This article covers the Commercial Lines Application Submission Workflow which teaches you how to create commercial lines applications using Submission Center and how to submit those applications to carrier(s) for quoting. 

Features like prefilling data from existing applications, automatically adding buildings to locations, and generating all ACORD forms in bulk eliminate redundant data entry and manual steps making the Commercial Lines Application Submission process a single journey with a consistent flow.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Starting the Workflow Commercial Applicant Overview Commercial Applicant Details Commercial Applicant Submissions Submission Center Submissions Sales Center Opportunities Step 1: Submission Details Step 2: Application Modern vs. Legacy Smarter Application and Data Capture Imports and Bulk Data Entry Address Validation and Lookup Move on to next step Step 3: Carrier Selection Step 4: Carrier Submission Carrier Cards and Status ACORD Applications Document Management Bulk Submitting to Carriers Submitting to Single Carrier

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Starting the Workflow

There are multiple ways to start the Commercial Lines Application Submission workflow. Regardless of the starting point, the result is a seamless and consistent process. 

Commercial Applicant Overview

1. On a customer's Overview page, select the Actions button. 

2. Hover over Add application.

3. Choose Manual.

Commercial Applicant Details

1. On a customer's Details page, scroll to the bottom of the page.

2. Select Create submission. 

Commercial Applicant Submissions

1. On a customer's Submissions page, select Create submission.

Submission Center Submissions

1. Hover over the Applicant icon (closed folder) on the left navigation bar.

2. Choose Submission Center. 

3. Navigate to the Submissions tab. 

4. Select the Create submission button.

Sales Center Opportunities 

1. Hover over the Sales Center icon (briefcase) on the left navigation bar. 

2. Choose Opportunities.

3. Expand a Commercial Lines Opportunity's Details page.

4. Select Create submission.

Step 1: Submission Details

1. The Submission Details step captures key fields such as title, state, effective date, and quote due date. Fill in the required information. 

2. This step also includes an About this Business section, which supports NAICS code search and business descriptions, so you have customer information at your fingertips without trying to remember what was entered for description of business operations back on the Applicant Details page. 

If the About this Business details weren’t entered earlier on the Applicant Details page, they can be added here using the "Add info" button—and the information will automatically flow back to update the applicant record. 

3. To add a Line of Business use the Line of Business dropdown. If you need to add multiple lines of business, select the Add LOB button and this will display another LOB dropdown.

4. To help with data-entry, if you have a previous application or policy, you can choose them from the Application/Policy to Prefill From dropdown. 

5. To move to the next step you can click on the next step in the Stepper at the top of the page, or you can select the green Save and Create Application button at the bottom of the page.

Step 2: Application

The Application step is where you input the customer information and coverage considerations to create the application. 

Modern vs. Legacy

We are actively updating lines of business with a modern application user interface (UI). Several key lines of business have been fully modernized to align with a new workflow and user experience enhancements. These include: 

• General Liability
• Commercial Property
• Business Owners Policy (BOP)
• Commercial Auto
• Workers Compensation
• Umbrella

Each of these lines now benefits from streamlined data capture, improved navigation, and smarter features that support faster, more accurate quoting and submission processes. 

Application screens not yet modernized are still supported and are grouped at the end of the application workflow to reduce clutter and confusion. 

A combined Underwriting tab has been introduced to prevent duplicate data entry when both modernized and legacy screens are used within the same submission. This ensures consistency and efficiency across all submission types. If you are in the Legacy screens, select Continue Submission to go to the next Submission step.

Smarter Application and Data Capture

While all ACORD fields remain accessible, the most commonly used fields are surfaced first to improve speed and usability. To find the less commonly used fields, select View more fields.

When adding locations, buildings are automatically created to prevent incomplete forms. The interface now uses flat forms instead of pop-ups, making data entry smoother and more intuitive. Managing schedules is easier, especially for complex risks, and overall navigation has been improved with fewer clicks and quicker access to key features.

Smart features like prefilled limits - such as auto-populating related fields when an aggregate limit is selected in General Liability helps save time while still allows you full control to override values as needed. 

Imports and Bulk Data Entry

Bulk import tools are available and easier to use to simplify data entry and reduce repetitive tasks for agents. These tools allow users to upload, validate, and save data efficiently, streamlining the submission process. Supported imports include:

• Locations & Buildings 
• Vehicles
• Drivers
• Additional Named Insureds
• Additional Interests

By enabling bulk uploads, you can manage large or complex submissions more quickly and accurately, improving overall productivity and reducing the risk of manual entry errors. 

