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Most filing delays are self-inflicted; not by regulators, but by carriers submitting filings with missing pieces, unclear narratives, or outdated requirements. In prior-approval states, those slips don’t just slow things down; they can freeze millions in premium for months. That was the core message of ZestyAI’s recent webinar, Approval‑Ready: How Carriers and Regulators Can Accelerate Filings, featuring Carter Lawrence, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, and Bryan Rehor, Director of Regulatory Strategy at ZestyAI. 

Watch the full session on demand here: Approval‑Ready: How Carriers and Regulators Can Accelerate Filings.

What regulators want from rate filings

Commissioner Lawrence opened with a simple reminder: regulators are people first, operating under clear statutory mandates but deeply focused on maintaining a healthy, competitive insurance market for the consumers they serve. 

For carriers, that means relationships and preparation matter. He urged companies to proactively meet with departments, especially before submitting novel products or complex filings that benefit from early discussion.​

Why filing delays cost insurers millions

From the carrier perspective, Bryan Rehor shared data from ZORRO Discover, ZestyAI’s agentic AI platform for competitive intelligence trained on hundreds of millions of pages of P&C filings, objection letters, and regulations. In prior‑approval states, ZORRO’s analysis shows that after the first objection, each additional objection typically adds about two months to the approval timeline, and incomplete responses can add another two to four months.​​

Those delays are often driven by preventable operational misses rather than disagreements over rate indications: missing actuarial exhibits, incomplete predictive model documentation, outdated checklists, procedural gaps, and under‑explained catastrophe assumptions. When ZestyAI’s team quantified the impact across lines, we estimated that delayed approvals translate into tens of millions of dollars per day in unrealized premium changes for the industry.​

How ZestyAI’s ZORRO Discover helps carriers become approval‑ready

The panel converged on a key idea: the industry needs to move from reactive, objection‑driven workflows to proactive, intelligence‑driven ones. For regulators, that means using technology to reduce low‑value manual review so teams can focus on complex judgment calls; for carriers, it means embedding regulatory awareness and quality checks directly into rate filing workflows.​

ZORRO Discover continuously ingests regulatory filings and related materials, so it flags gaps against current checklists, common objection themes, and emerging expectations in each state before a filing is submitted. Combined with ZestyAI’s regulator‑approved peril models and rate service organization capabilities, carriers can submit more transparent, thoroughly supported filings that earn trust and move faster through regulatory review.​​

FAQs: approval‑ready insurance filings and ZORRO Discover

What is ZORRO Discover from ZestyAI?‍

ZORRO Discover is ZestyAI’s agentic AI platform for competitive and regulatory intelligence in P&C. It analyzes 2M+ SERFF filings and related materials across all 50 states, turning millions of pages into real-time, citation-backed insights. For regulatory teams, it surfaces objection patterns and regulator expectations upfront, improving research efficiency by 20X. This helps teams run faster and more accurate pre-submission QA, draft cleaner filings, accelerate approvals, and reduce adverse selection.

How can insurance-specific AI reduce filing objections?‍

Agentic AI platforms for competitive intelligence, such as ZORRO Discover, scan millions of filings and related materials, including checklists, statutes, and historic objection letters. They help teams flag missing actuarial support, outdated checklists, weak justifications, and documentation gaps before submission. This “pre‑flight” QA reduces procedural errors that trigger avoidable objections and multi‑month delays.​​

How does ZestyAI help carriers be "approval-ready”?‍

ZestyAI helps carriers be approval-ready by strengthening both the models they file and the way those filings are prepared. Our peril models are filed through a Rate Service Organization (RSO) with standardized, regulator-tested documentation and a growing track record of approvals that carriers can reference as precedent. On the process side, ZORRO Discover provides pre-submission QA using regulatory objections and competitive insights. Together, this gives carriers more complete, regulator-aligned filings, fewer avoidable objections, and faster, more predictable approval timelines.

