API Connectivity: Adding Carriers and Rules Without Rebuilds
Every MGA Needs API Flexibility, Not Just API Access
Integrating with carriers shouldn’t feel like starting over every time you add a new market.
Yet most MGAs still spend weeks waiting for developers to hard-code endpoints, map data, and test responses.
By the time the new connection goes live, appetite or pricing has already shifted.
RQB solves that problem by design.
Its API framework is configuration-based, not code-based. You can add carriers, modify rating rules, or change data mappings without rebuilding the system.
That single capability, rapid connectivity, is why MGAs and carriers use RQB as their quoting backbone instead of juggling multiple vendor portals.
How RQB Connects to Carriers
RQB supports two connection types out of the box:
- Direct Carrier APIs
- REST or XML endpoints for real-time rating, quote, and bind.
- Authentication and payload mapping handled within RQB.
- Supports synchronous and asynchronous responses.
- Semi-Automated Connections
- For carriers without APIs, RQB automates “quote-and-send” workflows.
- Binds and documents route back automatically when carriers reply.
Both models work in the same pipeline, so you can quote API-based and manual carriers together in one bundle.
Configuration, Not Coding
When you add a new carrier, you don’t need to write a single line of code.
Step 1: Upload the carrier’s rating or bind specifications.
Step 2: Map fields to RQB’s shared data model.
Step 3: Test the connection using built-in validation tools.
Step 4: Activate the program and assign underwriters.
All of this happens through configuration screens your operations team can manage. Adding or removing a carrier becomes a business decision, not a development project.
Multi-Carrier, Multi-Program Logic
Every carrier and program defines different coverage triggers, limits, and eligibility checks.
RQB’s rule engine centralizes that complexity.
- Apply appetite filters before each API call.
- Route ineligible submissions automatically.
- Execute carrier-specific rating logic in parallel.
- Merge results into a single quote summary for review.
No duplication. No carrier-specific spreadsheets. Just a unified quoting view.
Learn how these multi-line workflows perform in Bundled Quoting: WC, GL, Auto, and Property in One Pass.
Adding Carriers in Days, Not Months
With RQB, carrier onboarding follows a simple timeline:
| Stage | Duration | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| API credentials + docs | 1–2 days | Connection established |
| Field mapping | 1–3 days | Data model aligned |
| Testing + QA | 2–4 days | Quotes validated |
| Go-live | Within 7 days | Fully integrated program |
That speed lets MGAs launch new markets quickly and keep up with distribution demand.
It also enables instant scaling, multiple carrier APIs can run in parallel with no performance drop.
Custom APIs for Carriers Without Rating Engines
Some carriers or specialty programs don’t have exposed APIs. RQB can build and host them.
You provide the rating factors, rules, or spreadsheets; RQB converts them into secure, reusable APIs that other MGAs or wholesalers can consume.
This creates new revenue streams and makes your organization a data provider, not just a data consumer.
We’ll explore this in detail in Building a Solid Rating Platform for Non-Admitted Programs.
ISO-Based Integration
RQB also connects to ISO-aligned raters such as NetRate and similar engines used by standard carriers.
This allows admitted markets to coexist with custom, non-admitted programs inside the same quoting framework.
That’s covered further in ISO Rating Integration: Working with Engines like NetRate.
Governance and Security
Carrier connectivity requires control and traceability. RQB includes:
- Secure credential storage using encrypted vaults.
- User-level permissions controlling who can access which carrier APIs.
- Complete audit logs of every request and response.
- Error handling and retry queues for failed transmissions.
These safeguards keep integrations compliant with carrier IT and regulatory standards.
Analytics on API Performance
Every API call in RQB is measurable. You can track:
- Response time by carrier.
- Success rate by program.
- Quote volume per endpoint.
- Bind conversion from each connection.
If a carrier’s API slows down or errors increase, operations knows instantly. That transparency helps maintain service-level consistency across all partners.
Learn more about measurement in Program Analytics: Measuring What Matters.
Business Impact
MGAs running on RQB’s API framework achieve measurable improvements:
- Add or modify carriers 10× faster than manual systems.
- Maintain 99% API uptime across rating and bind calls.
- Reduce integration cost by 60% compared to custom builds.
- Expand carrier networks without disrupting existing programs.
API flexibility becomes an operational advantage, not a technology project.
Implementation Snapshot
Week 1: Identify carriers and gather specifications.
Week 2: Configure, map, and validate.
Week 3: Go live with the first program.
Week 4: Expand to additional lines and carriers.
Your team controls integrations directly, no waiting on external IT resources.
Get Started
Carrier integration should never be the bottleneck.
With RQB, you can plug in new markets, test new products, and launch programs without rebuilding anything.
Request a Demo or Start a Pilot to see how fast your next carrier integration can go live.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to add a new carrier?
Usually under a week from documentation to testing.
Can RQB support both API and manual carriers?
Yes. You can run both in one workflow.
Is technical coding required to add carriers?
No. Everything is configuration-driven.
What if a carrier’s API changes?
You can update mappings without touching the rest of the system.
Can we expose our own rating API to partners?
Yes. RQB can host and expose custom rating APIs securely.