Address Validation and Lookup

Address management allows you to  select from previously entered applicant addresses using a convenient dropdown menu, reducing repetitive entry. 

Real-time address validation provides immediate feedback with clear icons—✓ for valid, ⚠ for warnings, and ✖ for invalid entries—ensuring data accuracy from the start. 

Move on to next step

If you are in the modern applications, you can select the Carrier Selection tab near the top of the page or the Continue submission button at the bottom of the page. 

If you are in the legacy applications, you can select the Continue Submissions button to move to the next step in the workflow - Carrier Selection. 

Step 3: Carrier Selection

The Carrier Selection step allows you to choose which carriers you want to submit the applications to for quoting.

You can configure your preferred carriers within Submission Center settings, ensuring that your most-used markets appear by default. 

Non-preferred carriers are accessible and can be added back into view at any time by checking the Show Non-Preferred Carriers box.

The carrier selection step also integrates risk appetite insights through View Appetite, powered by Ask Kodiak, helping users make informed decisions based on carrier preferences. 

Additionally, Market Access indicators are displayed when accessing carriers through Networks or Alliance Partners offering greater transparency into placement options and expanding visibility into available markets.

To select the carrier, check the box next to the carriers and the LOBs that you are interested in quoting. Then, move on to the next step using the Stepper or the Save & continue button. 

Step 4: Carrier Submission

On the Carrier Submission step, you can generate ACORD Forms, add additional documents, and single or bulk submit the applications to your chosen carriers. 

Carrier Cards and Status

Each carrier card displays the selected lines of business (LOBs) with a default status of "Not Submitted." Once submitted, each cards new default status will be "Open". 

As the submission progresses, statuses automatically update, though users can manually adjust them at any time for added flexibility. Learn more about working submissions in our Working Commercial Lines Submissions article.

ACORD Applications

Select the Generate ACORD forms button to bulk create forms quickly and distribute them automatically under each selected carrier. 

To generate an ACORD Form for a single carrier, you can use the option to generate ACORD applications within individual carrier cards, ensuring the process fits a variety of workflows and preferences.

1. Select the Manage submissions button to go to that carrier's card. 

2. Select Generate ACORD form.

Document Management

Document handling is simple with the Actions button in the top right corner, allowing you to upload documents to all carriers simultaneously. 

Submitted Status

Quoted Status

To upload document(s) to a single carrier, you can use the option under the specific carrier cards, giving you full control over how and where documentation is shared. 

1. Select the Manage Submissions button to go to that carrier's card.

2. Select Manage Documents.

Bulk Submitting to Carriers

You can bulk submit submissions using the Bulk submit button, allowing you to send submissions to multiple carriers with a single click. Each underwriter receives an individual email, ensuring clear communication and avoids duplication of effort. 

If you are bulk submitting, you will be taken to the Bulk Submission page, where you can make final decisions on which carriers, LOBs, underwriter contacts, and documents you'll be bulk submitting. 

Next, you'll go to the Compose Common Email Message page which is where you can type up the base email that will be used for all the carriers selected.

Did you know? - The email that prefills is the default template your Agency Admin setup in the Submission Center settings which helps save you time!

Finally, you'll be taken to the Review Carrier Emails & Send page where you can customize the email for each carrier before submitting to all selected carriers using the Send to all carriers button at the bottom of the page.

Submitting to Single Carrier

You can send single submissions directly to the underwriter listed in Submission Center settings. If no underwriter contact is available, the information can be added right from the submission screen—eliminating the need to navigate back to settings. 

1. To add an underwriter contact for a submission, select the More Actions icon (vertical ellipses).

2. Choose Add underwriter.

3. Once Underwriter is added, select the Submit to carrier button and choose which LOBs and documents to send to the underwriter.

4. This will take you to the Compose Email page where you can type an email to the underwriter contact before clicking the Send button to send the submission. 

We hope this workflow article was helpful in learning how to create commercial lines applications for users with Submission Center, and how to submit the applications to carrier for quoting. Please let us know if this article was helpful by answering the question below. Check out our related articles on the right-side of the page to learn more about EZLynx!