrier relationships. At Axon, a decade-old managing general agency, innovation is central to underwriting. “We are really focused on innovating the underwriter’s role and, at the same time, not trying to change the role or the requirements of the broker,” said Douglas Gahagan (pictured), managing partner.
Gahagan describes Axon’s approach as focusing on three priorities: speed to market, access to information, and enhancing underwriting acumen. For brokers, that means simpler submissions. For underwriters, it creates a more streamline process where automation handles routine tasks, freeing professionals to focus on risk analysis.
Speed, Gahagan said, is not about rushing but efficiency. “If we can get a quote out the door faster, we have a better chance of converting that business.” To achieve this, Axon automates key stages of submission and quotation. Brokers can enter information through portals, but for those preferring email submissions, the system will soon scrape and integrate data automatically.
“The most important part is that once we have that information, we are making the underwriter’s job easier,” said Gahagan. Pre-filled raters reduce manual entry, dynamically adjusting policy forms based on decisions, and automatically generate quotation letters, binders, and policies. “Documentation is paramount to our carrier partners, so there is automatic documentation that takes place, and that it is all captured,” he added, highlighting audit readiness and compliance benefits.
Innovation also extends to data access. Axon sought to reduce back-and-forth with brokers by pulling from third-party sources, public registries, and AI tools. Gahagan cited Easy Tank, a platform that simplify’s commercial tank insurance. “Instead of asking brokers to fill out an entire schedule of information, all we need is an address,” he said. Axon then tapped into state registries to populate rating models automatically.
By integrating multiple data streams, Axon not only accelerates quoting but also improves underwriting decisions. “Accessing that information from other sources rather than the broker allow us to ask fewer questions and eliminat a lot of back and forth,” said Gahagan. “That ultimately helps with speed to market again - getting the quote out sooner.”
Behind the scenes, Axon relies on a hybrid approach to technology development. An in-house IT team act as a think tank, translating underwriting workflows into technical solutions. External developers help implement these designs, but the core systems remain proprietary. “We aren’t currently leveraging technology from other companies for most of our applications; we are actually building proprietary systems,” said Gahagan.
Testing is intensive. “Probably 80% of the time we spend on a project is on testing,” he said. Underwriters, technicians, and IT specialists collaborate to ensure platforms integrate seamlessly with existing processes. Even after deployment, systems continue to be tested in parallel environments, reinforcing reliability and usability.
For Gahagan, frontline buy-in is essential. “The key leaders driving this transformation are the underwriters. These projects have to live with the individuals who are actually transacting the business,” he said. Technology, he stressed the need to accelerate - not disrupt - established workflows.
Keeping pace with industry trends is also vital. Axon participates in tech conferences, monitors emerging tools, and continuously evaluates how new capabilities can enhance underwriting and distribution. “As an MGA, it is almost our responsibility to be out in front of these types of things,” said Gahagan. “The faster we can get to market with these solutions, the more we are appreciated as an MGA.”
By combining speed, data intelligence, and frontline insight, Axon demonstrates how MGAs can leverage technology to strengthen broker partnerships, improve underwriting precision, and drive growth while staying ahead in a competitive specialty insurance market.
