NZbrokers

NZbrokers, New Zealand's largest independent insurance broking network with over 700 members and $1 billion in premiums, is owned by ASX200-listed AUB Group Limited, providing comprehensive support services while maintaining brokers' independence.

When Jo Mason, CEO of NZbrokers, reflects on the state of insurance broking before its partnership with JAVLN, one story stands out. During the Christchurch earthquake in 2011, a broker had to scale a three-storey building to retrieve their server in order to continue to run their business.

Fast forward to 2020, during the pandemic, and many brokers were still tethered to their offices with desktop systems and on-premise servers.

"Our brokers were tied to their desks with manual, labour-intensive processes," Mason explains. "We're a people business, we need technology to enable our brokers to get out from behind their screens and spend more time with their clients.”

This is where cloud-based insurance platform JAVLN came in.

For NZbrokers, it was about transforming how their 700+ brokers worked. Desktop-based systems meant only being able to work from the office and so much of a broker’s day was spent navigating red tape like compliance and routine transactions.

"Our goal was to reduce those burdens, so brokers can focus on what they do best, helping their clients navigate the complexities of insurance and providing support where it's needed most." says Mason

NZbrokers chose JAVLN, a decision that went beyond just technical capabilities. "It was a no-brainer that JAVLN was the right partner for us," Mason reflects. "Yes, it could deliver the features and connectivity we needed, but it was more than that. We loved that JAVLN was a New Zealand-founded company with a vision."

The local connection mattered. JAVLN's cloud-first architecture, focus on broker workflow efficiency and understanding of the insurance landscape was important. "Having a technology partner who understands the unique aspects of the insurance market makes a difference," Mason explains.

Both organisations acknowledge the transformation hasn't always been smooth sailing. The partnership has seen its share of challenges, with more co-development work required than initially scoped. However, it's these opportunities that have ultimately strengthened the relationship and seen a huge collaborative effort between both teams.

"What JAVLN offers is so much better than what we had before," Mason notes.
"The most obvious benefit to our brokers is the operational efficiency gains. For example, the speed to renewal is so much quicker."

The initial pilot program proved to be a valuable experience, with JAVLN responding to broker feedback by refining features and improving workflows. This willingness to evolve based on real user experience has been crucial to the partnership's success.

Today, for NZbrokers members on the JAVLN platform, it’s starting to transform how they work:

The partnership continues to evolve, with both organisations focused on constant improvement. David Leach, CEO of JAVLN, emphasises the company’s commitment to deeper integration and automation. "We have an ambitious vision to make insurance easier for everyone involved. JAVLN’s cloud-based software and connectivity to other systems provide the pathway to automating workflows and leveraging the benefits of AI.”

Leach added, “Since I became CEO of JAVLN in 2024, one of my priorities has been to meet with our customers, hear their challenges and experiment with better ways of working. We will continue to build great software by partnering with our customers.”

Leach wants employees at JAVLN to hear the pain points and actually experience what a ‘day in the life’ of a broker looks like. Otherwise, it’s all too easy to make a well-intentioned decision that doesn’t actually solve the end user’s goals. “We all need to be fully committed to achieving shared success,” he says.

For brokers considering their own digital transformation journey, Mason offers this perspective: "This transformation isn't just about technology – it's about enabling brokers to provide better service to their clients. When you put good technology behind good people, that's when you see real transformation in the industry."

Aaron Dowling, Programme Manager at NZbrokers, says, “Our partnership is full of good intentions and has made significant progress since the arrival of the new leadership team. Not only are the team experts in what they do, but we’ve appreciated their transparent approach and desire to get the job done well.”

The message is clear: while digital transformation can be challenging, the right partnership makes all the difference. It's not just about choosing a technology provider; it's about finding a partner who understands your business, values your success and is committed to growing alongside you.