Why do prior‑approval states create unique challenges?‍

In prior‑approval states, rate and product changes cannot take effect until they are signed off by the Department of Insurance (DOI), so each objection round adds real financial cost as actuarially indicated changes sit idle. ZORRO Discover’s analysis shows that every additional objection can add months to the timeline, making operational quality and proactive compliance crucial levers for profitability.​

How does ZestyAI support regulators and carriers at the same time?‍

ZestyAI reduces friction on both sides of the filing process by providing regulators with better documentation and helping carriers.

For regulators:

• Standardized, RSO-filed model documentation that’s easy to review.
• Regulatory precedent from prior approvals, reducing model-review burden.
• Clear, transparent methodology aligned with statutory expectations.

For carriers:

• Faster approvals by referencing ZestyAI’s existing model approvals.
• Fewer avoidable objections through ZORRO Discover’s QA and objection-pattern insights.
• More complete, regulator-aligned filings with clearer documentation and rationale.
  

Outcome:
Regulators receive fully documented, RSO-filed models that are easier to review and validate. Carriers benefit from two advantages:

1. Clear insight into regulatory expectations to help them avoid common filing errors.
2. The ability to reference ZestyAI’s existing model approvals, which provides regulatory precedent and helps their own filings move through review more quickly.

Together, this reduces avoidable objections and creates a more efficient, predictable approval process for both sides.

To hear directly from Commissioner Carter Lawrence and ZestyAI’s regulatory experts, watch the full webinar on demand: Approval‑Ready: How Carriers and Regulators Can Accelerate Filings

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For insurers evaluating new data partners, transparency isn’t just about the model. It’s about the process. And at ZestyAI, that process is shaped by people who’ve actually operated inside carrier environments. Former actuaries, underwriters, product leaders, and regulatory specialists built our platform with a deep understanding of how difficult it is to integrate new technology inside a regulated ecosystem.

From day one, carriers get immediate value: full portfolio scoring, access to our web application, and the ability to validate data, explore properties, and begin applying insights right away.

Working with ZestyAI means:

• Real carrier experience behind the platform, not outsider assumptions.
• Direct access to industry experts across actuarial, underwriting, and regulatory domains.
• Instant time-to-value, with portfolio scoring and platform access available at kickoff.
• A focus on ROI, with every step designed to deliver measurable impact quickly.

Here’s what that looks like in practice — from kickoff to full production.

ZestyAI’s Onboarding Process: From Kickoff to Deployment

ZestyAI provides a structured onboarding experience aligned with your goals, whether focused on underwriting, rating, or operational efficiency. After the kickoff meeting, we work through a clear sequence designed to move fast while staying aligned with internal governance and IT workflows:

• Define objectives and use cases
• Align on data needs and file structure
• Establish integration protocols (API or batch)
• Support internal testing and model validation
• Provide regulatory guidance for rating, underwriting, and filings (state-specific documentation, actuarial support)

Our approach emphasizes speed-to-value while ensuring the process fits cleanly within your organization’s governance, compliance, and operational requirements. We don’t just integrate a model; we drive measurable outcomes such as improved segmentation, faster quoting, and operational efficiency.

ZestyAI’s models are designed to support a wide range of underwriting and rating workflows. Whether carriers use raw scores, tier bands, or mitigation indicators, the outputs align naturally with existing processes and program designs.

Integration with Guidewire, Duck Creek, Cogitate, and Other Platforms

ZestyAI is platform-agnostic and supports integration with:

• Guidewire
• Duck Creek
• Cogitate
• Custom core systems and middleware

We provide configuration support via secure APIs, batch ingestion, or prefill mapping. Our scores can be embedded into workflows across underwriting, inspection triage, mitigation eligibility, and renewals.

Data Requirements for Pilots or Backtests

To initiate a pilot or backtest, we typically request a dataset that includes:

• Property address or coordinates
• Policy effective and expiration dates
• Claims history (dates, causes, amounts)

Additional fields—such as construction type, roof material, or occupancy—can enhance model matching or segmentation. We’ll review your available data and finalize the format before ingestion.

