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What if preparing for 2026 didn’t mean hours of hunting for reports, consolidating data across systems, cleaning spreadsheets, and coordinating between multiple teams just to piece together a single insight?  

Traditional reporting demands a significant level of manual effort that slows decisions, delays strategy, and drains resources. But agencies are stepping into a new era, one where speed, clarity, and forward-looking intelligence are no longer optional. The future of planning isn’t built on heavy lifting. It’s built on AI that not only removes the manual work but also gives agencies the ability to anticipate trends, spot patterns, and forecast what’s coming next. 

Why AI Is Reshaping 2026 Forecasting for Insurance Agencies 

For years, agencies relied on static reports, AMS policy data exports, and spreadsheets that often created more confusion than clarity. The problem is not a lack of data; it’s the lack of immediately accessible, actionable insight. AI changes that completely. 

Informer leverages AI capabilities to combine structured AMS data with unstructured data from PDFs, carrier statements, and emailed reports, transforming them into clean, analyzable information in seconds. This eliminates hours of manual work and gives teams immediate visibility into the metrics that matter most. These insights transform 2026 planning from uncertainty to data-backed decisions based on precision forecasting through AI. 

From Raw Data to Ready Decisions 

The most powerful shift AI brings into 2026 planning is speed; the ability to literally move from question to insight in moments. 

Imagine asking simple, natural questions such as: 

• Show me the emerging revenue trends across departments or producer books 

• Highlight best cross-selling and upselling opportunities projected for the next 12–18 months 

• Show me the patterns in renewal success that signal where to allocate resources 

• Predict possible carrier profitability shifts that may impact future commissions

AI delivers the answers to these questions, when agencies need them. This level of agility creates a real competitive advantage allowing agencies to plan faster, pivot earlier, and strengthen their position before the new year begins. 

AI Makes Forecasting More Predictable, and Less Reactive 

Planning for 2026 requires more than looking backward; it requires seeing what’s ahead. 

AI brings that future into focus by surfacing insights that traditional reporting often misses. 

By highlighting these patterns proactively and utilizing both your own AMS data, and all pertinent data on the internet, AI transforms forecasting from a rearview analysis into a forward-looking growth strategy. 

This supports what matters most: helping agencies move faster, see further, and work smarter. 

Empowering Every Role with Instant Clarity 

AI-driven forecasting doesn't just help executives; it supports the entire agency. 

• Producers gain sharper focus.
  They can instantly see where their biggest 2026 opportunities lie, which relationships need strengthening, and how close they are to targets. 

• Account managers gain better control.
  They quickly identify clients requiring proactive engagement, expiring policies that need prioritization, and service workloads that may impact retention next year. 

• Leaders gain unwavering visibility.
  They can compare year-over-year trends, departmental performance, and carrier relationships with ease, enabling them to make intentional decisions rooted in real patterns, not assumptions. 

AI brings the entire agency onto the same page at speed, aligning producers, account managers, and executives around shared insights and shared goals. Instead of reacting to challenges as they arise, agencies move into 2026 with a proactive, coordinated, and confident approach. This is how teams perform at their highest level 

The Real Win: Making 2026 Your Most Strategic Year Yet 

As agencies prepare for 2026, the organizations that will thrive are the ones that stop wrestling with manual reporting and start embracing AI-driven clarity. When the heavy lifting is removed, teams finally have the freedom to focus on strategy, service, and growth. Trends become visible before they materialize. Opportunities surface before competitors notice them. Decisions become faster, smarter, and grounded in data that’s both immediate and accurate.  

With AI turning raw information into real insight, agencies gain the power to plan with confidence, forecast with precision, and step into the new year with unmatched momentum. 

Ready to move faster, see further, and work smarter? Let’s talk. 

How Modern Agencies Build a Smarter, Faster, More Profitable 2026 

What if planning for next year was powered by exactly the information you needed, no more, no less? 

As the insurance industry grows more complex and competitive, preparing for a new year is no longer a routine administrative exercise. It’s a strategic opportunity, a chance for agencies to refine focus, strengthen relationships, accelerate growth, and make decisions that shape long-term success. Producers, account managers, and agency leaders are being asked to move faster, see further, and operate with more intelligence than ever before. 

Yet most agencies still struggle with the same foundational challenge: too much information, and not enough clarity. 

Spreadsheets. Disconnected AMS exports. Reports without context. Dashboards nobody uses. Critical insights buried in someone’s personal folder. 

These silent blockers don’t just slow agencies down; they hold them back from entering the new year with confidence. 

Planning for 2026 isn’t about having more data. 

