How to Prove ROI Moments with Benefits Data and AI:  Insights for HR Leaders 

Your benefits program isn’t just a cost, it’s an investment. The challenge? Proving it.  

With the right Benefits Administration strategy, your data can tell a compelling ROI story—one that resonates with your CFO and CEO. And that matters now more than ever. Rising healthcare costs and increased financial scrutiny have made proving ROI a top priority for HR leaders.  

Our 2025 Benefits Insights Report highlights the challenge: while leaderships demands cost control, employees expect personalized, accessible experiences. For HR, that means balancing competing goals: 

• 45% of leaders are focused on cutting costs 
• 45% on engaging their workforce 
• 39% on creating a holistic benefits experience 

The opportunity is clear: deliver personalization and prove ROI—without breaking the bank. 

What Is an ROI Moment & Why It Matters 

An ROI moment is a data point that links a benefit initiative to a financial outcome. 

Our analysis of 740,000 employees uncovered a surprising disconnect:  

• 86% of employees feel confused about their benefits 
• Yet 84% rated their enrollment experience as excellent when supported by personalized tools and AI guidance 

That’s your ROI moment in action: personalization drives engagement, and engagement drives ROI. 

Examples include: 

• Lower turnover after adding mental health support 
• Reduced ER claims through telemedicine adoption 
• Fewer surgeries after launching a musculoskeletal benefit offering 

Why Benefits Technology Is the Key to Unlocking ROI 

42% of benefits leaders are rethinking their benefits technology solution and vendor. Why? Because in today’s world, the right platform—especially one powered by purpose-built AI—isn’t just nice to have; it’s the key to proving ROI. 

Advanced benefits technology solution enables: 

• Cost control through automation and error reduction 
• Employee engagement via personalized, empathetic guidance
• Better health and cost outcomes through smarter decision support 

Trending Insight: 

AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s becoming the backbone of benefits strategy. Employers leveraging AI-driven platforms are seeing measurable gains in engagement and cost control. If you’re not exploring AI now, you risk falling behind. 

Questions to Ask Before Switching Benefits Technology Vendors 

Not all benefits technology solutions—or their AI— is created equal. Before you switch vendors, ask these questions to ensure your next platform delivers measurable ROI:  

• Who owns your AI technology—third-party or proprietary? 
• What security and compliance measures are in place? 
• How does it interpret and respond to employee sentiment and emotion?
• Can it support employees across the entire journey—from enrollment to claims and total rewards?  
• How does it drive long-term engagement and better health and cost outcomes? 

Pro Tip: 
When evaluating benefits technology, don’t stop at efficiency metrics. Ask about AI resolution rates, sentiment analysis, and real-time engagement data. These KPIs predict retention and cost savings, making them your secret weapon for proving ROI. 

Learn more about Businessolver’s AI 

The New ROI Metrics That Matter 

Today’s ROI isn’t just about efficiency— it’s about experience metrics that predict retention and cost outcomes. One of the most powerful levers? Empathy.  

In our 2025 State of the Workplace Empathy Report, we discovered that undervaluing empathy costs employers billions: 

• 27% of employees view their organization as unempathetic. 
• These employees are 1.5X more likely to change jobs in the next 6 months.
• With attrition costing 33% or more than an employee’s salary (Work Institute), an “unempathetic” company with 2,000 employees risks $7.3 million in additional turnover costs.  

This is why leading employers are moving beyond traditional metrics to dynamic KPIs like: 

• Sentiment and kindness scores 
• Real-time resolution rates 
• In-platform survey data 

These indicators don’t just measure service; they predict retention, engagement, and cost savings. In short, empathy is a high-ROI metric 

ROI Moments Are Bigger Than Budgets 

ROI moments aren’t just about trimming budgets. They’re about building a benefits experience that drives retention, engagement, and growth.  

With healthcare costs rising and employee expectations evolving, AI-powered benefits technology is no longer optional. It’s the foundation of a cost-effective, competitive strategy.