GlobalData polling indicates that partnerships between insurers and non-traditional technology and service providers are expected to play an increasingly important role in the evolution of insurance offerings.
According to GlobalData’s poll run on Life Insurance International, which concluded in Q1 2026, 41.1% of respondents identified partnerships between health insurers and mental health and wellness apps as the most important non-traditional partnership over the next three years. This highlights the increasing importance of preventative healthcare and wellness support in insurance strategies. Additionally, 35.6% of respondents identified partnerships with climate technology companies focused on mitigation infrastructure, reflecting the growing role of insurers in addressing climate-related risks and supporting resilience efforts.
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These findings suggest that insurers are prioritising partnerships that enable more proactive risk management and enhance customer engagement. Mental health and wellness platforms allow insurers to support policyholders’ long-term health outcomes, potentially reducing claims costs and improving customer retention. At the same time, partnerships with climate technology firms enable insurers to better understand, monitor, and mitigate environmental risks, which are becoming increasingly material due to rising climate-related losses.
Other partnerships were viewed as less critical but still relevant. For example, 13.7% of respondents identified motor insurers partnering with mobility services, such as rideshare and micromobility providers, as important. These collaborations enable insurers to adapt to changing mobility patterns and develop new products aligned with evolving transportation models.
Meanwhile, 6.8% highlighted home insurers integrating with IoT device providers and smart home manufacturers, which can help prevent losses through real-time monitoring and early risk detection.
Partnerships involving life insurers and social media or influencer platforms for wellness incentives were viewed as least important, cited by just 2.7% of respondents. While these partnerships may improve customer engagement and promote healthier behaviours, they are currently seen as less critical compared to partnerships that directly enhance risk mitigation capabilities or provide measurable operational benefits.
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By GlobalDataInsurers can capitalise on these emerging partnership opportunities by integrating preventative services, leveraging real-time data insights, and expanding value-added offerings. Collaborations with wellness platforms, climate technology providers, and digital infrastructure firms enable insurers to shift toward more proactive and preventative business models. These partnerships will help insurers strengthen customer relationships, improve risk assessment, and enhance long-term profitability as the industry continues to evolve beyond traditional insurance models.
