4 Things to Look for in an Efficient HR Technology Platform
HR technology has become a commodity in recent years. Even before the pandemic completely shifted the way people work, HR technology adoption has been steadily rising, with over 98% of employers reporting that they use technology for at least one HR function in 2023 – and increase of 38% from 2017.
There are tons of platforms out there to choose from. If you are new to HR technology or are looking for a change, it’s hard to know where to start. To help get you started, we listed out the four things to look for when evaluating any HR technology.
A Simple Interface
Full Scope Integration
Compliance Capabilities
An in-house team of people
Important HR Technology Features
A Simple Interface
This is important for both benefits administrators and employees. No one likes a complex app or website, so the HR technology you choose should follow suit. With 85% of employees reporting that they are confused about their benefits, confusing them with an interface that is hard to navigate will only increase that number, and potentially lower participation in enrollment.
For employers, moving from paper to a complex technology platform is arguably worse than continuing benefits administration the old-fashioned way.
A simple, clean, and user-friendly interface is crucial for both benefit administrators and employees.
Full Scope Integration
Integrations make everything run smoother. When an employee makes their elections, integrations allow that information to transfer directly to the vendors and organizations they need to go automatically.
Most HR technologies have some level of integration capabilities – but what sets the best apart from the “just ok” is full-scope integration with all HR vendors. Payroll, Benefits Carriers, and TPAs that have integration capability should be able to integrate into the HR technology platform you choose.
We’re well aware that some carriers refuse to integrate with HR technologies – while this is frustrating for many, ask your potential technology partner if they can create a custom integration with those stubborn carriers for you. Not all providers do this, but there are some that can. (Caravus being one of them).
Compliance Capabilities
COBRA model notice, ACA reporting, W2 filing… all things related to compliance that often still requires manual paperwork entry or a partnership with a Third-Party Administrator. Great HR technology platforms take this manual work off your plate. If the platform also has a simple interface and full scope integrations, this will save you and your team hours, even weeks, of manual work.
An In-House Team of People
There is a difference between working with a vendor or consultant that is a SAAS partner and not just a SAAS provider. HR SAAS providers will get you all set up and send you on your way, providing limited resources if issues arise. Usually, you’ll be sent to a call center where you will be required to enter a ticket and wait for a response, which is tough especially during busy times like open enrollment or ACA reporting season.
Partnering with broker or consultant that is also a SAAS partner gives you much more access to an expert team that understands the technology like the back of their hands. They will not only build and deploy your system, but function as your client success managers for as long as you are on the platform.
We’re proud of our local, in-house team of HR technology and eligibility experts. In the early stages of developing our HR technology, Caravus Connect, we knew that outsourcing the expertise of a platform with our name on it was not an option. This team is dedicated to our clients from the day their Connect build begins, and continues as long as they’re a Caravus client.
Deciding Which HR Technology to Choose
As we mentioned before, there are tons of HR technology platforms to choose from. When looking for the right technology for your organization, keeping these four important facets in mind will ensure the ones that end up in your top picks will provide a return on your investment, whether that be in time or money saved.
When building Caravus Connect, we made sure to make these four features the forefront of our technology. If you like to learn more about how these features drive our HRIS system, check out our webinar on the topic – where our Director of Technology covers everything from the reasons behind the uptick in HR technology adoption to how these four features are the foundation of the Caravus Connect platform.
Ready to see the full platform for yourself? Visit www.caravus.com/caravus-connect to schedule a personalized demo with our team today!