Batch Scoring, API Integration, and Z-VIEW Access

ZestyAI models can be accessed via:

• Batch processing – ideal for backtests, portfolio scoring, and operational refreshes
• Real-time APIs – for use at quote, renewal, or mid-term policy changes
• Z-VIEW web application – a no-integration option for viewing property scores, risk drivers, and imagery

We support REST API and SFTP-based workflows, depending on your system architecture and compliance requirements. Most carriers start with batch mode and transition to real-time as production expands.

Need to evaluate before integration? ZestyAI’s portfolio scoring option enables carriers to assess entire books of business—no IT lift required.

Technical and Regulatory Support for a Custom Onboarding Experience

We offer hands-on support throughout the onboarding process, including:

• Data mapping and API testing
• Documentation walkthroughs and QA
• Score interpretation and regulatory consulting
• Workflow and dashboard design

We also provide custom analytics—such as lift charts or correlation studies—to support actuarial, underwriting, and product stakeholders across your organization.

For carriers preparing for rating or filing workflows, we also provide full regulatory support, including:

• Filing exhibits and actuarial documentation
• Dislocation and rate-impact analyses
• ASOP-aligned model memos and methodology summaries
• State-specific guidance and responses to DOI questions

Our goal is to make onboarding smooth for every stakeholder—actuarial, underwriting, product, compliance, and regulatory.

Typical Timeline to Run a Pilot or Backtest

Most pilots or backtests are completed within 4 weeks, depending on data quality and scope. After receiving your dataset, we:

• Score policies using the relevant ZestyAI models
• Analyze performance across segments (e.g., lift by decile)
• Present findings and operational recommendations
• Compare portfolio to aggregated state baselines

More advanced use cases—like rating segmentation or mitigation tracking—may require slightly more time to align with stakeholders. Regardless of scope, we aim to deliver clear, actionable insights quickly.

ZestyAI today announced that the Departments of Insurance in West Virginia, Georgia, South Dakota, Montana, Oregon, and Utah have reviewed and accepted its Severe Convective Storm (SCS) risk models, including Z-HAIL™, Z-WIND™, and Z-STORM™, for use in carrier rate and rule filings.

With these additions, ZestyAI’s SCS Suite is now ready for use in 29 states, supporting rating, underwriting, and reinsurance decisions across the most storm-exposed regions in the country.

Meeting the Growing Need for Transparent Storm Risk Assessment

As severe convective storm losses exceed $40 billion for the third consecutive year, regulators and carriers are accelerating the shift toward transparent, property-level models that clearly show what drives hail and wind losses.

ZestyAI’s SCS Suite is trained and validated on verified carrier claims data and delivers clear explanations of the factors behind each property’s risk score. By analyzing how local climatology interacts with individual property characteristics, the platform predicts the likelihood and severity of hail and wind claims with far greater precision than traditional territory or ZIP code–based methods.

Property-Level Storm Risk Models

• Z-HAIL: Quantifies hail risk using property-level drivers—roof geometry, accumulated damage, and local climatology—to pinpoint the buildings at greatest likelihood of hail damage, even within the same area.
• Z-WIND: Analyzes wind risk using AI-driven 3D analysis of roof condition, complexity, and potential failure points —together with localized wind climatology—to determine which buildings are most susceptible to wind damage.
• Z-STORM: Predicts the frequency and severity of storm damage claims, including hail and wind, examining the interaction between climatology and the unique characteristics of every structure and roof.

Bryan Rehor, Director of Regulatory Affairs at ZestyAI, said:

“Carriers and regulators are aligned around the need for transparent, property-specific evaluation of hail and wind vulnerability. “These filings reinforce the shift toward models that clearly explain the drivers of storm loss and support compliant, defensible decisions.”

