XPT Specialty, a leading wholesale broker for specialty commercial and personal insurance, has deployed a suite of AI tools that help retail agency partners better serve SME accounts – broadening market access and returning more bound policies on a segment historically hardest to serve at scale. XPT’s specialists guide every risk and placement decision.

“Small commercial accounts can take nearly as much work as large ones but carry a fraction of the premium, so the market has quietly underserved them for years,” said Kyle Stevens, executive partner at XPT. “These tools let us put more markets in front of more accounts and give our people more room to apply their expertise.”

“Working with XPT gives us access to a broader range of markets and more options for our clients,” said Derek S. Ross, president and COO of Kulchin Ross Insurance Services, LLC. “Their AI tools make that process even more efficient, helping identify additional opportunities and return more relevant options. It combines the market reach and expertise we value from XPT with technology that helps us deliver better solutions to our clients.”

SMEs often lack dedicated risk management resources yet face some of the most complex coverage needs. A recent JD Power study found a 203-point satisfaction gap between SMBs whose insurer and broker truly understand their business and those who do not.

Initial Results

XPT’s AI-powered comparative rating rolled out in the second quarter of 2026. In P&C, bound business jumped as much as 19.5% month-over-month, and, year-over-year, bind ratios are increasing. Submissions overall are steady, while quotes are up by 6.5% and the number of binds is up about 7.5% year-over-year, reflecting genuine new bind volume while maintaining underwriting quality. In Bars and Taverns, where AI entered the workflow nine months ago, new-business quoting is up approximately 25% year-over-year. XPT expects the pattern to scale as adoption spreads to more offices and lines.

Why Now

SME business is often lower-margin for retail agencies, limiting how broadly those accounts get shopped. XPT’s tools absorb that processing on the wholesale side, so those accounts get shopped far more widely. SMEs gain the market breadth larger accounts typically receive and a better chance at the best overall coverage fit – not simply the lowest premium.

“Retail agents should not have to change how they work to benefit from better technology,” said Tom Ruggieri, CEO and co-founder at XPT. “We designed these tools to meet them where they are, while keeping an XPT expert accountable for the final recommendation.”

Three Tools, One Workflow

The suite comprises three modular tools:

  • Underwriting: Comparative Data Analysis and Comparative Quoting: Extracts and validates submission data, checks it against web and third-party sources, flags discrepancies, evaluates the risk against underwriting guidelines and recommends a price for expert review.

  • Binding: Comparative Rater with Multi-Market Execution: Sends a risk to up to 20 markets in parallel through direct system connections, with results returned to an XPT expert for final placement.

  • Brokerage: Risk Analysis, Market Finder, Multi-Market Execution: Prioritizes incoming submissions and categorizes them as simple, moderate or complex, so XPT experts focus first on the business that most needs their attention. Assesses opportunities across 100 markets and finds and prioritizes appropriate markets for quoting. Tracks communications to cull and coordinate quote information for client presentation.

What This Means for Retail Agents

For retail agents, the workflow doesn’t change. XPT recommends one option alongside a summary of the alternatives, so agents can see how broadly an account was shopped. Because the model supports both brokerage and binding-authority placements, more of a client’s lines can go to a single wholesaler, and added capacity surfaces related coverage opportunities.

How It Was Built

XPT co-developed the tools with external technology partners, including strategic partner Gencise AI, around its workflows, data and expertise, rather than implementing them off-the-shelf from generic AI models; the modular design lets XPT extend to more lines over time.

About XPT Specialty

XPT Specialty is a wholesale brokerage and binding firm that connects insurance professionals with specialized solutions across multiple industries. Through strong market relationships and a client-first approach, XPT helps agents find the right coverage for their insureds. For more information, visit www.xptspecialty.com.

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