Creator Q&A: Turning Insights into Impact

Behind the Engage Dashboard

At Selerix, many of our best ideas come straight from the people who use our products every day.  That’s especially true with Selerix Engage, which helps organizations strengthen employee benefits communication, improve understanding, and drive participation across the workforce.  

From text messages to email campaigns, Engage helps organizations build a benefits communication strategy that reaches employees where they are — improving both the employee experience and business outcomes.   

We recently sat down with Steve Olivas, AVP of Product Marketing, and Edward Sanchez, Director of Customer Adoption & Engagement, to talk about how client insights inspired the creation of the Engage Dashboard. In this interview, they reflect on the challenges, ‘lightbulb moments’, and how this launch signals what’s next for Engage — and for better employee benefits communication, overall.

Q: What led you to realize Engage needed a dashboard, and why now? 

Steve: For a long time, Engage has been known for its depth and flexibility. However, through client feedback, it became clear that while the platform was powerful, users were spending too much time navigating between screens and piecing together basic engagement information. The functionality was there, but it was missing  the level of efficiency and accessibility we wanted. We also recognized that as client needs evolved, so did expectations for speed and simplicity—this was the right time to deliver. 

Edward: That’s exactly right. We weren’t hearing “give us more”—we were hearing “help us do what we already do, faster.” That’s a different kind of product insight. We saw a clear opportunity to reduce friction and improve confidence in day-to-day tasks. The Dashboard is the first step in responding to the feedback, and helping HR teams streamline their benefits communication plans so they can connect with employees more effectively. 

Q: How did client input shape the structure and features of the Dashboard? 

Edward:  HR teams today are under intense time pressure — a 2024 SHRM study found that 57% of HR professionals are working beyond their normal capacity, with competing demands and limited resources. The clients we spoke with were clear: “It takes too long to send a basic message.” So, we designed Quick Compose, which allows users to skip unnecessary steps and shorten their build time, making it easier to send targeted benefits communication campaigns. 

Steve: We also leaned heavily into what users told us they were checking daily. Engagement stats, message scheduling, basic delivery visibility—those were the high-frequency tasks. These stats help teams understand what’s resonating with employees, adjust their benefits communication strategy in real time, and better target messages to improve participation and outcomes. That informed what we prioritized for visibility and access. 

Q: What was your biggest mindset shift during development? 

Steve: Honestly, it was learning to say no to features that didn’t solve a very clearly defined user problem. We had to keep asking: does this simplify or clutter things up? That clarity helped keep the experience focused. 

Edward: And I’d add, we learned the value of exposing the  information our users needed to make educated decisions on their communications. The dashboard is designed to give users just enough context to act, while not overwhelming them with unnecessary information. But the rollout overall was also much broader—it included improvements across workflows, audience targeting, and reporting. The goal was to deliver a more intuitive and streamlined experience across the platform, not just within a single feature. 

Q: Where does this fit in the broader Engage roadmap? 

Edward: This is the foundation. The Dashboard isn’t a standalone add-on—it’s the new starting point. From here, we’re expanding audience capabilities, enhancing reporting and simplifying overall workflows. We are even embedding real-time guidance as users move through the platform. 

Steve: It’s also a signal to the market. Every enhancement we deliver, whether it’s a new feature, a redesign, or an integration—is guided by real-world user input. The feature rollout sets the tone for how we plan to continue that collaboration. And it wouldn’t have happened without the creativity and partnership of our UX, Product, and Dev teams—who truly brought this experience to life.  

Q: What would you want an existing or future client to take away from this release? 

Edward: That we’re always listening. This feature rollout represents a meaningful step toward simplifying the Engage experience and delivering a platform experience where users feel empowered — where the right information and tools show up when and where they’re needed. 

Steve: I’d say it’s also an invitation. If you have ideas, friction points, or wish lists, we want to hear them. We’re evolving together, and I love that it’s part of our DNA at Selerix. That spirit of collaboration was evident in the tight coordination between our UX, Product, and Development teams who made this rollout as thoughtful and user-centered as it needed to be. This was truly a shared win.  

This is just the beginning. If you’re interested in learning more about Selerix Engage, tips for better employee benefits communication, or creative ways to connect with your teams, we’d love to connect!