VIAA Deploys Cara’s Insurance-Native AI Across Its Independent Agency Network

Cara, the AI platform purpose-built for insurance agencies and brokerages, today announced a partnership with Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a leading independent agency alliance supporting agencies across Missouri and southern Illinois.

The partnership will bring Cara’s insurance-native AI platform to VIAA’s member agency network, giving independent agencies access to AI-powered workflow automation designed around the day-to-day realities of insurance operations.

VIAA recently crossed $1 billion in written premium in the same year it marked its 20th anniversary, reflecting the continued growth of a network built to help independent agencies compete at scale while maintaining ownership and control. With more than 165 independent agencies in its network, VIAA continues to invest in resources, tools, and partnerships that help member agencies strengthen operations, improve profitability, and support long-term growth.

Cara helps agencies automate high-volume workflows across sales, servicing, and operations, including proposal generation, coverage comparison, COI requests, ACORD forms, email triage, client phone calls, and agency knowledge. For VIAA member agencies, the partnership creates a path to adopt practical AI in workflows that often create operational strain as teams grow.

“Independent agencies are under increasing pressure. Servicing volume keeps climbing, data entry never stops, and attracting new talent into the industry is harder than ever. Agencies can’t simply hire their way out of that reality,” said Henry Powers, Chief Growth Officer at VIAA, “Cara gives our member agencies a practical answer: more capacity for the teams they already have, less time spent on manual work, and no compromise on the service clients expect."

“VIAA has built a strong network of independent agencies focused on growth, operational discipline, and client service,” said Vic Yeh, CEO at Cara. “We’re excited to partner with VIAA to help its member agencies bring AI into the workflows they manage every day while keeping human expertise at the center.”

As independent agencies manage rising servicing volume, staffing constraints, and more complex client expectations, the partnership reflects a shared focus on helping agencies scale more efficiently without adding unnecessary operational strain.