Insurance Technology Leaders Unite Around Data, Truth, and Trust at ACORD Connect 2026

More than half of attendees surveyed said "architecture and systems that allow for scalable, reliable, trustworthy data outcomes" are the most important key to improving data reliability

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ACORD, the standards-setting body for the insurance industry, brought together insurance technology leaders at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut to discuss data, truth & trust in insurance. This marks the first time that ACORD Connect has been held in person since 2019.

In his opening remarks, John Kellington, President & CEO of ACORD, emphasized the necessity of collaboration in advancing digital data exchange: "As AI, automation, and digital ecosystems continue to evolve, the need for quality, consumable data becomes more important, and the trust in that data can only be built through collaboration, innovation, and standards."

The two-day conference kicked off with a community session, where more than 300 insurance technology attendees — including representatives from property & casualty, life & annuity, and reinsurance carriers and brokers — had the opportunity to share their unique perspectives through discussion and a survey to help answer the conference's central question: how can we trust insurance data? Survey results showed:

• Only 7% of attendees said they were fully confident in the quality of data within their organization, while 42% said they were somewhat confident.
• 65% said most of their data is AI-ready, but there are areas that need to be improved.
• More than half of respondents said complexity and variety of data is the greatest barrier to data trust in their organization today.
• When asked what would most effectively improve data reliability, 54% said "architecture and systems that allow for scalable, reliable, trustworthy data outcomes." This was deemed more important than both "upskilling and training teams" and "data governance and compliance processes."

Attendees had vibrant discussions at the community session and throughout the conference about how trust in data and AI is built, tested, and maintained. Top recurring themes from those conversations were:

• Data exchange formats are not a "secret sauce." Competitive advantage is not driven by data labeling conventions, but through expertise in underwriting and claims handling. Adoption of common data standards is a baseline enabler of excellence; proprietary standards are not a differentiator.
• Human oversight alone does not build trust in AI. Its value diminishes once the volume of AI-driven decisions outpaces what people can meaningfully review.
• Fragmented systems and differing definitions make trust harder to establish, meaning the same data can be entered and interpreted differently across each one.

ACORD Connect sessions focused on community, innovative data solutions, and the necessity of standards across the insurance ecosystem

ACORD and ACORD Solutions Group leaders, ACORD members, and industry experts met in various sessions during ACORD Connect to address the conference theme of "Data, Truth, Trust" within P&C, L&A, and reinsurance markets. Highlights included:

• Keynote presentation from AI neuroscientist Sarah Baldeo on how insurance professionals can become more resilient, communicative, and collaborative in an AI-enabled industry.
• A live recording of "The Future of Insurance Podcast" hosted by Bryan Falchuk, where industry leaders Meredith Barnes-Cook (Datos Insights), Russell Sommers (Baker Tilly), and Spero Zacharias (Chubb) examined the current state of data, historical and emerging threats to data integrity, and industry imperatives for maintaining data, truth, and trust.
• The presentation of inaugural awards from the Women in Insurance Collective during the ACORD Awards ceremony.
• The welcoming of over 20 students from the University of Connecticut, Nichols College, and Connecticut College, who had the opportunity to learn about insurance technology and network with industry leaders.

In reflecting on the event, Kellington said, "There was an incredible spirit of industry collaboration at ACORD Connect. After hearing from our ACORD members, it is clear there is a shared urgency to improve data quality in insurance, and together we can provide the structure and alignment needed. With all of the great insights and conversations that came out of ACORD Connect, we're already looking forward to more opportunities to collaborate with our members on initiatives that will address key challenges and make a positive impact on the industry."

About ACORD

ACORD is the global standards-setting body for the insurance industry. ACORD facilitates fast, accurate data exchange and efficient workflows through the development of electronic standards, standardized forms, and tools to support their use. ACORD currently engages more than 36,000 participating organizations spanning over 100 countries, including insurance and reinsurance companies, agents and brokers, software providers, financial services organizations, and industry associations. ACORD maintains offices in New York and London. Learn more at www.acord.org.

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SOURCE ACORD