Execution Is Everything: Implementation Tips for Insurance Agencies

Ideas are easy. Execution is hard.

At IIAD’s All-Industry Day, one of the most valuable discussions was hearing how real agencies put technology into practice. What works? What causes setbacks? And most importantly, what separates those who talk about change from those who actually make it happen?

Here are four proven takeaways:

1. Involve Your Team Early and Often

Vertafore's Heath Shearon made a great point: do not assume you know where the pain is. Ask your staff. Then listen.

Your CSRs and producers are closer to client frustrations and workflow bottlenecks than you are. They know what slows them down and what creates friction for clients. Implementation is far easier when your team helps shape the solution rather than being handed an answer.

2. Slow Down to Speed Up

Linqura's Ryan Hanley shared a powerful reminder: “Be OK with slowing down for a month to set up systems. That’s where the upside is.”

Sales keep the lights on, but without strategic pauses your team will never catch up to the tools that could multiply your output. Scaling requires time to train, optimize, and reinforce new workflows. Building in intentional breathing room ensures adoption sticks.

3. Know Your Metrics and Use Them

BrightFire's Bob Whitis emphasized that most agencies underuse the reporting tools already built into their systems. Dashboards only matter if someone checks them.

Implementation is not just setup and onboarding. It also requires ongoing engagement. Assign someone to own reporting. Create a cadence for reviewing metrics. Use data to guide conversations and decisions. If you are not watching the scoreboard, you cannot expect to win the game.

4. Cut the Clutter

Ryan Hanley again: “Cancel every meeting on your calendar, then rebuild with half.”

Too many agencies waste valuable hours in unnecessary meetings. Reclaim that time for execution, follow-up, and monitoring adoption. Leaders often say they lack time to implement. The truth is that the time exists, but it is buried under noise.

The Bottom Line

Execution is where your tech strategy succeeds or fails. It is not about the size of your budget or the slickness of your tools. It comes down to:

• Team involvement
• Strategic breathing room
• Accountability to metrics
• Ruthless prioritization

These are not complicated ideas. They are the blocking and tackling most agencies skip. Start here. Execute consistently. The results will follow.