The verdict in three sentences
A commercial broker managing 12,000 policies across 9 insurers cannot run commissions and renewals on spreadsheets without leaking revenue. Off-the-shelf broker platforms, billed at roughly GBP 60 to 150 per user per month, handle policy administration well but rarely reconcile each insurer's statement line by line. Custom software pays off once the firm wants a reliable renewal pipeline, a client claims portal and clean reporting for its FCA obligations.
What the managing director actually needs to track
A London commercial broker runs four flows: new business, renewals, claims and commission income. Each flow has its own source of truth, and that is where things break.
| Flow | Annual volume (2026 estimate) | Current source | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renewals | 12,000 renewal dates, peaks in January and April | Shared spreadsheet | Policy not re-marketed, client lost to a rival broker |
| Mid-term adjustments | 3,500 to 4,000 | Emails with insurers | Premium change not reflected in commission |
| Claims notifications | 1,800 to 2,200 | Phone and email | Late notification, cover disputed |
| Commission statements | 9 insurers x 12 months = 108 statements | Mixed PDF and CSV | Gap between commission due and paid goes unnoticed |
| Regulatory returns | Half-yearly FCA returns, annual reviews | Manual consolidation | Late or inconsistent figures |
| Credit control | 15 to 20 % of premiums paid late | Account handlers' calendars | Cancellation for non-payment |
On a book this size, an average 2 % gap between commission due and commission received quickly adds up to tens of thousands of pounds a year. The first job of the software is to match every insurer statement against the broker's own policy records automatically.
Off-the-shelf platform or custom build
The UK market is well served by broker platforms, many built around personal lines or SME packages. For a commercial book (property, fleet, liability, marine cargo), commission rules vary by insurer, by line and sometimes by introducer.
| Criterion | Subscription platform | Kolonell custom software |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | GBP 60 to 150 per user per month, plus setup fees (2026 estimate) | 2,500,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (3,810 to 22,870+ EUR) depending on complexity, one-off |
| Commission rules | Flat rate per line | Schedules per insurer, line, introducer, profit commission |
| Statement reconciliation | Manual keying | Structured CSV or PDF import, gaps flagged |
| Client claims portal | Often an add-on | Online notification with attachments and tracking |
| Regulatory reporting | Generic export | Reports in the format your compliance team needs |
| Roadmap | Vendor's priorities | Your priorities, maintenance 35,000 to 120,000 FCFA per month (53 to 183 EUR) |
For reference, a simple application (policy register, renewal pipeline, chasers) sits between 2,500,000 and 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR). A mid-size build with commission reconciliation and a client portal is 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR). A complex project with insurer connectors, e-signature and multiple offices runs from 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR). Hosting and specific options are quoted separately.
The modules that make money
The renewal pipeline surfaces each policy 90, 60 and 30 days before expiry, with the account handler and the claims history. The broker re-markets the risk before a competitor calls the client.
The commission engine applies each insurer's schedule, includes adjustments and return premiums, then compares the result with the statement received. Gaps feed a list of queries to send.
The claims portal lets the client notify an escape of water, a fleet accident or stolen goods with photos. The broker tracks notification deadlines and passes the file to the insurer from the same screen.
Reporting consolidates gross written premium, premium collected and commission by insurer and line, ready for compliance and the board.
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Mini case study
James, managing director of a commercial broker in the City of London, earns about GBP 2.1 million in commission a year on 12,000 policies. A six-month audit finds a 1.8 % unclaimed gap between commission due and paid, worth GBP 37,800 a year. Lapse rate also drops from 11 % to 8 % once the renewal pipeline is live: with an average premium of GBP 4,200 and average commission of 12 %, 360 retained policies add GBP 181,400 in commission a year. The mid-complexity project pays for itself within months, and two account handlers each recover 6 hours a week of manual consolidation.
FAQ
Can the software read statements from 9 different insurers?
Yes, each format is mapped once (CSV columns or structured PDF extraction). After that, an import takes under 5 minutes per statement instead of half a day of ticking.
How long until the first version is live?
Allow 3 to 5 months for a mid-size build, data migration included. Migrating 12,000 policies from spreadsheets is done in bulk, with a quality check on a 5 % sample.
Where is the data hosted?
Hosting is defined in the quote to match your UK GDPR and FCA obligations. Access is named, logged and protected by two-factor authentication for 100 % of internal users.
Will commercial clients see their policies online?
Yes, the portal shows policies, certificates and open claims. Brokers that adopt one typically see 40 to 60 % of claims notified online in year one.
What if an insurer changes its commission schedule?
The administrator edits the schedule with an effective date. Older policies keep the old rate, so 12 months of history never need recalculating.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your book, your insurer panel and your priorities, and we will scope a realistic build with a 3 to 5 month plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
