The situation
An insurance provider operating across Central and Eastern Europe confronted a significant operational constraint in 2023: its corporate platforms were outdated and inflexible, creating friction in the launch and scaling of regional insurance products. The systems in place were misaligned with the specific needs of the markets the company served, limiting its ability to respond to local demand and competitive pressures.
The company faced a dual challenge. Beyond the technical limitations of legacy infrastructure, it lacked the internal digital capabilities and talent with insurance technology expertise required to modernize independently. Competitive pressure to transform quickly added urgency to the situation, as rivals moved faster to adapt their product offerings and digital operations to regional market conditions.
The approach
Recognizing the scale of the modernization required, the insurer partnered with Encora, a technology consulting firm, to build a modern sales platform grounded in insurance domain expertise. Rather than attempting a complete system overhaul in isolation, the company engaged Encora to provide technology consulting and architecture design services aimed at creating a composable, modernized foundation.
This approach addressed both the technical and talent dimensions of the challenge. By working with a partner experienced in insurance technology, the company gained access to specialized knowledge while building capability in-house. The focus on composable architecture—systems designed to work flexibly with one another—allowed the organization to replace legacy constraints incrementally rather than through disruptive, all-or-nothing replacement.
What happened
The modernization effort produced measurable results. Following the transformation, the insurer reported a 63% increase in policies created. The company also achieved a 41% increase in new insurance products launched, demonstrating that the modernized platform removed barriers to both operational efficiency and product innovation.
By transforming a legacy-bound organization into a digital-first insurance leader, Encora enabled rapid innovation and measurable growth.
These gains reflected the resolution of the core problem: systems that were no longer misaligned with regional market needs, and a technical foundation flexible enough to support faster product development cycles.
The takeaway
The case illustrates a principle with broad application in the insurance sector: modernizing legacy systems can significantly enhance product development velocity and market responsiveness. For regional insurers facing competitive pressure and constrained by outdated infrastructure, the path forward often requires external expertise and a deliberate architectural approach rather than internal effort alone. The Eastern European insurer's results—a 63% rise in policy creation and a 41% increase in product launches—demonstrate that when legacy constraints are removed, operational and commercial performance can improve substantially.
- The insurer experienced a 63% increase in policies created after modernization.
- There was a 41% increase in new insurance products launched post-transformation.
- The modernization addressed inflexible systems misaligned with regional market needs.
- The company lacked digital capabilities and faced talent shortages in insurance technology.
- Competitive pressure to modernize quickly was a significant challenge.
