5 Attributes of Effective Employee Benefits Technology in a Mobile App

In 2021, individuals downloaded apps 230 billion times.¹ In the same year, Canadians spent about 4.5 hours a day on mobile apps,² using their phones to order lunch, bank, message their friends, watch cat videos — and access their employee benefits.

The trend matters to employers: More than 40% of workers plan to leave their jobs in the next 12 months,³ and more than one-third say benefits is the top reason they stay or leave a job.⁴ That gives benefits technology and mobile apps a large role in recruiting and retention.

The reason is straightforward: Mobile apps have become a primary channel for organizational and employee interactions. Employee benefits technology allows companies to improve employee awareness and engagement in programs and spotlight lesser-known perks. That engagement and awareness are key to keeping workers satisfied with their benefits experience.

Improving via employee benefits technology

Perhaps the main advantage to mobile benefit apps is that they provide all benefit information in a single location on employees’ mobile devices. This saves them time and effort to simply find the benefits they need.

However, it’s not as simple as building a mobile app and making it available: With hundreds of details, coverage limits and categories of benefits, an effective app needs to display information employees need about their benefits clearly and effectively.

Here are five things that effective employee benefits mobile apps have in common:

1. In-depth access to benefits information. Employees should be able quickly access information, such as co-pay requirements for dental procedures. A benefit app should provide access to reference documents and videos and webinars that offer in-depth details on specific benefits programs.

2. Information on and promotion of differentiating benefits. A mobile app needs to highlight benefits that differentiate an organization — extensive wellness programs or assistance in managing debt, for example — and show employees how to access them.

3. Simplify enrollment. Instructions on a benefits app will increase engagement and a link to enrollment will increase engagement even more as digital enrollment limits paperwork and makes the process easier and faster. Documentation is important in making digital enrollment work: The app should include definitions for common benefits terminology, such as “eligibility,” “ancillary benefits,” and “pre-tax deductions.”

4. Easy access to contacts. A good benefits app has easily accessible contact information for insurance carriers, vendor partners, care providers and others. The information should include phone numbers, websites, email addresses and links to portals where employees can obtain specific information or get help. Also, the app should have lists of telehealth providers and links to appointment portals.

5. Regular communications with workers. Benefits apps should provide employees with information about upcoming benefits enrollment and share information about employee benefits at regular intervals. Apps can also be leveraged for employee communications on COVID-19 protocols and resources.

Contact HUB International’s employee benefit specialists to learn more about mobile benefits apps or any other aspect of employee benefits program planning and management.

¹ Statistica, “Number of mobile app downloads worldwide from 2016 to 2021,” accessed May 10 2022.
² CTV News, “Canadians spent 4.4 hours on mobile apps a day in 2021: report,” January 12, 2022.
³ Bank of Canada, “Canadian Survey of Consumer Expectations—Fourth Quarter of 2021,” January 17, 2022.
⁴ Benefits Canada, “Benefits tops list of retention tools for employers: survey,” February 2, 2022.