This article is sponsored by Early Warning Network
In an era marked by escalating climate volatility, insurers face mounting pressure. To combat this, the Early Warning Network (EWN)’s innovative automation platform, EmbargoPlus, leverages real-time, geospatially precise embargoes.
In the process, it redefines how insurers protect their portfolios during severe weather events – moving beyond slow, manual processes and blunt postcode-level restrictions.
Traditional insurance embargoes – temporary restrictions on issuing new policies or making changes in high-risk areas – have long relied on postcode boundaries. However, this approach is notoriously imprecise.
During the 2025 New South Wales Mid North Coast and Hunter floods, for example, postcode embargoes resulted in 148,229 locations being restricted, which EmbargoPlus dramatically reduced to just 9,860 properties through precision targeting.
“EmbargoPlus delivers up to 93.35% greater precision than traditional postcode embargoes, proven in real-world cyclone and flood events,” explains Matt Pearce, Head of Product. “It allows insurers to embargo only genuinely at-risk properties within 60 seconds of a threshold breach, instead of cutting off entire regions. That’s innovation that directly translates into millions saved in claims and new business opportunities.”
For insurers, the ability to act quickly and accurately during severe weather events is critical. EmbargoPlus automates the embargo process, activating restrictions in under a minute when a weather threshold is breached. This not only reduces claims exposure but also ensures compliance and transparency for brokers and customers.
James Harris, Chief Operating Officer, emphasises the significant impact of this achievement – an impact further recognised by Insurance Business, which awarded Early Warning Network the 5-Star Insurance Innovators 2025 status.
He says, “Winning this award demonstrates our commitment to building technology that reduces risk for insurers and increases transparency for brokers and customers. EmbargoPlus is a game-changer because it brings precision, automation and trust to a process that was previously slow and inconsistent.”
More than a technological upgrade, EmbargoPlus is a shift in how the insurance industry approaches risk.
“The insurance industry is under intense pressure to modernise, and EmbargoPlus represents exactly that shift: a smarter, faster and more defensible process in the face of climate volatility,” says Emily Vernon, Marketing and Client Engagement Lead. “It not only protects balance sheets but also improves the customer experience during stressful events.”
With nearly 30 insurer partners across Australia and New Zealand, EWN’s solution has already demonstrated millions in avoided claims exposure during cyclone, flood, bushfire and hail events.
Innovation in insurance isn’t only about customer-facing apps or digital convenience; it’s about the unseen systems that make insurers stronger and more resilient. EmbargoPlus is proof that by combining weather intelligence, automation and geospatial precision, insurers can manage severe weather risk smarter, protect customers better and stay ahead of compliance requirements.
For more, go to the service embargo page.
