What your employee benefits need: More technology

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It's impossible to deny the role technology plays in how we work today. The sooner employers and employees learn to embrace these tools, the more benefits they'll see. 

This week, EBN took a close look at how employers are implementing tech like artificial intelligence into their processes for recruiting, open enrollment and more, for our special digital magazine, Tech Revolution 2024

At Businessolver, AI has helped them make open enrollment more engaging for their employees, and they're seeing the results: AI-driven guidance doubles employee benefits engagement, while personalized support during enrollment led to 80% of employees feeling like they picked the right health plan — a notoriously difficult choice to get right.  

"There's a notion within this space that everyone has to be a benefits expert, even employees, and that just isn't reasonable," says Kimberly Dunwoody, vice president of member experience at Businessolver. "Benefits is a very complicated space, and what AI allows us to do is help employees cut through that noise."

Read more about how the company incorporated AI into the benefits enrollment process: For an easier open enrollment, introduce AI and ChatGPT

One fear around technology is that it could lessen communication and connection between humans, yet when it comes to recruiting, it's had the opposite effect. As the hiring process has evolved, recruiters and hiring managers are handing off routine tasks to technology in order to spend more time connecting with applicants one-on-one. Exclusive research from EBN found that 12% of employers have plans to implement generative AI tools to support their hiring strategies within the next 12-18 months.

"The biggest part of the recruiting process is the time you have with a candidate," says Alex Salas, associate vice president of HR at Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding Corporation. "AI has made screening resumes a lot easier and is capable of candidate matching and skills identification." 

Read more about the ways recruiters can make more time in their day with the right  tech tools: How AI frees up recruiters to focus on people first

For working parents, human connection is key, and one that the Cooper Parenting platform is creating in the workplace with their parenting groups and coaching programs. Expecting parents to those with children up to age 14 can join groups based on their child's age or their family dynamics, and can find guidance on specific topics like sleep advice for babies or managing a child's ADHD. Members are also matched with an expert parent coach based on their family's particular needs.. 

"How do we create community, and on the other side, expertise?" says co-founder Gabby Slome. "When you're trying to find your village, we help quiet the noise."

Read more about the benefits of an online community for working parents: Finding your village': This coaching platform helps working parents connect

When employees feel better and more connected to themselves and their peers, their work improves, too. As employers look for ways to support well-being, technology should be added to their arsenal. At mental health app Most Days, employees gamify the mental health experience by establishing and then practicing healthy habits. It can fill in the gaps between therapy appointments, or simply serve as a tool to support better lifestyle choices. 

"Therapy is an important tool, but it's one of many," says Brent Franson, CEO and founder of Most Days. "We've got to be really actively engaged in doing the right things most days so you can successfully achieve that change."

Read more about the role tech can play in improving mental health: Can AI solve the mental health crisis?

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