Ultimate Software unveiled a new UltiPro benefits module and announced the addition of workforce benchmarking data to its Perception feature at the company’s Connections 2018 conference in Las Vegas.
The benefits product, called Benefits Prime, is designed to simplify the process of selecting and managing health benefits. The module makes it easier for employees to view their options, compare plans and “have a better understanding” of their choices, Ultimate CTO Adam Rogers told the conference’s attendees.
Ultimate thinks that’s important because its research shows that 95 percent of employees closely link benefits to retention, Rogers said, and two out of three said organizations best expressed their “empathy” toward employees through their benefits package. Despite that, only 19 percent understood their benefits and 90 percent simply stick with the same health plan from year to year.
Behind the scenes, the service provides administrators with a customizable dashboard to manage workflow, communications and compliance, and also provides reporting capabilities to help HR manage adoption, Rogers said.
Benefits Prime is currently available to all U.S. prospects and will be available to current customers this summer, the company said. Since it’s not part of UltiPro’s Core HR product, it carries an additional monthly fee per employee. Previous to the announcements, Benefits Prime had been live with 10 beta customers.
UltiPro Ties In Mercer | Sirota
Separately, Ultimate’s customers will soon be able to meld benchmarking data from Mercer | Sirota with their own when using UltiPro Perception. As a result, the companies said, employers will be able better interpret how their key workforce metrics stack up against similar businesses.
Perception will offer more than 130 questions to capture the customer’s own ratings, then view them alongside Sirota’s information to compare overall averages for questions asked or drill down to measure against companies in their own country or vertical. Sirota will also offer consulting services for strategic guidance on survey design, execution and follow up.
Rogers said Sirota’s tools and service will be available through Perception during this year’s third quarter, at no additional cost. In a press release, he said the integration builds on Ultimate’s “decade-long investment in artificial intelligence specifically focused on understanding people.”
Finally, Ultimate introduced a new Workforce Management feature that will allow for easier time tracking and management. Currently in beta with 25 customers, the module will replace UltiPro’s current time and attendance tool beginning next year, said Martin Hartshorne, senior vice president of product.