It’s about having the right data, at the right time, delivered in a way that drives action. 

Insurance Agencies Don’t Need More Reports. They Need Better Reports. 

Too often, agencies measure activity instead of impact. When planning for the upcoming year, the most valuable reports are the ones that directly influence where you focus, how you allocate resources, and what will move the needle in 2026. 

Here are the reports that matter most when preparing for next year’s performance: 

• Which clients need strategic attention to retain in 2026, and why.
  Instead of simply identifying churn risk, determine where to invest relationship-building time, enhanced service, or renewal preparation to protect long-term revenue. 

• Which producers are positioned to drive profitable growth next year.
  Look beyond revenue numbers and identify which producers consistently bring in strong margins, cross-sell effectively, and attract the right kind of business for 2026 targets. 

• Where service workloads need to be rebalanced to improve next year’s retention.
  Uneven workloads slow renewals, increase E&O risk, and harm client experience. Analyze where redistribution, automation, or process improvements will strengthen next-year performance. 

• How line-of-business trends will shape your 2026 strategy.
  Instead of just reporting historical trends, use them to forecast which segments to grow, which to stabilize, and where market conditions will influence next year's revenue planning.

• Which carrier relationships to strengthen or reconsider going into 2026.
  Determine which carriers will support your profitability goals next year, through commissions, risk appetite, responsiveness, and market stability. 

These insights aren’t simply “nice-to-have”; they define how effectively your agency will compete, grow, and retain clients next year. Agencies who understand what needs attention before the year begins are the ones who make intentional, high-impact business decisions all year long. 

Key Reports That Drive High-Impact Decisions for Next Year 

Too often, agencies measure activity instead of impact. Planning for the new year should prioritize reports that directly influence strategic decisions, such as: 

• Retention Reporting: Protecting Next Year’s Revenue Before It’s at Risk
  A strong retention report becomes the foundation of next year's revenue planning. Instead of simply showing who churned, it highlights which clients need more attention now so your team can protect relationships long before renewal season arrives. This shifts retention from reactive cleanup to a proactive strategy. 
• Total Premium & Commission by Department: Guiding Next Year’s Investment and Growth
  A clear view of the total premium and commission by department helps leadership understand where next year’s growth is most likely to come from. Instead of summarizing performance, it shows which teams have momentum, which need support, and where to invest time, budget, and coaching to shape a stronger 2026. 
• Total Premium & Commission by Carrier: Choosing the Right Partners for 2026
  When evaluating premium and commission by carrier, the goal isn’t just to see who performed well; it’s to decide which partnerships will strengthen your margins next year. This insight helps agencies clarify which carriers deserve deeper alignment, better negotiations, and more business as they plan for profitability in 2026. 
• Total Premium & Commission by Producer: Fueling 2026 Performance and Accountability
  Looking at producer-level performance provides the clarity needed to build a more accountable and growth-oriented team for the upcoming year. It helps identify who is positioned to drive profitable growth next year, who may need additional support, and how to set goals that align with the agency’s 2026 strategy. 
• Year-over-Year Comparisons: Forecasting What 2026 Should Look Like
  Finally, year-over-year comparisons bring long-term patterns into focus so you can confidently forecast what 2026 should look like. These trends reveal which strategies are working, which risks are emerging, and where you can make more intentional adjustments as you plan ahead. 

When you improve reporting, you improve next year’s outcomes and unlock smarter decisions, sharper direction, and a clear roadmap for growth in the year ahead. 

The Future Belongs to Agencies Who See Clearly 

As the industry evolves, agencies who embrace smarter reporting tools will consistently outperform those who are buried in spreadsheets and outdated dashboards. With comprehensive reporting tools, data becomes more than information; it becomes a strategic asset. 

You don’t just get reports; you get direction, focus, and control, helping you build a stronger, smarter business for the year ahead. 

Ready to move faster, see further, and work smarter? Let’s talk. 

Are your producers really getting what they need from the data they use every day? It’s a question many agency leaders are starting to ask, and more often than not, the answer is no. 

Producers are surrounded by dashboards, reports, and spreadsheets, yet still struggle to find the information that helps them take action. It’s not that there isn’t enough data; it’s that the data isn’t being delivered in a way that fits how they actually work. 

This is where smarter, customizable reporting dashboards make all the difference. 

Information Overload that slows down decision making 

With so much data at their fingertips, agencies and their producers often find themselves overwhelmed rather than empowered. Valuable insights get buried beneath spreadsheets and long reports, causing decision delays and missed opportunities.  