New Capability: Mitigation-Aware Scoring

ZestyAI recently introduced Mitigation-Aware Scoring, allowing insurers to update model inputs and risk scores in real time based on verified changes to property attributes, such as:

• upgrading or replacing roof materials
• remediating visible roof or property condition issues
• correcting inaccurate data (e.g., misclassified roof type)
• modeling the impact of planned upgrades

Mitigation-Aware Scoring extends capabilities already widely used in Z-FIRE™ and ensures a consistent, carrier-controlled approach to reflecting verified improvements across perils. The functionality strengthens rating accuracy, supports fairer underwriting decisions, and aligns with evolving regulatory expectations around transparency and mitigation recognition.

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We’re proud to share that ZestyAI has been named to Sønr’s 2025 Beyond Boundaries Scale50, recognizing the top 50 established insurtechs driving measurable impact and transformation across the global insurance industry.

Produced by Sønr, a leading market intelligence firm tracking more than four million companies worldwide, the Beyond Boundaries 2025 report identifies the innovators redefining insurance through AI, data, and collaboration.

This year’s analysis underscores a clear shift in the market: the age of experimentation has given way to execution and scale—where efficiency, resilience, and real-world outcomes define success.

At ZestyAI, we’re proud to be part of that evolution. Our Decision Intelligence Platform brings together property-level data, predictive AI models, and Agentic AI automation to help insurers see, price, and manage risk with precision and confidence.

Trusted by carriers and regulators across the U.S., ZestyAI’s solutions deliver measurable improvements across underwriting, rating, reinsurance, and regulatory workflows—helping insurers make faster and more data-driven decisions.

Matt Connolly, Founder and CEO of Sønr, said:

The insurance industry has long talked about change. And now, we’re seeing it happen. After years of incremental steps, the market is finally embracing the opportunities technology brings - and the impact is tangible.

Read the full report: Beyond Boundaries 2025

DUAL North America Inc.’s (“DUAL”) personal property division has selected ZestyAI’s Z-STORM™ model to enhance storm-risk underwriting and pricing as it continues its rapid US expansion.

The partnership equips DUAL with sharper risk differentiation, more accurate underwriting and pricing, and a stronger foundation for sustainable growth in regions increasingly affected by severe convective storms.

By adopting ZestyAI’s severe convective storm model, DUAL will strengthen its ability to identify and price the combined effects of hail and wind with greater precision. This will enable faster, more informed decisions and profitable expansion while maintaining regulatory compliance.

The collaboration reflects DUAL’s continued investment in advanced analytics and technology to support long-term growth.

The specialty program administrator, offering more than 40 insurance products and surpassing $1.3 billion in gross written premium in 2024, continues to broaden its capabilities across commercial, specialty, and personal lines.

Luke Wolmer, Chief Actuary at DUAL, said:

“As we continue to grow across personal property lines, having accurate risk prediction at the property level is crucial."

Z-STORM gives us a more nuanced understanding of storm vulnerability, helping us recognize differences in risk that traditional models overlook. This enhances our team’s confidence in pricing decisions and will support our continued expansion across the U.S.”

Z-STORM is an AI-powered risk model that evaluates the combined effects of hail and wind to predict the frequency and severity of storm-related damage at the property level. By analyzing the interaction between local climatology and the unique characteristics of every structure—including roof condition, material, and surrounding exposure—the model delivers precise, property-specific insights into storm vulnerability.

In September 2025, ZestyAI introduced mitigation-aware scoring to its severe convective storm suite, allowing insurers to dynamically adjust risk scores to reflect verified improvements such as roof replacements, upgraded materials, or corrected property data. This enhancement gives carriers a scalable way to recognize mitigation within pricing and underwriting workflows, advancing transparency and regulatory alignment.

Attila Toth, Founder and CEO of ZestyAI, said:

“DUAL’s adoption of Z-STORM reflects a forward-thinking approach to storm risk management."

"By applying property-level risk analytics and mitigation-aware scoring, DUAL is positioned to underwrite more precisely, grow responsibly, and strengthen community resilience across the regions that are most exposed to extreme weather”.

ZestyAI’s storm models are regulatory reviewed and ready to use across the Great Plains, Midwest, and U.S. South, regions most impacted by severe convective storms, and are actively used by carriers for rating and underwriting.