n8n
Icatu Seguros, one of Brazil's largest insurers, deployed a WhatsApp-based quoting assistant that generates customized life insurance proposals in roughly 40 seconds.
The tool, called AVI, runs on n8n and is used daily by more than 1,000 field brokers who need to quote clients on the spot without returning to a desktop system. Brokers can send text inputs like "female, 29, coverage of one million," upload a photo of handwritten client notes, or record a voice message. AVI parses the input, queries Icatu's back-end policy systems, and returns a simulation PDF the broker can forward directly to the client.
Icatu built AVI with ed, a Brazilian consulting partner. The project took seven weeks from concept to production. The insurer announced on LinkedIn that some brokers now choose to sell Icatu policies over competing carriers specifically because AVI makes the workflow faster. The system placed second in the Gartner Eye on Innovation Awards for Insurance 2025 in the Americas category.
WhatsApp as the sales interface
Field insurance brokers in Brazil often meet clients in cafes, offices, or parking lots. Desktop quoting tools require a laptop or a return trip to the office, which introduces friction and lost momentum. AVI collapses that lag by treating WhatsApp as the primary interface.
A broker types or speaks the client's age, gender, and desired coverage amount. AVI uses natural language processing to extract the parameters, calls Icatu's legacy underwriting APIs through n8n workflows, and generates a compliant PDF quote. The broker forwards the document in the same WhatsApp thread.
Because the assistant accepts voice notes and photographed handwriting, brokers can use it while driving or when a laptop is impractical. The system handles multiple input modalities without requiring a dedicated mobile app.
Seven weeks from idea to deployment
Icatu and ed prototyped AVI on n8n's visual workflow builder. The team connected WhatsApp Business API, OCR for handwriting recognition, speech-to-text for voice messages, and Icatu's internal rating engine.
The company reported that brokers adopted the tool quickly because it required no training beyond sending a WhatsApp message. The insurer did not disclose the volume of quotes generated through AVI, but said daily active users exceed 1,000.
n8n's role in the stack:
- Receives and routes inbound WhatsApp messages
- Coordinates calls to OCR, speech-to-text, and NLP services
- Queries Icatu's policy and underwriting APIs
- Assembles and returns the PDF simulation
The platform's self-hosted option allowed Icatu to keep sensitive client data on infrastructure the company controls, a regulatory requirement in Brazil's insurance market.
Why brokers prefer it
Icatu told n8n that some brokers now prioritize selling its policies because AVI reduces administrative overhead. Competing insurers still require brokers to log into web portals or submit quote requests by email.
The 40-second turnaround gives brokers a tangible advantage during client meetings. A prospect can receive a personalized quote before leaving the table, which shortens the sales cycle and reduces the chance a lead shops around.
The second-place Gartner award signals that insurers elsewhere are watching similar experiments. Icatu's implementation demonstrates that workflow automation platforms like n8n can integrate legacy underwriting systems with consumer messaging apps without a multi-year digital transformation project.
The insurer has not announced plans to expand AVI beyond life insurance quoting, but the infrastructure could extend to policy servicing, claims status, or beneficiary changes using the same WhatsApp interface.
Sources
1 checkedHow we cover tool news: Create With's tool desk drafts these reports with AI from the sources listed above and checks them against those sources before publishing.
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