Touchstone enables insurance underwriters, catastrophe risk managers, claims managers, and others to assess the catastrophe loss potential of individual risks, policies, and portfolios.
Using Touchstone online Help
You can access the top-level or context-sensitive Touchstone online help from within the application or from the Client Portal. You can then search for content, bookmark pages, and generate output to other formats.
What is Touchstone?
Touchstone delivers industry-leading technologies for enhanced analytics, new tools for data mining, and a high- performance computing framework to drive productivity and performance.
What's new in Touchstone 2025
This release of Touchstone includes new and enhanced features and models.
What's new in Touchstone 2024
Summary of new features and updates in Touchstone 2024.
What's new in Touchstone 2023 (11.5)
Summary of new features and updates in Touchstone 2023 (11.5).
What's new in Touchstone 2023 (11.0)
Summary of new features and updates in Touchstone 2023 (11.0).
What's new in Touchstone 2022 (10.0)
Summary of new features and updates in Touchstone 2022.
Data management concepts
Touchstone introduced some new data management concepts.
About the Touchstone workflow
The core Touchstone workflow includes several major tasks: import exposure data, run analyses, and export results.
About the Touchstone global menu bar
Use Touchstone's global menu bar to access application functions.
About the Touchstone application home page
Touchstone's home page enables you to manage projects, view company information, and access support.
About Verisk Extreme Event Solutions (EES) user documentation
Software, model, API, database, and financial module documentation for Verisk Extreme Event Solutions (EES) are available on the Client Portal
Import data from external sources
You can import exposure data, map layers, projects, and reinsurance packages from external sources into Touchstone databases.
Differences between property and workers' compensation exposure data
Workers' compensation policies and certificates require special consideration at the policy/certificate and location levels.
About aggregating similar risks
Aggregating similar risks can reduce import and analysis times, as well as reducing disk space requirements, while still maintaining the validity of loss estimates.
ImportExpress
Use ImportExpress to import contract and exposure data from external sources into Touchstone databases, regardless of the format of the source.
About importing exposure data
You import exposure data into a Touchstone exposure database and into an exposure set.
Import a project
Touchstone enables you to import a project that another Touchstone user previously exported.
Importing map layers into Touchstone
Use Map Layer Import to import map layers (custom GIS data) from raster or vector files into Touchstone.
View import logs
Import logs provide useful information, especially if you need to troubleshoot an import.
About verification, import logs, and rejection files
When you submit a .csv file for import, ImportExpress validates the contract, location, and reinsurance exposure data to see whether the exposure data is acceptable for import.
About verifying import and mapping data
The verification process validates contract, location, and reinsurance exposure data to see whether the data is acceptable for import. It does not import data automatically after the process is complete.
Projects and exposure views
Projects are a useful way to organize your data. They contain exposure views that contain the data that you want to focus on.
Working with projects
The Projects pane on the Touchstone Home page lists the projects that you and other users in your business unit are working on.
Working with exposure views
In a project, you add exposure views to gather the exposure data that you want to focus on.
About the Contract List pane
In the exposure view grid, click Contract List to view the list of contracts.
Open the contract list
Open the contract list to view the details of each contract included in an exposure view.
Filter the contract list
You can apply temporary filters to a contract list using contract-level and location-level attributes.
Add contracts to an exposure view
You can add contracts to an exposure view by entering the contract details in the user interface or by copying and pasting the contract details from a spreadsheet.
Add sublimits to a layer
You can add sublimits to a layer and create sublimit areas.
About the Contract Details pane
The Contract Details pane provides information about the line of business, the policy form, the name of the producer, and the current selected currency.
Open contract details
Open the Contract Details pane to view the details of each contract that is included in an exposure view.
Add locations to a contract
Add locations to a contract by entering location details in the user interface or by copying and pasting location details from a spreadsheet.
About the Location Record pane
The Location Record pane provides summary information about the location, and allows you to view, add, and delete location terms and reinsurance treaties.
Add layers to a contract
You can add one or more layers to a contract.
Delete contracts
Deleting contracts removes them from the contract list and from associated databases.
Copy and move contracts and locations
You can copy and move contracts and locations.
Re-geocode exposure data
To ensure that analyses uses more accurate location data, we strongly recommend that you geocode all exposure data before running analyses.
Geospatial analysis
Geospatial analysis enables you to perform a deterministic risk analysis with your own view of risk on accumulations of property exposures and workers' compensation information in given areas exposed to natural and man-made catastrophes.
Business use cases for geospatial analysis
Here are potential business use cases for geospatial analyses.
Licensing considerations in geospatial analysis
We offer great flexibility in how you manage licenses for Touchstone software.
Choosing the analysis type in geospatial analysis
Choosing the analysis type is the first step in configuring a geospatial analysis.
Configuring a new geospatial analysis
Configuring the analysis is the second step in the process.
