Case Study: Swiss Re brings R and Python to actuaries in Excel with Posit

Swiss Re runs R-based convergence tests in under ten minutes with Posit PBC

Swiss Re, a leading global reinsurer, faced a challenge of access rather than analytics. While the company had significant R and Python capabilities, this power was difficult for non-coders and even other coders to reach and reuse, leading to duplicated efforts and friction in adoption. The vendor, Posit PBC, provided a solution using its Posit Workbench, Posit Connect, and Posit Package Manager products.

The solution involved publishing analytical logic as a centralized API on Posit Connect, which was then called from a simple Excel add-in. This allowed users to run complex R and Python routines, including simulations and visualizations, directly from their spreadsheets. For Posit, the results were transformative: a non-coding colleague ran an R-based test within ten minutes, the approach won an internal hackathon, and it created a single source of truth that eliminated local maintenance and encouraged wider sharing of analytical work.

Swiss Re