ERGO NEXT rolls out computer vision tool to complete property checks in 15 minutes

Small business insurer ERGO NEXT Insurance has released an automated property inspection feature designed to replace on-site visits with a quick self-guided walk-through on a smartphone.

Commercial property policies routinely require a physical assessment of the premises to verify building condition, risks and safety setups. In typical circumstances, policyholders wait between five and ten days for a third-party inspector to book a time and visit the premises. The new tool allows operators buying cover directly from ERGO NEXT to complete and submit an assessment on their own timetable in about 15 minutes.

How the system works

The tool uses computer vision to direct the owner through the premises step by step. As the user moves through their premises taking photos and video, the software provides live guidance on camera angles, framing and required details.

According to ERGO NEXT chief product officer Effi Fuks-Leichtag, business owners already manage competing demands on their time, so securing cover should not involve holding up work to wait for an inspection visit.

The feature represents the first joint technology rollout between ERGO NEXT and the ERGO Group, the primary insurance arm of Munich Re, which completed its acquisition of NEXT Insurance in 2025.

What this means for Australian businesses

Commercial insurance in Australia has historically involved friction, especially when premises require physical verification before an underwriter will bind coverage. The adoption of guided computer vision shows how standard operational checks are shifting from external contractor visits to self-service tasks handled by staff on site.

Australian small and medium enterprises can draw three practical takeaways from this shift:

• Prepare visual records during renewals. Keeping up-to-date photographic logs of premises, switchboards, fire equipment and storage areas speeds up applications as local insurers introduce mobile assessment platforms.
• Check direct digital underwriting options. Digital-first commercial policies reduce wait periods from weeks to hours, which helps when fitting out a new lease or changing business activities.
• Explore customer-facing vision tools in your own operations. Trade contractors, facility managers and commercial landlords can adopt similar mobile vision workflows to handle handover checks, quote jobs remotely and reduce site visits.