Around 30-40% of agencies struggle with delays and errors due to data volumes and disjointed data flows. When producers can’t quickly find or trust their data, confidence drops and momentum slows. That’s why having tools that organize, filter, and surface real-time insights is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s essential to maintaining the speed of decision-making. 

The Problem with Too Much Data 

Many agencies have invested heavily in systems that collect data, but few have truly solved the problem of using that data effectively. When producers have to dig through long reports or wait for someone to email the right file, the opportunity to act can slip away. 

Instead of helping them focus, data often slows them down. 

The solution is customizable dashboards that simplify, personalize, and deliver exactly what each producer needs, no more, no less. 

These dashboards can present a clear view of what matters most, such as: 

• Policies due for renewal 
• Accounts at risk of non-renewal 
• New business progress 
• Book performance and growth trends 

By organizing this information into simple, visual dashboards, producers get the insights they need to make confident decisions, instantly. 

Turning Insight into Action 

When dashboards are done right, they become more than just reports; they become real-time decision-making tools. 

A well-designed dashboard brings together data from across the agency and presents it in a way that’s easy to understand and act on. Producers can see renewals coming up, track their new business goals, monitor account activity, and identify at-risk clients, all in one view. 

This shift from reactive to proactive reporting gives teams a new level of control. Instead of waiting for reports at the end of the week or month, producers can make informed decisions on the spot. 

Agency leaders also benefit. With instant visibility into key performance metrics, they can identify growth opportunities, track team performance, and adjust strategies with confidence. Reports can be dropped into the relevant team members' inbox on a daily / weekly basis, nudging them to read the specific set of data they need to action, to better perform in their role. 

It’s not just about having access to data; it’s about having the right data at the right time to drive the speed of decision-making. 

How Useful Tools Improve Performance and Satisfaction 

When producers have tools that actually work for them, it changes more than just how they operate; it changes how they feel about their work. 

The ability to instantly access performance metrics, manage renewals, and measure progress builds confidence and engagement. Producers feel empowered, not overwhelmed. They can focus on the parts of the job that matter most: building relationships, serving clients, and driving growth. 

And for agency leaders, that means stronger performance across the board and a more motivated, data-literate workforce. 

A Faster, Smarter Future for Agencies 

Giving producers access to the data they actually need, clean, accurate, and role-specific, is more than just a reporting upgrade. It’s a mindset shift. 

It moves agencies away from slow, manual processes and toward a culture of clarity, confidence, and collaboration. It eliminates guesswork and brings real insight to the surface, right when it’s needed most. 

That’s the difference between working harder and working smarter. Between reacting to data and using it to lead. 

Ready to move faster, see further, and work smarter? Let’s talk. 

In  insurance, time is one of the most valuable resources your agency has. Yet, too many teams are still spending hours, sometimes even days, building reports from scratch. These manual processes not only slow you down, but they also open the door to errors, conflicting data, and missed opportunities. The truth is, the reports that drive the most impact for agencies have already been built, tested, and optimized. All you need to do is plug in your data and let it go to work.

When agencies try to reinvent the wheel, they end up wasting precious time that could have been spent serving clients, pursuing new business, or strengthening retention. That is why forward-thinking agencies are leaning on pre-built reports to instantly surface insights and act with confidence. Let’s explore five of the most important reports that no agency should ever build from scratch, and why they matter.

1. Retention Reporting: Protecting the Heart of Your Revenue

Retention isn’t just a metric, it’s the lifeblood of an insurance agency. McKinsey reports that satisfied customers are 80% more likely to renew their policies than unsatisfied ones, reinforcing the importance of renewals in sustaining agency revenue. A strong retention report gives you real-time visibility into which policies are up for renewal, which clients are at risk of leaving, and where producers need to focus their efforts. Instead of scrambling at the last minute, agencies with a solid retention reporting process are proactive, steady, and strategic.

2. Total Premium and Commission by Department: Understanding Where Growth Happens

Agencies don’t grow evenly across every line of business. Commercial, surety, personal, and benefits each tell a different story, and without the right reporting it’s impossible to see where the biggest opportunities lie. Pre-built departmental premium and commission reports let leaders see which divisions are driving growth and which need attention. This clarity makes it easier to allocate resources, coach producers, and double down where momentum is strongest.

3. Total Premium and Commission by Carrier: Knowing Who Your Real Partners Are

Not every carrier relationship delivers the same value. Some may bring in steady, high-margin business, while others might drain resources with low profitability. Independent agencies are typically appointed with an average of 17 carriers, and only 11% of agencies believe all their carriers are truly excelling in meeting market challenges. This makes Total Premium and Commission by Carrier reports essential. These reports give agencies a full picture of how each carrier contributes to revenue and commissions. With this insight, agencies can confidently prioritize high-performing carriers, negotiate with greater leverage, and cultivate partnerships that drive growth.

