A benefits administration company believes it has found a simple solution to deliver better service to its clients.

Barbara Reimer, managing director of Minneapolis-headquartered Apprize Technology, described her company as unique. Because it does not build its own benefit administration technology, Apprize can focus on the service side, on implementation, support and electronic data interchange.

"We have partnered with three different benefit administration software platforms," Reimer said in an email interview with HR Daily Wire. "This approach allows us to fit a client with the system that will work best based on their needs."

She said the primary factors that determine which system to use are client needs, budget and size.

"A company with 1,000 employees that has multiple eligibility groups, three consumer-driven health plans, and tech-savvy employees will have much different needs than a company with 200 employees and simple benefit offerings," Reimer said.

Reimer uses a car analogy to explain the type of systems the company offers, from something basic that is functional, but at a more affordable cost.

"Think Toyota Camry," she said. "This system works well for clients transitioning from paper, that are looking to automate benefit administration but don’t need all the bells and whistles."

The company also offers a more robust, best-in-breed system that Reimer likens to a BMW.

"This system is very functional, but also more customizable, a nicer user interface, decision support tools to help employees make benefit decisions, mobile capabilities, etc." she said.

It also has a "utility" system that offers both benefit administration and HRIS features for clients looking for an integrated system.

With clients, Apprize starts with what Reimer calls a discovery process. This is to better understand a client's needs and structure.

"In the process, we ask them to rate what is most important – budget, administrative ease, employee enrollment experience, flexibility and ability to customize. With all three systems, we offer optional services, such as ACA compliance & reporting tools, and payroll interface services."

Reimer also believes that regardless of the software chosen, the key to any company's success with a benefit administration system comes down to the service and support.

"Since our company does not develop software, we have been able to focus our business around the service side – implementation, ongoing support and electronic data interchange," she said.