5 Ways You Can Streamline Open Enrollment (With SMS)

Effective communication and the ability to reach your entire workforce within minutes will make it easier for your HR department to manage all aspects of open enrollment. Emails often get ignored but text messages are read within minutes, and can reach every employee that has a mobile device close by.

Here are 5 ways text messaging will streamline your open enrollment:

Save Money Using Keywords for Open Enrollment Awareness

Creating awareness that the open enrollment period is occurring is a big part of the entire process. Old methods, such as sending out postcards or creating large posters to hang around the office, gets expensive. While you might still use some traditional methods to create awareness, mass texting is a great way to optimize open enrollment. Text messaging is cost-effective, and will make it simple to reach your entire workforce.

Track Your Employees Easily With Keyword Use

When you create a keyword such as "HEALTHINSURANCE", it's easy to track your employees and know who has received the information. If you use more than one keyword, it becomes possible to sort your employees into groups and only send out specific information to those that need it.

Send Out Reminders That It's Time to Sign Up

Reminders are important when you are working with a large number of employees. You can send out a text prior to open enrollment that gets people thinking about the benefits and whether they want to participate. Once it's time to sign up, you can send out a text reminder for employees to contact HR. This two-way communication also allows for employees to ask questions beforehand and get all the information they need.

Make it Easy to Share Information

You don't have to print out large packets of information when you want your employees to know the details of each benefit plan. Instead, you can send out links to information on your website, giving your employees easy access to each type of plan they can choose from. Sending links instead of giving employees a pile of paperwork means it's easier for them to go through the information when they have time.

Send Out Specific Messages to Employees Who are Waiting to Enroll

If you have a few employees who need a nudge, it's quick and easy to send a text reminder. Using texts this way means your employee isn't put on the spot with a phone call or an in-person meeting. You can also send out a message directly to anyone who still hasn’t taken action and ask if they have any further questions before signing up.

SMS is the perfect communication tool to streamline your open enrollment period and opens up an easy two-way communication channel between the HR department and the employees they serve. Send out texts to remind employees to sign up, share information on benefit plans, and to encourage those who are waiting to make a decision.