How Smarter Data and Connected Technologies Are Reshaping Property Claims

itel itel

At this year’s Connected Claims conference, itel’s Chief Product & Technology Officer, Paul Disney, took the stage to address one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: rising claims complexity—particularly in roofing—and the mounting pressure carriers face to strengthen indemnity integrity across the claims cycle while improving the customer experience. 

Disney’s message was clear: intelligent claims don’t happen by accident. They happen when data, tools, and people work together with consistency and purpose. 

A Growing Problem: Complexity, Cost, and Catastrophe 

Across the home insurance industry, carriers are feeling the strain. Aging homes, increasingly severe weather, high material volatility, and fragmented workflows create friction at nearly every stage of property claims. Roofing claims alone can involve multiple contractors, large documentation gaps, and frequent disputes over repairability. 

Disney emphasized that the answer isn’t more technology, but actually the right technology applied consistently. 

He emphasized that advanced analytics can reveal gaps and inconsistencies throughout the claims journey, enabling carriers to provide fairer decisions, reduce uncertainty for homeowners, and move claims forward with confidence. “We have tremendous data across this ecosystem,” Disney noted. “The opportunity now is to turn that data into clarity.” 

Where Technology Makes a Measurable Difference 

Disney walked the audience through several key technologies that are reshaping modern claims: 

• Aerial imagery and AI-powered detection to quickly identify roof damage, surface loss, and repairability indicators. 
• Automated measurement and scoping tools that eliminate manual steps and support more accurate estimates. 
• Material identification and data-driven repair guidance, which empower adjusters to determine whether a repair or replacement is truly warranted. 

The impact: faster cycle times, fewer disputes, and more consistent outcomes across carriers and contractors. These tools don’t replace expertise, but they can amplify it. 

The Power of Standards and Collaboration 

Disney also underscored the importance of consistent methodologies and the critical role of independent collaborators in making them possible. In today’s fragmented claims environment, where tools and processes vary widely, homeowners often receive conflicting information at the moment they need clarity most. 

He advocated for shared, data-backed standards in damage assessment and repairability, supported by partners who can remain objective throughout the process. That independence, he stressed, is one of the only ways to ensure the fairest possible outcome for homeowners recovering from a loss. “When we all speak the same language—carriers, contractors, and policyholders—claims get resolved faster, with less friction and better outcomes for everyone.” 

itel + Nearmap: Certainty in a Changing CAT Landscape 

This year’s Connected Claims session came at an exciting moment for the company: only a few months after itel’s recent acquisition by Nearmap. 

Together, our combined organization is advancing the industry toward a unified vision:
From predict and prevent to repair and replace, bringing certainty to catastrophe response. 

By integrating high-resolution aerial imagery, property intelligence, and itel’s deep expertise in repairability and material identification, we will enable carriers to:

The Future: Intelligent Claims Powered by Human Insight 

Disney closed his session with a reminder: Innovation is only as strong as the people behind it. Technology should make adjusters faster, more confident, and more connected—not replace their judgment. 

As the industry moves into a new era of intelligent claims, one thing is certain: the fusion of itel’s repair analytics with Nearmap’s property intelligence will shape a smarter, more resilient future for homeowners and the home insurance carriers who serve them.