InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens

Nigel Walsh, Global Head of Insurance: ServiceNow: Making insurance lovable and curing the messy middle (346)


Listen Later

The insurance industry is at an inflection point—legacy processes are still widespread, yet AI and automation are enabling smarter, more efficient workflows. But how do insurers cut through the noise and apply technology in a way that truly transforms their operations?

In this episode, Matthew Grant sits down with Nigel Walsh, newly appointed at ServiceNow, to discuss how AI, digital agents and workflow automation are reshaping insurance. With 500 insurers already using ServiceNow, Nigel shares why he joined, what ServiceNow does beyond IT service management, and how its AI-powered workflows are tackling the industry’s “messy middle.”

Key Talking Points
  • AI-driven insurance workflows – how ServiceNow is helping insurers streamline underwriting, claims and customer service beyond traditional IT service management.
  • Agentic AI in action – the role of digital agents in automating insurance processes, reducing inefficiencies and enhancing decision-making.
  • The changing face of VC funding – why AI is reshaping startup strategies, reducing team sizes and altering investment dynamics.
  • Bridging the data gap in catastrophe insurance – lessons from California wildfires and the challenge of accurately assessing risk and rebuilding costs.
  • Enhancing claims efficiency with AI – how insurers can leverage automation to improve claims workflows and customer experience.
  • Navigating insurance thought leadership – the challenge of cutting through LinkedIn’s noise and building meaningful industry conversations.
  • AI adoption in 2025 and beyond – the rise of digital workers, the evolution of enterprise AI and the potential for insurers to orchestrate thousands of agents.
  • If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn. You can also contact Nigel Walsh on LinkedIn to start a conversation!

    Sign up to the InsTech newsletter for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

    Continuing Professional Development

    This InsTech Podcast Episode is accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). By listening, you can claim up to 0.5 hours towards your CPD scheme.

    By the end of this podcast, you should be able to meet the following Learning Objectives:

    • Explain the evolving role of AI in the insurance industry, including its influence on venture funding and business models.
    • Define the challenges insurers face in catastrophe modeling and data accuracy for risk assessment.
    • Identify the potential applications of AI-driven orchestration platforms in improving enterprise-wide insurance operations.
    • If your organisation is a member of InsTech and you would like to receive a quarterly summary of the CPD hours you have earned, visit the Episode 345 page of the InsTech website or email [email protected] to let us know you have listened to this podcast.

      To help us measure the impact of the learning, we would be grateful if you would take a minute to complete a quick feedback survey.

      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin MerttensBy InsTech

      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      9 ratings


      More shows like InsTech - insurance & innovation with Matthew Grant & Robin Merttens

      View all
      EconTalk by Russ Roberts

      EconTalk

      4,229 Listeners

      a16z Podcast by Andreessen Horowitz

      a16z Podcast

      998 Listeners

      The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

      The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

      509 Listeners

      The Rugby Pod by The Ringer

      The Rugby Pod

      351 Listeners

      Fintech Insider Podcast by 11:FS by 11:FS

      Fintech Insider Podcast by 11:FS

      186 Listeners

      Masters of Scale by WaitWhat

      Masters of Scale

      3,965 Listeners

      Behind the Money by Financial Times

      Behind the Money

      222 Listeners

      The Voice of Insurance by The Voice of Insurance Mark Geoghegan

      The Voice of Insurance

      26 Listeners

      The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway by Vox Media Podcast Network

      The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

      5,194 Listeners

      Making Risk Flow | The Future of Insurance by Cytora

      Making Risk Flow | The Future of Insurance

      3 Listeners

      The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

      The Rest Is Politics

      3,252 Listeners

      Leading by Goalhanger

      Leading

      949 Listeners

      Unhedged by Financial Times & Pushkin Industries

      Unhedged

      137 Listeners

      The Rest Is Money by Goalhanger

      The Rest Is Money

      274 Listeners

      The Rest Is Politics: US by Goalhanger

      The Rest Is Politics: US

      2,263 Listeners