Insights from early adopters of enterprise AI for HR

Artificial intelligence is already transforming HR and benefit operations, particularly in areas like recruiting. One-third of HR leaders use AI to prioritize job applications and coordinate interviews. 

Beyond these specific-use cases, AI solutions for HR that extend across the broader enterprise can make a significant difference for employee benefits, onboarding, training and other HR programs and resources, and as such should be top of mind in conversations that benefit brokers and advisers are having with employers. In fact, 76% of HR leaders agree they will be lagging in organizational success if they don't adopt and implement generative AI in the next 12 to 24 months, according to Gartner. 

By streamlining access to resources and more effectively responding to employee inquiries, AI gives HR the communications link that's been missing to better connect employees to all the programs available to them, while freeing up HR time to focus on strategic priorities and functional excellence.

Companies that have already implemented enterprise-level AI for HR have experienced meaningful and measurable impacts. Here are a few examples of how that's playing out. 

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Scaling HR's human touch
AI-powered support agents can now enable scalable, responsive self-service – crucial at a time when 51% of HR leaders say they're getting more support requests since the pandemic, and 45% say it's harder now to handle conflicting demands. Companies that have adopted AI solutions report tangible improvements in employee engagement while lightening the load for HR teams. Companies that have implemented Cascade AI's assistants have seen a 50% reduction in manual HR inquiries and expect up to an 85% reduction over time as user adoption increases. 

At the same time, they're seeing more employees asking questions to help them use resources better. During 2024 open enrollment, one large healthcare organization experienced a ninefold increase in HR-related questions. These questions surfaced as "teach me" inquiries like "what happens when I meet my deductible?," suggesting AI can help people understand and use their benefits better by removing the barrier of having to engage with someone from HR.For brokers and advisers, helping clients evaluate AI solutions means understanding how they can enhance HR support without sacrificing quality or accuracy.

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Controlled information sharing offers dual benefits
One of AI's strengths in HR is the organization's ability to tightly control the information the system shares. HR teams can ensure that AI assistants use only approved, accurate content. Additionally, AI tools can help uncover policy gaps or outdated information. For example, some organizations have discovered through AI testing that key policies hadn't been updated for years. Addressing these types of issues becomes a built-in benefit of the implementation process.

AI assistants are rapidly evolving to extract insights from diverse formats, including multimedia. This feature is particularly useful for addressing the varied preferences of multigenerational workforces, ensuring consistent and accessible communication.

Security and compliance cornerstones
Protecting employee data is critical when implementing AI in HR. Leading platforms incorporate enterprise-grade security features that comply with the Service Organization Control 2 Type 2, European Union's General Data Protection Regulation and California Consumer Privacy Act – just to name a few. Rigorous testing should be done to ensure these systems remain secure, reducing the risk of data breaches and protecting sensitive information. For brokers and advisers, highlighting these protections can reassure clients about the integrity of their chosen AI solution.

It's also important to reassure employees about their data security and privacy. Employees turn to confidential AI for sensitive questions about mental health, pregnancy, weight loss, family deaths and financial challenges – topics they might hesitate to discuss with HR or a manager. An AI assistant should protect employees' anonymity while still providing HR teams data to anticipate emerging needs and make strategic decisions about future company investments.  

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Fast implementation and iteration driving ROI
Cascade AI's implementation timeline is much faster than traditional HR technology rollouts, even for enterprise-wide initiatives like improving onboarding and offboarding or total rewards. Organizations with digital documents are already well-prepared to deploy an AI assistant; Cascade AI has seen teams complete document intake in hours and roll out new AI assistants just days later. The system quickly adapts to company-specific language and processes, allowing teams to refine its performance in real time.

Cascade AI's integration capabilities also enhance its value. By connecting to payroll, benefits administration and HR systems, evolving "agentic AI" can not only provide personalized responses but also take actions, such as updating employee records. This action-oriented functionality elevates AI from a passive resource to an active HR partner.

Making adoption accessible
AI tools designed for HR don't require specialized training or IT expertise to manage, making them accessible for teams across the HR spectrum. They also let employees ask HR questions like they would pose to a search engine or smartphone's virtual assistant – even in multiple languages. Because AI assistants are so accessible to multiple generations and geographies, they can help drive employee productivity and reinforce a company's identity across the entire enterprise. This simplicity and consistency in tone is critical for large, global organizations that need scalable and equitable solutions.

For benefit brokers and advisers, the message to clients is clear: AI in HR is no longer a question of "if" but "when." By adopting AI, companies can address pressing HR challenges, improve employee engagement and free HR professionals to focus on strategic priorities. The time to start is now, and the clearly tangible value is within reach.