Human resources (HR) professionals around the nation are gearing up for open enrollment. This is when the true nature of their profession is expressed. HR is responsible for consulting with benefits advisors, partnering with carriers to obtain insurance products, solidifying employee benefit offerings and eligibility, distributing employee communications — the list of tasks and duties is exhaustive. Furthermore, during and following open enrollment, HR must manage and verify employees’ EOI documentation, dependents and beneficiaries, as well as handle the billing and reporting to carriers, payroll, and third party vendors.

To combat the extensive HR duties associated with employee benefits administration, employers are implementing enrollment and administration applications that automate many HR tasks, but also offer employees an easy benefits enrollment process. In fact, many employers rely on online enrollment interfaces to deliver employee communications and benefits information to employees in an effort to increase employee benefits education and participation.

Because we live in a digital age, the concern for an enhanced user experience is at the top of mind of employers who are in the market for a benefits administration system. What does the employee interface look like? Are there interactive elements? How is information presented to employees? These are common questions employers ask benefits administration vendors.