“The InsuranceNow platform is our foundation for growing our business. As an integrated end-to-end insurance platform, it enables us to engage agents, quote and write new business, and service our customers through claims and billing all in one place.”
Dan Borges, Chief Information Officer
Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company
Founded in 1874, Tuscarora Wayne Insurance Company has evolved from a small farm mutual into a regional powerhouse. When Dan Borges joined the company in 2010, the insurer operated in only two states with $40 million in premiums. Today, the company is a sophisticated multi-state carrier that prides itself on acting like a startup despite its 150-year legacy.
The catalyst for this transformation was a shift away from stagnant legacy technology. Tuscarora Wayne recognized that to remain competitive, they needed to prioritize "people, process, and technology" in that specific order. By choosing Guidewire InsuranceNow, the company gained a platform that could keep pace with their aggressive acquisition and expansion strategy.
"Guidewire has been a partner in providing us the core technology that allows us to run our insurance operation end-to-end," said Dan Borges, CIO. "Since moving from on-prem to the cloud, our maintenance worries have disappeared, allowing us to focus on making actual product improvements and adding data to our products to make them more automated."
One of Tuscarora Wayne’s most significant innovations is the CoverEdge product. By integrating HazardHub data directly into the InsuranceNow workflow, Tuscarora Wayne removed the burden of manual data entry for agents. Software Architect Tony Beyer explained, "We were able to take a complex commercial property policy and condense it from twenty screens down to five. Agents can now complete a quote in three to five minutes, which has led to a significant increase in quoting activity and $3 million in new written premium for that product alone."
This technological agility has enabled Tuscarora Wayne to maintain a disciplined underwriting stance even during industry-wide volatility. Reiner Mauer, CEO, noted that while others struggle with profitability, Tuscarora Wayne is targeting combined ratios in the 90 range. "We view technology as a way to scale more effectively with fewer expenses," Mauer said. "I don't have a problem increasing our expense ratio by two points if smart investments in technology drive our loss ratio down by five points."
By fostering a "self-led" culture, Tuscarora Wayne’s internal team now manages all updates and configurations, ensuring the company remains nimble. As Borges concluded, "The platform enables us to understand the risks we have, underwrite them well, and retain the business that fits our appetite. We’re not just surviving; we’re built to thrive for the next 150 years."
