Last week, we took a look at three online benefits applications: Life Map Communications, Enwisen, and Simpata.The article highlighted many of the applications´ features and value propositions.Click here to view article.
This week, the following article provides a thorough listing of other online benefits providers.There is no order to the listing as they are randomly displayed.In addition, the length of their description is no indication of their level of offerings. The intent of this article is to assist employers with their research to show the various options, choices, and competitors they have if they do decide to go with an online benefits provider.
Online Benefits is targeting small to mid-market companies through their own benefit service providers.They currently have about 2000 clients.
There are a couple neat things that stand out with Online Benefits:
1) Check out Benergy their new application that is specifically available through their insurance broker partners.The application allows for companies to customize their own application templates.A wizard-like tool provides the options available for companies to choose to "create" their own benefits application.This is a great improvement that will create a standard for other vendors to follow.Give companies the tools to customize and develop their own applications!
a. Takes about 30 minutes to set up if all information is readily available
b. Official launch of new version of the product is April 1st
2) One of their modules uniquely targets new hire employees, i.e. New Hire Orientation Module.This module is similar to an introductory instyle=''mso-bidi-font-family:Arial''>There is a resource center and FAQ´s to help educate employees regarding their benefits plans and choosing appropriate plans.However, no interactive tool or wizard is provided to assist employees in tailoring their plans to themselves and their families.
Interface is sterile, basic, yet functional.
5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 900
ENGLEWOOD, CO, 80111
303.268.5500
888.700.7030
Based in South Carolina, their interface is being sold as extremely user-friendly, easy to use and "unique".The company has implemented touch screen kiosk technology to their application.With over 275 employees, Benefit Focus has lofty goals to obtain over 1 million users on the system within 60 months.
No online demo is available.However, there is an online non-interactive tour.
Instead of having the menu located to the typical left-hand side of the screen, the interface has selectable buttons located across the entire screen such as Medical Benefits, Dental Benefits, Disability, Flexible Spending, etc. that users can select to change their options in each category.As users drill down into the application, more detailed information is provided on whom to contact regarding that specific benefit plan and specifics about the plan itself.
One excellent feature about Benefit Focus´s interface is that a listing of employee information is provided that includes a checklist alongside.When information has not been completed, a notification is displayed to the employee to inform them which fields still require completion and which have been completed.
Benefit Focus is adding new services and functionality to their application.New services include Wellness and Counseling services, Travel Services, Background verifications services, Health Club memberships, and Financial and Banking services.This shift and expansion out from benefits appears to be to increase the integration and functionality of the application into the HR processes of Benefit Focus´s clients.The company has a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC and is further developing other relationships.
Value proposition: Kiosk technology with "one thought per screen" interface for organizations with low IT infrastructure and "non-computer savvy" employees.Due to the method of deployment, the application is flexible within a variety of industries and geared towards a variety of users´ interaction levels.
Benefitfocus.com, Inc.
627 Johnnie Dodds Blvd
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 849-7476
Fax: (843) 849-9485
This company emphasizes its ability to connect with your existing ERP and HRIS systems and the ability to add various modules such as HR, Benefits, Payroll, Management and Life Events Wizards to your system as needed.They provide both a web-based ASP application or if companies want, an installable version on your IT infrastructure.
Their application has broader HR process provisions than simply online benefits.They don´t provide a full HRIS application, i.e. with career succession, training and development modules, etc. but additional modules include the ability to integrate org charts, time sheets and expense approval, posting of individual payroll and direct deposit information.
Similar to Enwisen and LifeMap, there is a Life Events Wizard module that can be purchased as a standalone product or incorporated with the other modules.However, the product does not have to be Life Events driven.HR-ease´s Life Events Wizards assists with notification and the updating of employee information when Life Events occur.Additional wizards include an Open enrollment and First day wizard to encourage employees to manage and understand their own HR information.
Corporate Headquarters
302 Knights Run Ave.
Suite 1250
Tampa, Florida 33602
(813) 221-9089
1 (866) 473-2731 (toll free)
This company brought a strong presence to the small to mid-sized online benefits market.Originally, its main selling point was its free web-based benefits application.Since then, it has eliminated its free application but beefed up its overall look and feel as well as redesigned its product offerings.The interface is more visually oriented and they have expanded their features and functionality to include more general HR-related tools and an HR Center.A free 30-day trial is still available online for those interested to check out.
Companies will be most impressed with their candid and cost-effective pricing model.Their application, VirtualHR is available for $3 per employee per month as well as a minimum monthly fee of $30.The application is geared towards small companies with 2-500 employees and potentially scalable up to 1,000. Employee Matters would probably be one of their direct competitors.
Main modules include 1) Forms and documents, 2) Time-off Tracking, 3) Online Recruiting, 4) Compliance Info, 5) Computerized Record Keeping, 6) Reporting, 7) Benefits Management.
This company was one of the first that I checked out when I started writing for HR.com.I´ve seen a bit of their evolution and am impressed with their direction, expansion and longevity.Their modules have a more general HRIS-spin as opposed to solely benefits provision.They´ve done a great job with improving the overall look and feel of their site and interface.
e-Benefits
135 Stillman Street,
San Francisco, CA, 94107
1800.859.5038
info[at]ebenefits.com
I don´t know much about the back-end relationships of service providers, and vendors, but I´m interested in learning more and sharing with our site visitors.From what I gather, the benefit of a health insurance broker, such as HealthInsurance.com is that they can provide employers with numerous options through their various partner carriers.Different from a provider with their own insurance plans, a broker can help employees make unbiased decisions about which carriers are best for them.
In the next few weeks, I´m hoping to set up a discussion between HealthInsurance.com and another online web-based HR/benefits application to talk about how the industry is evolving, and how the back-end relationships are developing between vendors, providers, clients, and employees.Keep your eyes open for this upcoming article.
3030 South Bundy Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 737-9300 Phone
(310) 737-9304 Fax
(800) 476-5900 Toll-Free
HR.COMmentary
Next week´s article will be the final of the series.I intend to provide a summary and commentary on what clients should be wary of, as well as typical problems associated with web-based implementations.
Keep checking out this section in the near future.I hope to bring some new ideas to this category to talk about how industry leaders, partners, and users are finding the new world of web-based HR.
See you next week!!