This article is part of a sponsored series by Cotality.As advanced technology permeates every facet of society, human empathy has emerged as the ultimate differentiator in customer experience—particularly within the people-driven property insurance industry.At the Cotality INTRConnect 2026 conference, leaders explored the theme “Intelligence Beyond Bounds.” This serves as our industry’s answer to a critical challenge: how to operate with equal parts technical precision and human connection.

Turning massive quantities of raw data into illuminating intelligence allows insurers to deliver the faster, smarter experiences that today’s clients expect.To help us operate in alignment with this grand idea, the Cotality team has distilled INTRConnect 2026 into five lessons.These takeaways will help property insurance professionals as they transform workflows into intelligence beyond bounds, ultimately keeping humanity at the heart of the insurance ecosystem’s mission.

1.Actionable intelligence requires more than data accumulation In his opening keynote, Garret Gray, President of Cotality Insurance Solutions, noted that the property insurance ecosystem is at a crossroads: we can either drown in exponentially growing volumes of data or convert it into actionable intelligence.To scale coverage and build community resilience, the industry must move beyond accumulating raw data and, instead, strategically convert all the information they get into intelligence beyond bounds.

This transformation allows the industry to quickly create narratives from a blend of multiple data sources.Realizing the vision requires more than just gathering the right data, deploying the right technology, and empowering the right people—it requires the seamless intermingling of all three.Cotality’s 2026 product vision is built on four essential pillars: 2.

There’s no room for fear with AI, just healthy doses of optimism and restraint In 2026, staying competitive means adopting AI to solve specific operational bottlenecks rather than chasing fleeting trends.Whether in claims documentation or resource allocation, the goal is to identify the most perplexing challenges and apply targeted AI solutions.However, innovation must never outpace security.

While AI will not replace the professional, they must be vigilant while handling data— ensuring sensitive customer information never enters the public domain.The property insurance ecosphere must move forward with AI with cautious wonder, pushing boundaries while staying firmly within regulatory and ethical bounds.3.

Mitigation will be the main driver of financial and operational resilience We can no longer afford to merely “fix things.” Mitigation—through stronger building codes and floodproofing—has become a critical financial tool.When consumers grasp their true risk profile, they transition from passive policy holders to active partners in the rebuilding process.By prioritizing “risk literacy,” insurers can reduce friction, increase insurability, and ensure that every dollar spent on prevention is viewed as an investment rather than an expense.

4.It is urgent to recognize the invisible forces disrupting the economy While catastrophic events dominate the headlines, equally significant disruptors are often ‘invisible’ to the public eye.Record inflation (with building materials up 38.5% over pre-2020 levels), legal system abuse, and high turnover among regulators are the silent drivers of the current affordability crisis.

These ‘invisible’ pressures represent a shifting risk landscape where economic volatility is just as disruptive as a Category 5 hurricane.Leaders must look beyond the weather and solve the structural erosion of affordability.To combat these pressures, insurers and restorers must build integrated digital ecosystems.

These tools provide the granular data needed to navigate economic volatility and regulatory shifts, ensuring businesses remain resilient even when the “invisible” pressures mount.5.Connection matters as much as convenience People want convenience, but never at the expense of connection.

Today, technology is no longer a barrier to human touch; it’s the primary enabler.The true value of Agentic AI and Cognitive Imagery lies in their ability to perform the 80% of foundational work.By automating the logistical heavy lifting, we empower professionals to devote their unique energy to the remaining 20%—the high-value human connections that build trust and loyalty during a policyholder’s most vulnerable moments.

Trust and loyalty aren’t built by automation; they’re built through relationships that ground people in their most vulnerable times.Looking Ahead As Garret reminded us, insurance is deeply personal—it protects the very foundation of the American Dream.And now, squarely in 2026, it is time to turn lessons into action, proving that in a world of infinite data, human empathy remains our greatest strength.

People want to feel seen and heard, not processed by a machine.Insurers and their partners can meet this need by harnessing “Intelligence Beyond Bounds.” The dialogue will continue until further notice.We’ll be diving deeper into these strategies and fostering the connections that drive our industry forward at INTRConnect 2027 next February in San Diego.

Register today to secure your spot.In the meantime, use these aforementioned takeaways to drive real meaning out of your data and provide the proactive, intuitive experiences your clients deserve.2026 Cotality.

All rights reserved.Cotality, the Cotality logo, Intelligence beyond bounds, and INTRConnect are the trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc.d/b/a Cotality or its affiliates or subsidiaries.

[inline-ad-1]