CIO Interview - Brenda Van Velkinburgh Digitizes Workers' Comp Insurance for Ascot Group

Why It Matters

Digitizing workers' compensation removes a growth bottleneck, letting Ascot compete nationally and respond quickly to regulatory changes. The case demonstrates how low‑code and focused talent development can accelerate legacy modernization for insurers.

Key Takeaways

• Ascot digitized workers' comp via OutSystems low-code platform.
• Legacy systems replaced, enabling online quoting and policy admin.
• Small team leveraged partner Accelerated Focus for rapid development.
• Internship program fuels low-code talent pipeline.
• Goal: unify billing system by 2027, retire legacy PABLO.

Pulse Analysis

Ascot Group’s digital overhaul illustrates how specialty insurers can overcome entrenched legacy barriers. After acquiring AmFed in 2021, the company faced a thirty‑year‑old platform that could not support web‑based transactions. By selecting OutSystems, a low‑code development environment, Ascot quickly built a new quoting engine, policy administration suite, and client portals, turning a $20 million, 11‑state operation into a scalable, online‑first business. The move not only opened new geographic markets but also gave the firm the agility to adapt to state‑by‑state regulatory shifts without waiting on external vendors.

The transformation was driven by a lean internal team supplemented by the OutSystems partner Accelerated Focus. This collaboration allowed Ascot to develop end‑to‑end applications while the internal staff focused on API integration and data migration. The result was a faster time‑to‑market for digital services and a reduced reliance on the aging PABLO billing system, which the company plans to retire by 2027. By owning the development stack, Ascot can implement compliance updates instantly, delivering a competitive edge in a tightly regulated market.

Beyond technology, Ascot’s strategy underscores the importance of talent pipelines in low‑code adoption. An internship program and certification incentives have cultivated a cadre of developers who prefer the low‑code environment over traditional coding. This approach mitigates the scarcity of legacy‑system expertise and ensures sustainable growth. For insurers eyeing digital transformation, Ascot’s experience highlights that combining low‑code platforms with proactive skill development can accelerate modernization while controlling costs.