In insurance, progress is often slowed not by underwriting complexity, but by paperwork.
For managing general agents (MGAs) and wholesalers, one of the most stubborn bottlenecks in launching a new program has long been the submission form—typically a static PDF that must be manually rebuilt as a web-based application before business can begin.
Vertafore believes that step no longer needs to exist.
The insurance technology company announced new artificial intelligence capabilities in Surefyre™ that automatically convert PDF submission forms into fully functional web applications. The feature, embedded directly into Vertafore’s low-code agent portal and underwriting workbench, replaces hours of manual configuration with an automated, AI-driven process that runs in minutes.
It’s a small change on the surface, but one that addresses a daily pain point across the MGA ecosystem.
Turning PDFs Into Digital Workflows
Surefyre’s new capability uses AI to identify submission fields within a PDF and translate them into a digital application with a single click. Historically, program administrators could spend up to four hours manually recreating a single submission form—mapping fields, validating inputs, and ensuring accuracy.
That effort multiplied quickly as MGAs launched new programs, onboarded carriers, or customized submissions for niche markets.
By automating that conversion, Vertafore is targeting three persistent issues at once: speed to market, operational accuracy, and workforce efficiency.
Less manual setup means MGAs can launch programs faster, reduce the risk of data-entry errors, and redirect staff time toward underwriting, partner relationships, and growth initiatives.
AI Designed for Workflow, Not Flash
Unlike experimental or standalone AI tools, Vertafore’s approach focuses on embedding automation directly into existing workflows.
“We’re innovating with AI in Surefyre with a clear purpose: to remove friction from the work MGAs do every day,” said Emily McGinn, general manager of MGA and wholesale at Vertafore. “By using AI to automate one of the most manual steps in program setup, Surefyre helps MGAs move faster, create a great experience for their agency partners, and focus on the growth activities that truly accelerate their business.”
That emphasis on practicality reflects a broader trend in enterprise AI adoption—moving away from novelty use cases and toward automation that removes low-value work without disrupting established processes.
Why This Matters for MGAs and Wholesalers
MGAs and wholesalers operate in a competitive environment where speed matters. Carriers expect rapid program launches, agents expect seamless digital experiences, and internal teams are under pressure to do more without expanding headcount.
Manual form creation has long been an unglamorous but unavoidable step in that chain.
By eliminating it, Surefyre shortens the gap between program approval and market availability. It also standardizes how submissions are structured and captured, improving downstream data quality for underwriting, endorsements, and renewals.
In an industry where many delays are still rooted in administrative overhead, incremental automation can produce outsized returns.
What’s Coming Next: AI Beyond Setup
The PDF-to-web conversion is just one piece of Vertafore’s broader AI roadmap for Surefyre.
Later this year, the company plans to introduce:
- Natural-language summaries that highlight changes between applications for endorsements or renewals
- AI-powered ingestion of unstructured submission data, further reducing manual review and rekeying
Together, these enhancements point toward a future where underwriting teams spend less time interpreting documents and more time evaluating risk.
Adoption, Integrations, and Industry Recognition
Surefyre is already widely deployed, with 80,000+ users and 60 integrations across the MGA and wholesale insurance landscape. That adoption has been reinforced by recent industry recognition, including:
- Product of the Year from the BIG Awards for Business
- Finalist for Best B2B Customer Strategy in the 2025–2026 Cloud Awards
According to Cloud Awards CEO James Williams, the program recognizes organizations “driving the industry forward through innovation and excellence”—a description that aligns with Vertafore’s incremental, workflow-first AI strategy.
The Bigger Picture: AI as Insurance Infrastructure
Vertafore’s latest update underscores a quiet but important shift in insurance technology. AI is no longer positioned as a replacement for human judgment, but as infrastructure—removing friction, standardizing data, and accelerating routine operations that slow the business down.
By automating one of the most manual steps in program setup, Surefyre isn’t changing how MGAs underwrite risk. It’s changing how quickly they can get to that work.
And in insurance, that difference increasingly defines who wins.
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