„We are the only ones getting off these quotes in less than 90 seconds," says Rafferty. "It's a huge competitive advantage for us. We have the credibility, technology, the consistency, and the data that the market trusts."
Ryan Rafferty, Director of Underwriting
USG Insurance Services
Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USG Insurance Services has spent 25 years establishing itself as a leading U.S.-based Managing General Agent (MGA) and wholesaler of property insurance. While many in the industry rely on traditional, manual workflows, USG pivoted early toward a technology-first strategy.
As an early adopter of Guidewire HazardHub in 2023, USG sought to move beyond "best guess" underwriting. They recognized that in a market increasingly defined by catastrophic weather and complex perils, advanced peril risk intelligence was no longer a luxury, but a prerequisite for growth.
The true test of this vision came with the development of USG’s proprietary "Workbench Genie" portal. To launch a bespoke E&S Commercial Property Program covering the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, USG needed to establish a robust and defensible underwriting framework. In a landscape where larger organizations often rely on broad, legacy data and risk models, USG differentiated itself by prioritizing technical precision and speed.
USG integrated Guidewire HazardHub into its "Workbench Genie" portal. By automating 25 rating inputs, including distance to coast, hail, wildfire, and crime, USG created a standardized underwriting scorecard that earned immediate trust from industry partners.
"To go to a provider and show them how we’re attacking our underwriting, I couldn’t just use rules of thumb," explains Ryan Rafferty, Director of Underwriting. "I needed HazardHub. It provides the consistency and reliability that doesn't waiver and it looks and reads the same every time."
By mandating HazardHub as the data engine for their portal, USG automated the intake of 25 distinct risk factors. This wasn't just about speed, but also about strategic accuracy. USG moved from broad, low-resolution distance-to-coast data to high-resolution distance-to-coast data and associated coastal peril risk scoring, allowing the MGA to precisely quote risks from Texas to Maine.
The integration even handles granular peril sublimits. For example, USG utilizes HazardHub’s crime scores to automatically trigger vandalism sublimits for lower-grade properties, ensuring that risk is priced accurately without manual intervention.
The transition has turned what was once a manual research project into a two-minute automated process. By embedding HazardHub directly into their workflow, USG has not only optimized its data spend, but has also positioned itself as the go-to partner for retail agents.
"We are the only ones getting off those quotes right now," says Rafferty. "It’s a huge competitive advantage for us. We have the credibility, the consistency, and the data that the market trusts."
