Afori at DKM 2025: AI that truly understands brokers

DKM is regarded as the most important industry meeting of the financial and insurance world. For two days, everything important gathers in Dortmund: brokers, pools, service providers, and insurers. For us at Afori, this year's DKM was a resounding success: Our stand was continuously very well attended, the demand for our solution was enormous, and the conversations with brokers and partners were as intense as they were insightful.

AI in the broker's daily life: From vision to real relief

In numerous conversations, it became clear: Brokers are looking for concrete, practical AI solutions that integrate seamlessly into existing processes and quickly create real added value. The mood was unmistakable: The topic of artificial intelligence has long arrived in the insurance sector. But what concerns many brokers is not the question of whether AI should be used, but how it can be sensibly integrated into everyday work. The need for concrete use cases is enormous, and awareness of the practical benefits is noticeably growing. AI should be not abstract or experimental, but helpful, comprehensible, and secure.

Taking concerns seriously

Despite the growing openness towards AI, it also became clear where the biggest hurdles lie. Many brokers reported their experiences and concerns about the introduction of new AI tools:

• Lack of interfaces to existing broker management programs

• Complex introduction and onboarding to new software

• Loss of control when AI makes independent decisions

• Uncertainty regarding data protection and data processing

These responses confirm exactly what has been important for us at Afori from the beginning: AI must not be a foreign body in the office routine. It must operate where it is needed and adapt to existing processes, not the other way around.

"We addressed these concerns from the very beginning, as we develop our AI solution in close collaboration with selected brokers. Data protection, integration into existing MVPs, and AI as support, not as a replacement, are a matter of course for us," says Fabian Wesemann, founder & managing director of Afori.

“Staying calm through the flood of emails”: Presentation by Fabian Wesemann at DKM

A highlight of our trade fair appearance was the lecture by Fabian Wesemann on the topic of “Staying calm through the flood of emails in the broker's office”. The presentation struck a chord: Almost every broker knows it: the daily challenge of managing the influx of emails without overlooking important tasks.

Fabian made it clear that AI is not meant to replace brokers but to support them. With Afori, we are developing a solution that is specifically designed to reduce back-office work, thus creating more time for what matters: Client advisory and portfolio growth.

Experience Afori live: Over 200 brokers at the stand

We were particularly pleased with the great interest in our stand. We were able to present the Afori sidebar live to over 200 brokers, and the direct feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Many visitors were surprised at how easily Afori can be integrated into their existing work environment.

A decisive advantage: Afori works directly in Outlook, as a practical sidebar that seamlessly fits into the existing email workflow. This way, the broker remains in their familiar environment while Afori helps in the background to analyze emails, recognize tasks, and structure them intelligently.

Voices from the trade fair stand:

“The integration directly into Outlook is brilliant; I finally don't have to jump between tools.”

“There has been no truly effective solution for the daily flood of emails so far. Afori's task classification could change that; especially the email communication with insurers and clients takes up an enormous amount of time.”

“An interface to my MVP is a must for me. It's great that Afori already has many connections and is continually integrating new MVPs.”

This feedback shows us that we are precisely on the right track with our product strategy. Interfaces, data protection, and easy integration are not "extras"; they are the foundation for AI to work in the broker's office.

Proximity to the market: Afori develops solutions in close collaboration with brokers

DKM once again demonstrated how important direct exchange with brokers is. We received many valuable impulses that we will gradually incorporate into the further development of Afori. Because our ambition is clear: We do not develop outside of the market; we develop with the market.

Our mission remains to make the broker's daily life easier. We believe that AI will have its greatest benefit when it relieves people, not replaces them.

Conclusion: DKM as a confirmation of our mission

DKM 2025 was a resounding success for us and an important confirmation:
The demand for practical, trustworthy AI solutions in the insurance industry is greater than ever. With Afori, we want to close exactly this gap and help brokers stay calm through the office routine.

We thank all the visitors who stopped by our stand, asked questions, shared ideas, and provided honest feedback. We look forward to incorporating these impulses into our development in the coming months and reshaping the future of the broker's office together with the industry.