ACORD

Data Standards for Life & Annuities

What’s HOT in Data Standards for Life & Annuities

ACORD helps move the global insurance industry forward by encouraging and facilitating global information, improving efficiency, and supporting effective strategic positioning.

ACORD Logo

ACORD Insurance Data Standards

ACORD is a non-profit, industry-owned organization. For 50 years, ACORD has enabled the success of the global insurance industry by facilitating the flow of data and information across all insurance stakeholders through relevant and timely data standards.

ACORD moves the global insurance industry forward by encouraging and facilitating global information, enabling improved efficiency, and implementing effective, strategic positioning.

About ACORD

ACORD, the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development, is the global standards-setting body for the insurance and related financial services industries. ACORD facilitates fast, accurate data exchange and efficient workflows through the development of electronic standards, standardized forms, and tools to support their use.

ACORD members worldwide include thousands of insurance and reinsurance companies, agents and brokers, software providers, financial services organizations and industry associations. ACORD maintains offices in New York and London.

By the Numbers

Fast, Accurate Data Exchange for the Insurance Industry

ACORD facilitates fast, accurate data exchange and more efficient workflows through the development of electronic standards, standardized forms, and tools to support their use.

36K

Participating organizations worldwide

3M

Forms downloaded over 10 years

275M

Message transactions annually

Since 1970, ACORD has been an industry leader in identifying ways to help its members make improvements across the insurance value chain. Implementing ACORD Standards improves data quality and flow, increase efficiency, and realize billion-dollar savings to the global insurance industry.

ACORD engages more than 36,000 participating organizations spanning more than 100 countries, including insurance and reinsurance companies, agents and brokers, software providers, financial services organizations and industry associations. With the tools and resources provided by ACORD, our members are equipped to address current business and technology imperatives while influencing and shaping the future.

ACORD Member InsurTech Express

InsurTech Express is an ACORD Member

Supporting data standards, digital connectivity, and more efficient information exchange across the insurance ecosystem.

Life & Annuity Standards

Life & Annuity Standards are available in a fully indexed and searchable format. The main release components are:

Help File

Reference document for primary source of information for the Standard.

Object Reference Model

High-level object hierarchy representing the Standard Implementation Model.

Schema Files

Used to validate an XML document.

The Value of Standards

The Value of Standards

Below are the most recent ACORD Life & Annuity Standards releases.

  • XML Standards Specifications & Documentation
  • EDI Standards Specifications & Documentation
  • XML Transaction Specifications
  • ACORD Utilities — Schema Tools
  • L&A Implementation Guides & Supplements
  • L&A Standards & Forms Fact Sheets
  • L&A XML Standards Online Help
  • ACORD Standards Training Materials
ACORD Connect

ACORD Connect

ACORD Connect is where we show our appreciation for you, the members of the ACORD community, and give you the opportunity to learn from your industry peers.

This year’s event will feature the topics, trends, and collaborators that are leading the industry forward into our shared digital future.

You will have the opportunity to hear from thought leaders and key influencers from across the global insurance industry. Join us for sessions on the power of industry collaboration, the latest in insurance innovation, and current trends in business and technology.

At ACORD Connect 2025, we’ll also announce this year’s ACORD Awards winners, celebrating our members’ accomplishments in Standards implementation, advocacy, community leadership, and more.