Understanding the InsurTech dynamics in the transformation of the insurance sector

Abstract InsurTechs have transformed the insurance sector by becoming a fundamental role in leveraging technology to respond to business and costumers needs, driving solutions based on the availability of new data sources, the interconnectivity among actors, or even access to new possibilities in terms of risk hedging. InsurTechs can be seen as innovations occurring simultaneously that have disrupted, accelerated, and enhanced the transformation of the insurance sector. However, to date, there is a significant research gap to understand how InsurTechs have been responsible for this transformation. For this purpose, qualitative research has been carried out, through the analysis of 150 InsurTechs, based on grounded theory methodology. This study has a threefold objective. First, to identify what has driven InsurTechs; second, to discover what types of innovations have emerged, and third, to understand the dynamics of InsurTech. Findings have identified five InsurTech driving capabilities that have been instrumental in boosting innovations in the insurance sector. These five capabilities suggest 15 types of innovations that have transformed the insurance sector. Finally, these 15 innovations suggest three waves that provide insights for understanding how InsurTech Dynamics has transformed the traditional structure of the insurance sector leading to a dynamic user‐centric ecosystem.