Accenture are well-placed observers of the InsurTech scene, and Mr Gasc is one of the most acute observers of this scene.

There's a lot of talk in the blogosphere about some kind of conflict between hungry, young upstart startups (no wordplay intended) and big traditional, old-fashioned insurers.

Actually, the picture he paints here in his summary has the feel of realism by avoiding the futurist's error of casting tomorrow as white or black. It's more likely to be a subtle mixture and not so dramatic, with some surprises at the margin.

The startups, though dramatic in their claims and actions,  are also acting as salutory catalysts for change throughout the insurance industry, particularly for the more conservative ones. 

They (surely), as others,  have already been struggling for many years with the complexities of digital transformation (formerly known as  IT projects). And their journey to free their businesses from the hardened, historical accretions of legacy and migrate to the flexible, agile and modern has been tortuous, rough, littered with costly failures, and a matter of despair.

But this new tech impetus has changed, and will change, the game. It is an unprecedented enabler of innovation  and will certainly release the industry from the shackles of the past.

I am sure we will see a gathering pace of new products and services in 2017 and beyond,  across the board, from new and established insurers.

No doubt about it; and that's good for everyone.