DroneDeploy and Shepherd Partner to Slash Construction Insurance Premiums by 25%
16 July 2026

Quick Summary
DroneDeploy and Shepherd have launched a partnership offering premium savings of up to 25% for construction firms. By leveraging reality capture technology, contractors can significantly reduce risk, as data shows users experience 44% fewer claims and a 51% lower loss rate when combining ground and aerial documentation.
How Does Reality Capture Technology Reduce Construction Risk?
Reality capture technology serves as a definitive visual record that eliminates ambiguity on the jobsite. By utilizing drones and 360 cameras, project stakeholders can identify potential hazards and document work-in-place with millimeter-level precision. This proactive approach to safety and quality control directly translates to fewer insurance claims.
- 44% fewer claims compared to non-users.
- 48% lower loss rate across the entire contractor book.
- 35% improvement in loss rates once the technology adoption matures past 24 months.
What Financial Benefits Can Contractors Expect from This Partnership?
Premium savings are now directly tied to the use of verifiable site data. Contractors and owners using the DroneDeploy platform can access up to 25% off casualty products through Shepherd. This shift moves insurance from a static expense to a dynamic reward system for firms that prioritize digital documentation and transparency.
- 25% premium credits for qualifying projects.
- 51% loss reduction for teams using both Ground and Aerial capture.
- Immediate eligibility for new casualty coverage and OCIPs.
Why is Data-Backed Underwriting the Future of Construction Insurance?
Data-backed underwriting allows insurers to move away from generic risk pools and toward precision pricing. By analyzing six years of actuarial data, Shepherd has proven that reality capture technology creates a measurably safer environment. This partnership validates that digital transformation in construction is not just an operational win, but a significant financial advantage.
“For Shepherd, the question has never been whether reality capture reduces risk. It is which platforms, used in which way, produce loss outcomes we can underwrite with confidence,” said Justin Levine, CEO and co-founder of Shepherd.
FF NEWS TAKE:
This partnership is a massive win for the industry because it finally puts a concrete dollar value on digital transformation. For years, fintechs have promised that reality capture technology would lower risk, but Shepherd’s actuarial proof of a 51% loss reduction is the smoking gun the industry needed. This moves the needle by forcing other insurers to either adopt data-backed underwriting or lose the safest, most profitable contractors to tech-forward competitors.
Companies in this story: DroneDeploy, Shepherd
People in this story: Justin Levine, Matt Daly