Modifying settings and reinsurance
Step 3 in a geospatial analysis allows you to modify financial reinsurance, and analysis management settings,
Running the analysis
This is an overview of running a geospatial analysis.
Viewing geospatial analysis results
The analysis results and the spatial analysis functions that you can perform depend on the analysis configuration.
Display modes in geospatial analysis results
There are two display modes—Accumulation Display mode and Interactive Browser mode. You can switch between the two modes.
Spatial analysis options
There are various spatial analysis options available to use on the analysis results, including the use of widgets to filter all the results that are visible on the screen into a chart or table.
Filtering widgets by shape
In Interactive Browser results mode, you can filter chart and table widgets by one or more shapes. Drawing tools, which are available only when you license Geospatial Analysis, enable you to draw shapes, save them, and use them on Touchstone maps.
Using map layers in geospatial analysis results
You can display AIR-provided layers or user-created layers on geospatial analysis results. You can also create different tables and charts using widgets. Geospatial Analysis requires a license.
Maps in geospatial analysis
Maps are available in many locations in Touchstone.
Map tools
Map tools appear along the right side of the map.
Working with web map layers in Touchstone
You can import web map layers into Touchstone using various web map servers. This allows users in the same business unit to visualize the web map layers on any map in Touchstone.
Importing map layers into Touchstone
Use Map Layer Import to import map layers (custom GIS data) from raster or vector files into Touchstone.
Exposure data validation
Verisk provides a reference containing information about Touchstone exposure data.
Data Quality analysis
The most effective way to assess and enhance portfolio-level or contract-level catastrophe exposure data is to use Touchstone's Data Quality diagnostics. These diagnostics enable you to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the exposure data you are using for analyses and supplement that data when it is missing or weak.
Data Quality analysis
The most effective way to assess and enhance portfolio-level or contract-level catastrophe exposure data is to use Touchstone's Data Quality diagnostics. These diagnostics enable you to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the exposure data you are using for analyses and supplement that data when it is missing or weak.
Hazard analysis
Hazard analysis enable you to identify the relevant catastrophe hazards for locations in your exposure data.
Configuring Hazard analyses
Overview of configuring hazard analyses.
Working with Hazard analysis results
Show or hide results for any of the included hazard profiles.
Exporting Hazard analysis results
You can export Hazard analysis results to *.CSV files.
Reference: Hazard Analysis
Additional information about Touchstone user interface components that you use to perform hazard analyses.
About loss analyses
Touchstone enables you to model catastrophic (CAT) events to estimate property and workers' compensation losses.
About the detailed loss analysis module
Use the detailed loss analysis module to run a detailed loss analysis on the same exposure data that you imported for catastrophe modeling.
Loss Group analysis
A Loss Group analysis enables you to combine two or more sets of loss results from different analyses into a single loss view, or group, which is then available for use as input to subsequent processes or analyses.
CAT XOL analysis
A catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance program (CAT XOL) indemnifies the ceding company for that portion of the loss that exceeds the limit of its own retention per event.
Marginal impact analysis
A marginal impact analysis enables you to view the effect that a specific loss results set (the target or new portfolio/contract) has on another loss results set (the reference portfolio).
User model management
Use User Model Management to build custom non-Verisk models and seamlessly integrate them into Touchstone.
Event set management
Your Touchstone Re installation includes event set files for each peril and region licensed by your company.
Analysis Settings pane (Loss)
Use this pane to configure catastrophe analysis settings.
Reinsurance
The Reinsurance Program Manager enables you to create, import, and manage reinsurance programs.
View reinsurance programs and treaties
Steps to view information about reinsurance programs and treaties.
Filter reinsurance programs and treaty lists
Display only the specific reinsurance programs and treaties that interest you by filtering the list.
Edit reinsurance programs and treaties
You can edit the description of a reinsurance program, and modify information about the treaties in the program.
Create a reinsurance program
You can create a new reinsurance program that comprises one or more treaties. When you create a treaty, you specify treaty information, treaty terms, and treaty triggers.
Remove reinsurance programs and treaties
You can delete a single reinsurance program or treaty, or delete multiple reinsurance programs or treaties from the list of reinsurance programs and treaties.
Save changes to reinsurance programs and treaties
You can save changes to all programs in the Reinsurance Programs grid or to all treaties in the reinsurance program.
Duplicate a reinsurance program
To save time, create a new reinsurance program from an existing reinsurance program. Touchstone copies the program information and all the treaties and their information, including the geographic and line of business (LOB) filters.
Import a reinsurance program
Import reinsurance programs with an *.RPX or *.csv file extension.
Export a reinsurance program
Export reinsurance programs from the Reinsurance Programs pane or when exporting a project, to use them in other projects. You can export them to *.csv or *.rpx files.
Map unrecognized LOB values
In Touchstone, you can map unrecognized user line-of-business (LOB) values to valid Touchstone LOB values.