4. Total Premium and Commission by Producer: Driving Accountability and Performance

Producers are the engine of growth, but without clear visibility into their performance, leaders are forced to guess who is pulling their weight and who needs support. A producer-level premium and commission report eliminates the guesswork, showing exactly how each member of the team contributes to the agency’s success. It helps managers reward top performers, identify coaching opportunities, and ensure accountability across the board.

5. Year-over-Year Comparisons: Seeing the Bigger Picture

Day-to-day insights are valuable, but to truly understand where your agency stands, you need to zoom out. Year-over-year comparison reports bring the big picture into focus, showing trends in policies, premiums, commissions, retention, new business, and lost policies. This perspective reveals whether growth is sustainable, which strategies are paying off, and where to make adjustments before issues snowball.

Reports that Drive Confidence, Not Confusion

The insurance market moves fast, and agencies that cling to manual reporting are always a step behind. Pre-built reports don’t just save time; they provide clarity, consistency, and confidence. Instead of spending hours piecing together spreadsheets, your team can focus on what truly matters, serving clients, closing deals, and protecting renewals. 
 
Ready to move faster, see further, and work smarter? Let’s talk. 

In insurance, decisions made in minutes can shape outcomes for years. Yet too many agencies are still making those decisions using reporting processes designed decades ago. Spreadsheets, manual data pulls, copious macros, and disconnected systems may feel familiar, but they also carry hidden costs, including slower decision-making, missed opportunities, and a growing gap between what leaders need and what legacy reporting delivers. 

Legacy reporting isn’t just outdated, it’s holding agencies back. 

The Hidden Costs of Legacy Reporting 

At first glance, spreadsheets and legacy systems seem harmless. They are “what we’ve always used,” and many insurance agency teams know their way around them. However, beneath that comfort lies a host of risks and inefficiencies: 

• Slow speed of decision-making: Reports often take days to compile, leaving insights outdated by the time they are reviewed. 
• Inconsistent versions of the truth: Different teams work from different files, making alignment nearly impossible. 
• Errors with real consequences: A single formula mistake can skew compliance reporting or financial accuracy. 
• Difficulty interpreting raw data: Endless rows and columns make it hard to see what is really happening in the business. 

In a market where client expectations are rising and competitors move quickly, these costs are too high. Legacy reporting doesn’t just delay insights, it undermines confidence and weakens an agency’s ability to act decisively. 

Why Insurance Agencies Need Real-Time Clarity 

Insurance is built on data, from renewals and commissions to claims and client relationships. But data alone isn’t enough. Agencies have to have access to the answers they need, when they need them. Waiting for reports to be compiled, corrected, and emailed means leaders are reacting to yesterday’s information rather than acting on today’s reality. In other words, the very heart of agency growth and stability is put at risk by slow, fragmented reporting processes. 

From Data to Insight Without the Bottlenecks 

Forward-looking agencies are realizing that legacy tools will not get them where they need to go. The shift is toward systems that consolidate, interpret, and visualize data instantly. Instead of starting from raw information, teams see data that is already structured, contextualized, and aligned. 

That shift isn’t just about saving time, it’s about empowering agencies to move faster and smarter. With real-time insights available the moment data is entered, teams can act immediately, align around a single source of truth, and focus on strategy rather than formulating reports. The result is better decisions, made faster, with everyone working from the same page. 

Modern reporting should feel effortless, giving you speed, clarity, and confidence every time you make a decision. 

What Agencies Should Strive Toward 

Leaving legacy reporting behind isn’t about chasing technology for the sake of it. It’s about building a culture and process where data drives growth, not confusion. Agencies that want to stay competitive should be aiming for: 

• A confident shift from planning to execution, with decisions delivering measurable impact in real time. 
• Short time to value, where insights are available the moment they’re needed, not weeks later. 
• Measurable ROI from every decision, ensuring leadership can see results that directly tie to growth, retention, and client satisfaction. 

This isn’t a future aspiration, it’s becoming the new baseline. Agencies that embrace it can make decisions with confidence. Those that don’t, risk being left behind. 

A Cultural Shift, Not Just a Technical One 

Perhaps the most important part of leaving legacy reporting behind is mindset. For decades, teams have accepted delays, inconsistencies, and the heavy lift of interpreting raw data as “just the way it is.” That acceptance is dangerous. 

