QBE, in partnership with Aurora, has introduced an integrated algorithmic underwriting system that functions entirely within the insurer’s existing governance, risk appetite, and operational procedures.
Developed with QBE Ventures, this solution enables fully automated lead underwriting of complex specialty risks, a first in the industry.
The technology is now operational for QBE’s British Marine Yacht Protection & Indemnity (P&I) offering, marking a major step in the underwriting of sophisticated marine exposures.
QBE becomes the first major insurer to implement end-to-end algorithmic lead underwriting for complex specialty risks within its own operations.
Brokers benefit from an end-to-end workflow that moves from submission intake and validation through underwriting, pricing, documentation, and binding in under ten minutes for a complex risk, compared with several days previously.
This accelerates decision-making, ensures consistency, and allows for immediate certificate issuance, a critical requirement for port clearance in the Yacht P&I sector.
Key functions of the new system include AI-driven processing of unstructured broker submissions, automated data verification, real-time application of QBE’s underwriting, pricing, and tax criteria, instant creation of dynamic quote documents and bindable terms, immediate certificate issuance, a full audit trail with structured data capture, and live portfolio intelligence.
For British Marine Yacht P&I, this results in document production shrinking from around five hours to mere seconds, complex quote-to-bind timelines reducing from days to minutes, and a smoother, more predictable broker experience.
Certificates can be issued instantly to enable yacht owners to sail, while QBE retains full control over pricing, documentation, appetite, and governance. The platform allows algorithmic products to be launched within months, specialty portfolios to scale without additional staff, and brokers to receive consistent real-time decisions.
James Orchard, QBE Ventures CEO, commented: “This partnership demonstrates how strong collaboration accelerates meaningful innovation for QBE and brings new capabilities to market at pace. By working closely with Aurora, we have delivered a fully governed lead algorithmic underwriting capability that operates directly within QBE’s systems, controls and appetite—something the industry has not seen before. Launching with Yacht P&I is an important first step, and this approach positions QBE ahead of the market as digital trading and algorithmic underwriting continue to evolve.”
Kevin Shallow, QBE International Markets Executive Director, said: “In Yacht P&I, speed, accuracy and reliability are critical; our brokers and clients often need documentation immediately to keep vessels moving. What previously took days can now be completed in minutes, with greater consistency, clearer auditability and richer data behind every decision. It reflects the strength of QBE’s innovative culture and the collaboration across our underwriting, operations and technology teams. This will materially enhance the service we provide to our broker partners and support the continued growth of the portfolio.”
Bijal Patel, Co-Founder of Aurora, added: “Over the last nine months, Aurora has worked closely with QBE Ventures to develop our Algo Underwriting-as-a-Service model, allowing insurers to adopt lead algorithmic underwriting today, not five years from now. Embedding this capability directly into QBE’s operations positions both organisations ahead of the market. QBE’s cross-functional collaboration has been exceptional in bringing this to life with real pace and precision. We’re grateful for their openness to innovation and the collective effort that enabled the successful launch of QBE’s first lead algo product, Yacht P&I.”
The capability was created through collaboration between QBE Ventures, QBE Underwriting, and QBE’s cross-functional teams, working alongside Aurora, which supplied the algorithmic underwriting engine and operational framework that supports the fully governed lead algorithmic system.