Copy and paste a reinsurance treaty
Save time by copying and pasting reinsurance treaties, with all the attributes, into another reinsurance program.
Treaty information (reinsurance programs)
Validation rules for fields related to treaty information for reinsurance programs.
Terms (reinsurance programs)
Validation rules for fields related to treaty terms for reinsurance programs.
Triggers (reinsurance programs)
Validation rules for triggers related to treaty terms for CAT XOL reinsurance only.
Apply reinsurance programs
Configure detailed loss analyses to apply treaty terms in associated reinsurance programs to the loss analyses results.
Select a reinsurance program
Select the reinsurance programs that you want to apply and the exposure view or views (analysis targets) to which you want the programs to apply.
Specify facultative reinsurance options
If the analysis target's property exposure data includes contract- or layer-level facultative terms, you can configure the facultative reinsurance option.
Apply treaties and certificates to areas and LOBs
In the Reinsurance Program Manager, you can apply treaties to lines of business (LOBs) in specified geographic regions (areas).
Understanding relationship between treaty types and inuring order
Useful information about the relationship between treaty types and the inuring order.
Touchstone data export types
Touchstone enables you to export different types of data.
About ExportExpress
Use ExportExpress to export exposure data, analysis results, and reports.
About exporting exposure data
You can export exposure data in exposure views to various files and databases.
About exporting results
You can export the results of analyses that you run in Touchstone.
Types of export reports
You can export several reports.
Activity Monitor
The Activity Monitor displays the status of all activities.
Edit job schedule and priority
When an activity status is "Scheduled" or "Queued", you can edit it in the Activity Monitor.
Managing data sources
Use Data Source Management to manage Touchstone databases.
View the list of databases
The Data Source Manager window displays the list and number of databases on the SQL Server to which you are currently connected.
Create a database
When you create a database, the Data Source Manager automatically registers it for use with Touchstone. You do not need to attach it.
Attach a database
There are three ways to attach a database to use in Touchstone.
Register a database
Registered databases are databases with which Touchstone can interact. When you create a database, the Data Source Manager automatically registers it—you do not need to attach it.
Unregister a database
When you unregister a database, Touchstone can no longer interact with it.
Detach a database
You must unregister a database before you detach it.
Delete a database
Before deleting a database, you must unregister it.
Associate results to a project
When loss results are no longer associated with a project, you cannot view, perform analyses on, or export the results. If you need to perform these tasks, you must associate the results to a project.
Upgrade databases
The Upgrade utility can convert Touchstone databases to the latest version.
Downgrade exposure databases
Use the Data Source Manager Downgrade tool to downgrade Touchstone attached and registered exposure databases from the current version only to the previous version.
User model management
Use User Model Management to build custom non-Verisk models and seamlessly integrate them into Touchstone.
User administration
User administration involves the management of users, roles, groups, and business units in Touchstone Re.
Global defaults
Business unit and system administrators can set and modify viewing and analysis defaults.
Event set management
Your Touchstone Re installation includes event set files for each peril and region licensed by your company.
Loss defaults
This function provides tools for administrators to set defaults for use during detailed loss analyses.
License management
Tools to manage Touchstone and Touchstone Re licensing.
HPC resource management
HPC Resource Management provides tools in Touchstone and Touchstone Re to configure HPC (High Performance Computing) resources.
Server administration
Touchstone and Touchstone Re server administrators can perform a suite of tasks.
Object management
Object Management selections enable authorized users (system administrator or business unit Administrator) to manage a variety of items, such as users and templates.
Accessing analysis results
This topic describes ways to access analysis results.
Common buttons
Touchstone and Touchstone Re display many buttons (icons) that are common to many windows, panes, and dialog boxes.
Filters
Use filters to distill long lists into specific lists that meet your filter criteria.
Grids
Touchstone uses grids extensively to present information. In many cases you can change the grid presentation for a new perspective on the information.
Navigate the left pane
How to navigate the left pane of the main application window in Touchstone and Touchstone Re.
Selection controls
Use selection controls to quickly select or deselect items in a list.
Sidebar
The sidebar icons enable you to alter the content and format of a view and to view information about it.
Understanding tabs, panes, and docking
In Touchstone and Touchstone Re, the user interface allows you to open multiple components at one time.
Abbreviations
Some abbreviations used in Touchstone.
CAT XOL analysis
A catastrophe excess of loss reinsurance program (CAT XOL) indemnifies the ceding company for that portion of the loss that exceeds the limit of its own retention per event.
Currency rate settings
In the Administration Console, manage the currency defaults, exchange rates, and conversion table for generating exposure views, running analyses, and viewing results.
Customize demand surge
Steps to review and adjust demand surge for Touchstone/Touchstone Re.
Industry Exposure Database
Our Industry Exposure Database contains industry-wide data on aggregate exposures for sums insured, number of risks, building attributes, and insurance premium data by line of business and payroll.