Today, the expectation is different. Agency leaders need to act fast, without waiting for reports or chasing down data. Agencies that recognize this shift are transforming not just their reporting tools but their entire operating culture. They are replacing reactive reporting with proactive decision making. 

Don’t Let Legacy Reporting Hold You Back 

Legacy reporting has had its day. What once felt like reliable tools are now bottlenecks, slowing down the very decisions that drive agency success. The future belongs to agencies that leave outdated processes behind and embrace data that is clear, timely, and actionable. 

In an industry where uncertainty creates hesitation and hesitation costs business, speed wins. The choice is simple, either stay stuck with legacy reporting, or move into a future where your team has the answers they need, when they need them. 

Related topic: Speed Wins - Making Decisions Without Bottlenecks 

 Ready to move faster, see further, and work smarter? Let’s talk.  

In the insurance industry, time is one of your most valuable assets. Every minute spent wrestling with spreadsheets or reinventing reporting templates is a minute taken away from serving clients, closing new business, or strategizing for growth. Yet too many agencies are still building reports from scratch, often duplicating work that’s already been solved in smarter, faster ways. 

That’s where Informer’s pre-packaged reports come in. Designed with agencies in mind, these ready-to-use reports aren’t just templates, they’re accelerators. They give agency teams a head start, provide consistency across departments, and eliminate the hours lost chasing data through fragmented systems. 

From the moment they’re implemented, they start delivering value. No waiting for lengthy consultations or custom builds. Just plug in and go. 

With consistent, ready-to-use insights across departments, agencies can move from data to decisions in record time, accelerating decision making and providing instant return on investment. 

Why Pre-Packaged Reports Are Game-Changers for Insurance Agencies 

Think of pre-packaged reports as an agency’s secret weapon. Instead of starting with a blank canvas, you’re handed a proven, structured view of the metrics that matter most. 

According to Forrester Research, employees spend an average of 2.5 hours every day searching for the data and information they need to do their jobs. That’s nearly 30% of the workday lost. Pre-packaged reports cut through that waste, delivering insights directly to the people who need them, empowering fast, informed decisions from the moment data becomes available. 

For agencies that rely on data to drive decisions, the ability to quickly pull accurate, consistent reports isn’t just a convenience, it’s a competitive advantage. 

Time Savings That Compound Every Week 

Manual reporting doesn’t just consume time once, it steals it over and over again. Whether it’s building monthly retention reports from scratch, pulling commissions by hand, or reconciling data between systems, the hours quickly add up.  

Informer’s pre-packaged reports eliminate that grind. Instead of recreating the wheel each week or month, agencies start with reports that are already structured, validated, and ready to use. According to McKinsey, companies that automate routine reporting processes can reclaim 20 to 30 percent of employees’ time. For insurance agencies, that means staff are no longer stuck in spreadsheets but free to focus on more strategic initiatives and building new opportunities. 

Faster, More Accurate Decisions 

When leaders wait days or weeks for data to be compiled, they are already behind the curve. Clients expect fast answers, markets shift quickly, and opportunities can disappear overnight. 

Informer’s pre-packaged reports remove the lag. With dashboards and reports that update as soon as the data does, decision-makers have the clarity to act in real time. No second-guessing, no conflicting versions of “the truth.” Harvard Business Review found that companies using real-time analytics are 5 times more likely to make faster decisions than their competitors. 

What This Means for Agency Performance 

The real value of pre-packaged reports isn’t in the hours saved, it’s in what agencies can do with those hours. Faster reporting, clearer insights, and more confident decision-making translate directly into performance gains across the board. 

• Stronger retention rates: With more time to focus on clients, teams can proactively address renewal risks before they turn into lost accounts.  
• Improved revenue growth: Leaders can see which carriers, producers, or lines of business are underperforming and redirect efforts before problems escalate. 
• Smarter resource allocation: Managers can track workloads, spot bottlenecks, and ensure teams are focused on the right priorities. 
• More agility: Agencies can pivot quickly to respond to client needs, new opportunities, or shifts in the market, instead of waiting for reporting cycles to catch up. 

When agencies stop wasting time building reports from scratch, they gain something far more valuable than efficiency, they gain clarity, speed, and control. 

Clarity Without the Wait 

Spreadsheet reports will always have their place, but they were never designed to keep pace with the speed of today’s insurance industry needs. Pre-packaged reports deliver that advantage. They save hours of manual work, accelerate decision-making, and empower agencies to improve performance where it matters most. 

Ready to move faster, see further, and work smarter? Let’s talk.