Case Studies
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The Right Partner
Whether you’re struggling to find accurate property insights or to underwrite climate risks, finding the right partner is crucial and isn’t always obvious.
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Case Studies
Stories From Our Customers & Partners
Milliman Analyzes ZestyAI’s Z-HAIL Model
Modernizing Homeowners Rate Plans in the Age of Changing Climate Risk
- Background
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In a whitepaper commissioned by ZestyAI, Milliman performed an analysis of how ZestyAI’s Z-HAIL risk score could be used to identify property risk exposure to hail. To test the effectiveness of the model, Milliman used historical Texas loss experience from an insurance company, along with data from ZestyAI’s Z-HAIL model. Z-HAIL uses a variety of climatological data and property-specific attributes to understand and measure a property’s exposure to hail risk.
- Results
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Milliman's analysis showed that ZestyAI’s Z-HAIL risk score could be used to segment properties based on exposure to hail risk. Over a period of seven years, properties with a Z-HAIL score of 10 had a reported loss ratio of 50.4% compared to only 2.4% for properties with a Z-HAIL score of 1, which corresponds to a highest to lowest loss ratio lift of 21X.
In addition, Milliman found that ZestyAI’s Z-HAIL property-level risk model also improved the insurance company’s ability to segment the risk more granularly than county or zip-code based territories, recognizing the difference in risk exposure within small geographical areas.
Adapting to Escalating Severe Convective Storm Risk
Insights from a 5-year retrospective on ZestyAI’s SCS models
- The Challenge
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The insurance industry faces escalating risks from the increasing frequency and intensity of severe convective storms, which caused $60 billion in insured losses last year. Traditional risk assessment methods are insufficient to manage these growing challenges.
- The Solution
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ZestyAI’s advanced models, Z-HAIL and Z-WIND, were applied to a carrier’s book of business over a retroactive five-year period. These models provide comprehensive coverage, strong risk segmentation, and actionable insights to optimize underwriting and rating strategies.
- The Results
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The models achieved a 99.7% hit rate, significantly improved risk segmentation (62X and 9.7X lift for Z-HAIL and Z-WIND, respectively), and enhanced the carrier’s combined ratio by 4 points within the first year.
Understanding Property Risk in a Legacy Book
Portfolio Quality Review
- Problem
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A legacy book consists of the accumulation, over several years, of various sub-portfolios with different risk profiles based on different underwriting frameworks. A top-10 national carrier approached ZestyAI with a legacy book filled with properties of unknown risk and a worsening loss ratio.
- Process
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Without any investment in IT resources, ZestyAI and the carrier began a three-stage process: defining the scope of the review, assessing the risk of the book, and acting on the high-risk policies.
- Results
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Thanks to this simple workflow, the insurer was able to isolate the riskiest properties in their legacy book, assign the appropriate action to address this risk, and assure the continued profitability of their book. The carrier improved its action rate to approximately 60% on manually reviewed properties.
Finding an Effective Partner for Identifying & Managing Risk
Millennial Specialty Insurance
Growing Confidently with Tech-enabled Underwriting
- Background
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Millennial Specialty Insurance is a dynamic player in the home insurance industry. As a tech-forward company, they have made significant strides in the last five years in catastrophe-exposed locations that have been traditionally underserved by national carriers.
- Challenge
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The journey wasn't without its hurdles. Millennial Speciality started in the challenging market of Florida and soon realized the limitations of traditional risk models when expanding across the US. The standard models, suitable for Florida, fell short in accurately assessing the complexities of wildfire risks, such as in California. This gap in risk assessment posed a significant challenge, highlighting the need for an innovative solution.
- ZestyAI's Role
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Seeking a partner that could rapidly scale and match Millennial Specialty’s pace of innovation, they turned to ZestyAI. The partnership was a natural fit, given ZestyAI's expertise in providing climate risk models crucial for underwriting and rating. ZestyAI offered more than just technological solutions; they understood the unique business needs of Millennial Specialty, making them an ideal partner in tackling the intricate Californian market.
- Impact
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With ZestyAI's advanced risk assessment tools, Millennial Specialty could differentiate exposure risks and structural susceptibility at a granular level. This not only allowed them to navigate the Californian market more effectively but also to insure homes in wildfire-prone areas that other companies might have avoided. This strategic partnership enabled Millennial Specialty to expand its reach and offer insurance solutions to a broader range of homeowners, standing out in terms of both technology and strategy in a competitive industry.
In Their Words...
California Approves Insurance Rates Using New AI Model for Wildfire
ZestyAI & Aon Drive Innovation
- Problem
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Historically, wildfire has been challenging to model; traditional models and Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps tend to lack the granularity needed to assess risk accurately. That not only leaves insurers with major losses but also affects their relationship with re-insurers.
- Ongoing Joint Success
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- Multiple rate filings that make use of Z-FIRE™, which was independently reviewed and evaluated by Aon’s catastrophe risk experts, have been approved by the California Department of Insurance.
- “Our collaboration with ZestyAI is part of Aon’s technological evolution to deliver new products that meet clients’ needs today and tomorrow, in a transparent and efficient way.” - George deMenocal CEO of Aon’s U.S. Reinsurance Solutions
- Z-FIRE™ enhances insurers’ risk selection and rate setting, while understanding the impact of climate change on wildfires and in turn their portfolios.
Watch: Milliman & ZestyAI - What’s Revolutionary about Z-FIRE?
Adding Policies in a Wildfire-prone State
California Insurance Crisis
- Statewide Problem
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Wildfires have caused several insurers to leave the state of California or pause the writing of new policies. This crisis left many homeowners without insurance or with very limited options.
- A Win For California
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- “Farmers Insurance today announced it has integrated ZestyAI's wildfire risk scoring model (Z-FIRE™) into its homeowners insurance underwriting processes --- selectively expanding opportunities for coverage for residences located in certain wildfire-risk areas.” (Farmer Insurance Press Release)
- “Thousands of California residents who only can buy homeowners policies through the state’s last-resort insurance program will now be eligible for Farmers Insurance coverage.” (Wall Street Journal)
- “With Farmers’ promise to write at least 30,000 new policies for homeowners with higher wildlife risk using this new tool, we are glad to see the pendulum swinging in the other direction,” said Michael Soller, a deputy commissioner with California’s Department of Insurance. (Wall Street Journal)
Watch: Milliman & ZestyAI - How to Build A Climate Risk Model
Amica & ZestyAI Partner on Climate Risk
Preventing Wildfire Losses
- Problem
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- “In the Golden State alone, eight of the state’s 10-most destructive fires have occurred within the past five years, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or CalFire. These fires have caused over $25 billion in insured wildfire-related losses
- “William Pitts, a senior assistant vice president at Rhode Island-based Amica Mutual Insurance Company, says that after the company took on heavy losses in the wake of the Tubbs Fire, it began to re-evaluate its wildfire risk models.” (Forbes)
- Solution
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- “As they analyzed their losses, they discovered that CoreLogic had flagged some properties as being low risk to wildfire that actually were not. Amica switched to ZestyAI and its Z-FIRE™ system.”
- “If Z-Fire was used to completely re-underwrite Amica’s entire California portfolio, in 2020 Amica would have prevented 95% of its wildfire losses in the state,” said William Pitts, Senior Assistant Vice President, at Amica.
Reputation
for Innovation
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Sønr - 2022
Top 100 Global Insurtechs
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CB Insights - 2021
100 Most Innovative AI Startups
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Insurtech Insights - 2021
Future 50
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AI Breakthrough Awards - 2020
Best AI Startup