Open Enrollment (OE) season puts a lot of pressure on HR teams—but it puts even more pressure on your tech. When platforms, processes, or integrations don’t work the way they should, OE turns from strategic to chaotic in a matter of clicks. 

That’s why now—well before forms are flying and deadlines are looming—is the ideal time for a mid-year tech check. 

In this blog, we’ll explore how to audit your benefits technology before OE heats up, how to spot system gaps, and what to do now to reduce your risk later. 

The High Stakes of OE Technology 

The employee experience during Open Enrollment often comes down to how well your technology works. 

When your systems are running smoothly, employees breeze through selections, HR teams stay sane, and data flows where it should. But when platforms fail or workflows break down, you wind up fielding confused questions, chasing errors, and scrambling to fix things on the fly. 

And with so much tied to compliance, deadlines, and data accuracy, tech mistakes aren’t just annoying—they can be expensive. 

A mid-year audit helps you identify and fix cracks in your tech foundation before OE stress piles on. 

5 Common Tech Pitfalls That Derail OE 

1. Disconnected systems 
   If your HRIS, payroll, and BenAdmin platforms don’t talk to each other, you’re stuck manually updating records and reconciling data. 

2. Limited employee self-service 
   Outdated or clunky interfaces frustrate users, increase HR workload, and decrease enrollment accuracy. 

3. Inflexible workflows 
   If your system can’t accommodate complex eligibility rules, multiple EINs, or dependent verification, your OE process becomes a patchwork of workarounds. 

4. No communication tools 
   Can your system send reminders via email or SMS? Can it target messages by enrollment status or demographics? 

5. Lack of insight 
   If you can’t see who’s completed enrollment, where people are getting stuck, or what actions still need to happen, you’re flying blind. 

How to Run a Mid-Year Tech Audit 

You don’t need to be a tech expert to run a benefits system audit—just someone who knows where the stress points show up. 

Use this time to assess: 

• System Integration 
  Are your platforms connected and syncing properly? Are data handoffs automated? 

• User Experience 
  Can employees easily access and navigate the system? Is it mobile-friendly? 

• Reporting & Analytics 
  Do you have access to real-time dashboards and reporting tools? Can you track OE progress? 

• Compliance Support 
  Does your system support ACA tracking and 1095-C/1094-C generation? 

• Communication Capabilities 
  Can you automate enrollment reminders? Segment by employee groups? Track open rates? 

What to Do With What You Find 

Once you’ve completed your audit, prioritize what needs attention: 

• Quick Fixes: Tidy up workflows, update training materials, test file integrations 

• Bigger Issues: Contact your vendor or internal IT team to plan upgrades or customizations 

• Gaps in Support: Identify where your tech provider may need to step up—or where you may need a new partner 

Need a ready-to-use checklist to run your audit? Download our OE Tech Audit Checklist. 

Future-Proofing Your OE Process 

The earlier you audit, the more time you have to course-correct. You’ll also: 

• Spend less time troubleshooting during crunch time 

• Reduce confusion for employees 

• Lower risk of compliance errors 

• Build stronger cross-functional partnerships with IT, finance, and leadership 

It’s like a pre-season practice: you’re making sure your systems and tools are ready to perform when it counts. 

Take the Next Step 

Don’t wait until October to discover a system issue. 

Download the Tech Audit Checklist to walk through your systems and identify what’s working, what needs improvement, and where to get support. 

Or if you’re thinking bigger picture: 

Talk to a Selerix expert about how our integrated benefits and communication platform helps HR teams simplify enrollment, engage employees, and stay compliant—without the OE chaos. 

Because when your tech works, your team works better. Let’s get ahead of it—together.