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On this episode of FNO: InsureTech, hosts Rob Beller and David Prejeant sit down with Chris Touchton, Chief Insurance Officer at Nearmap, for a conversation on property intelligence, claims innovation, and the growing importance of connected data across the insurance ecosystem.

Chris shares the story behind Nearmap's evolution from an aerial imagery company into a comprehensive property intelligence platform and explains why the company's acquisitions of Betterview and ITEL are helping reshape how insurers understand risk before and after a loss.

This episode blends industry history, technology strategy, and practical insurance insight, revealing why the future of insurance may depend on connecting data that has historically lived in separate worlds.

A company built on seeing more

The episode begins with Nearmap's original mission.

What started as an aerial imagery company capturing high resolution images across Australia and New Zealand quickly found a compelling use case in insurance.

For underwriters, the ability to remotely view a property unlocked valuable information that was previously difficult, expensive, or time consuming to obtain.

Swimming pools.

Additional structures.

Roof conditions.

Property characteristics.

The more insurers could see, the more informed their underwriting decisions became.

But imagery alone was only the beginning.

Adding intelligence to imagery

As Nearmap's capabilities grew, so did the opportunity to extract more value from the data.

This led to the acquisition of Betterview, bringing AI powered property intelligence into the platform.

Rather than simply showing underwriters a picture, Betterview helped interpret what those images actually meant.

What risks were present?

What conditions required additional review?

How should opportunities be prioritized?

The addition of AI transformed imagery into actionable intelligence, allowing insurers to move beyond observation and toward informed decision making.

Why Nearmap acquired ITEL

The conversation then turns to one of the industry's most significant recent acquisitions.

In May 2025, Nearmap announced its acquisition of ITEL, one of the most trusted names in building material identification and property claims solutions.

For decades, ITEL helped insurers determine exactly what materials existed inside a property.

Flooring.

Roofing.

Siding.

Interior finishes.

While Nearmap specialized in understanding properties from the outside, ITEL specialized in understanding what was inside.

Together, the two companies created something much larger than either could provide independently:

A more complete picture of property risk.

Bridging a longstanding insurance divide

One of the most interesting themes throughout the episode is the longstanding gap between underwriting and claims.

Historically, these functions have operated in separate worlds.

Different systems.

Different data.

Different priorities.

Yet both are fundamentally trying to understand the same property.

Chris explains how the combination of Nearmap, Betterview, and ITEL creates an opportunity to connect those worlds through a shared source of property intelligence.

The result is a richer understanding of risk before a loss occurs and a more informed response when a claim happens.

From samples to data

Chris also reflects on ITEL's own evolution.

For years, adjusters physically mailed building material samples for identification.

That process eventually expanded into mobile applications, allowing users to submit photographs instead.

The next step was even bigger.

Data.

By leveraging millions of historical records and material identification outcomes, ITEL transformed from a service provider into a data platform capable of supporting decisions at scale.

This shift mirrors a broader trend happening throughout insurance:

Moving from manual processes toward data driven ecosystems.

How COVID accelerated innovation

Another key discussion centers on how the insurance industry changed during and after the pandemic.

Claims organizations that had traditionally relied on in person inspections and established workflows suddenly had to embrace remote operations.

What followed was a wave of innovation.

Desk adjusting expanded.

Digital workflows accelerated.

New technologies gained traction.

According to Chris, the industry became more willing to experiment, adapt, and adopt solutions that previously may have faced resistance.

The result was a faster path toward modern claims and underwriting operations.

Consistency, trust, and defensible outcomes

The conversation also explores one of the insurance industry's biggest challenges: consistency.

Every insurer strives to settle claims quickly.

But speed often creates tension with accuracy.

Chris believes data can help reduce that tradeoff.

By introducing objective third party intelligence into the process, insurers can create more consistent outcomes while building trust among adjusters, contractors, policyholders, and other stakeholders.

This commitment to neutrality has long been central to ITEL's reputation and remains critical as new technologies become embedded in claims workflows.

Navigating a crowded AI landscape

Like many industries, insurance is experiencing an explosion of AI driven solutions.

Where carriers once interacted with a relatively small number of vendors, they are now evaluating dozens of new technologies.

Chris predicts this will lead to further consolidation.

Trusted platforms with established customer relationships will increasingly acquire emerging technologies and integrate them into broader solutions.

The goal is not simply to offer more tools.

It is to simplify complexity.

And help carriers work with fewer vendors while gaining access to more capabilities.

The importance of partnerships

A recurring theme throughout the episode is collaboration.

Nearmap's vision is not centered on owning every workflow or becoming every insurer's primary platform.

Instead, the focus is on ensuring data appears where it is needed, when it is needed.

That requires integrations.

Partnerships.

Data sharing.

And an ecosystem mindset.

Whether supporting desk adjusters, contractors, mitigation companies, or policyholders, success increasingly depends on making information accessible across the entire workflow.

The future of property intelligence

As the conversation concludes, one idea stands out.

Property intelligence is becoming one of the most valuable assets in insurance.

The ability to combine imagery, material identification, claims history, AI insights, and workflow intelligence creates opportunities that did not exist just a few years ago.

The companies that can connect those data sources effectively will help shape the future of underwriting, claims, and customer experience.

As Rob summarizes with a lesson often repeated throughout insurance:

The person with the data wins.

Building a more connected insurance ecosystem

Episode 309 offers a compelling look at where insurance is heading:

Connected property intelligence instead of fragmented data

AI enhanced decisions instead of manual interpretation

Integrated underwriting and claims ecosystems instead of organizational silos

Trusted partnerships instead of disconnected point solutions

It is not simply a story about technology.

It is a story about connecting information, people, and processes to create better outcomes across the entire insurance lifecycle.