CONNECTIVITY & INTEGRATION 
FOR CORPORATE BENEFITS DEPARTMENT

Author: Lynne Halverson
Contributed by RemoteNet Corporation

Case Study

1.       Executive Summary

1.1        Overview

The purpose of this case study is to provide a review of the solutions provided by RemoteNet Corporation to the client in support of the client’s stated vision and objectives in regards to the delivery and administration of employee benefits via a corporate benefits and administration services department.

1.2        Client Profile

The featured client in this study is the corporate benefits administration and services department for a $15 billion global aerospace and defense company that provides high technology and innovative products, services and solutions to U.S. and international military, government and commercial customers. The company has 80,000 employees and operations in 44 states and 25 countries.  

The client delivers benefits services to as many as 200,000 people, including active employees, retirees, deferred vested employees and dependents. Each year, the client pays claims and/or premiums and service fees approaching $500 million for the health plans it manages. The client currently maintains about $18 billion in trust assets, including employee pension and savings plans.  

The client maintains a staff of over 60 internal personnel. Outsourced supplier personnel bring the actual staff total to over 200 FTEs.  

Long a proponent of a strong IT infrastructure, the client maintains a computer network separate from the main company network. Currently, over 25 servers are in operation on the network, some of these in redundant roles.  

The client believes that in order to deliver the highest quality, lowest cost, integrated benefits services to its customers, it must implement self-service delivery systems using leading-edge information technologies.

2.       Problem Definition

The client faces a number of systems and integration issues, which are largely the result of a diverse operational environment, outsourcing of services to multiple suppliers, and ongoing mergers, acquisitions and growth initiatives in the industry.

2.1          Client Environment 

2.1.1.      Systems

The client maintains a computer network separate from the main company network. Currently, over 25 servers are in operation on the network, some of these in redundant roles.

The client’s internal applications and systems are also varied. Dissimilar systems include PeopleSoft, SAP and Lawson; homegrown host applications on mainframes; and Access databases and Excel spreadsheets. Platforms include Oracle databases, Lotus Notes systems and SQL 7 and SQL 2000 databases.

The client has variable controls over its own data; consequently, there are inherent issues in providing real access to that data. Relationships need to be cultivated with internal departments as well as suppliers to gain additional access. There are fiduciary concerns in regards to giving the client access to the data directly versus outsourcing management of the data within the environment and allowing the client to have read-only views.

The client currently leverages a Document Management System (DMS) to import all documents for archival purposes. Suppliers have recently begun replicating data to the DMS system on a regular basis.

The DMS will serve as an alternative source for all images. It is the client’s intention to have a redundant system, as opposed to relying on production data, in order to achieve a single repository for all information. This repository will also provide quick access and total reliability. The DMS will provide both historical database storage as well as a beneficiary database.

The client’s goal is to be able to allow a participant, employee or supplier the ability to perform a query on the data using minimum criteria over a large number of data warehouses.  A participant potentially would have the capability to enter a social security number into a web-based portal and then query all external and internal systems for relevant records.

Historically, data access between the client and its suppliers has taken place via frame relay connections.

2.1.2.      Suppliers

The administration of the client’s company benefits is outsourced to a number of suppliers. Benefits Administration Provider “A”, an industry leader in the benefit administration business, is the principal outsourcing partner. Benefits Administration Provider “A” provides the client with outsourcing services for all defined benefit and health and welfare benefit plans. In addition, they provide both human resources and organizational consulting services.

There are a variety of best-in-class systems that Benefits Administration Provider “A” uses to administer the benefit plans. Benefits Administration Provider “A” uses an NT Server-based system application to produce pension statements, calculations and estimates.

Through an additional module, Benefits Administration Provider “A”  uses the latest available technology to ensure accurate record keeping of health plan benefit selections, plan updates and changes, life events and enrollments. This application is Unix-based and runs on a Sun platform.

The client works closely with Benefits Administration Provider “A” and the selected health plan insurance providers to see that all problems are resolved as quickly as possible. In regards to participant service issues, Benefits Administration Provider “A” uses a Lotus Notes-based system to track and resolve all outstanding benefit-related issues that arise. This interactive system acts as the focal point of the employee benefits issue resolution process.

It is the expectation that a large number of these systems will be web based in the future.

Currently when a participant calls the client for customer service, they are calling to Benefits Administration Provider “A”, which is transparent to the end user. Benefits Administration Provider “A” opens a call and administrates the overall resolution process, then replicates current information to the client on a regular basis. 

The client user community accesses a large majority of the Benefits Administration Provider “A” programs via Citrix for viewing of participant information. This type of access prevents manipulation of the data to the back end systems by allowing view-only access. 

The client user community also leverages Lotus Notes for communication with the Benefits Administration Provider “A” case management module. This allows access of up-to-date information by the client and also acts as a middleware between the client’s accounts payable system and the general ledger system at the Bank Trustee.  

2.1.3.      Industry

The defense and aerospace industry has undergone significant numbers of mergers, acquisitions, and consolidations in recent years. The benefits departments within this industry are significantly impacted by these corporate initiatives, in that they must absorb and integrate new systems and databases and administer additional benefits plans for the affected employees.

The client has participated in a series of acquisitions over the past four years. It is likely to see additional acquisitions in future as part of corporate growth initiatives.

3.      Client Objectives

The client’s stated vision is to “provide integrated, top quality, cost effective, client-focused benefits delivery to all company elements and to employees, retirees, and terminated vested program participants using appropriate leading edge information technologies.”  

To assist the client in making this vision a reality, RemoteNet worked with the client to identify the following objectives:

• Improve client - supplier data communications  
  
  

• Track client and supplier projects and costs
  
  

• Provide management reporting  
  
  

• Provide integrated, client-focused benefits delivery system
  
  

• Ensure system and process availability
  
  

• Integrate benefits applications and data source
  

4.    Solutions

In November of 1998 the client contracted with RemoteNet to perform a study on the practicality, security and realized throughput of providing a virtual private network from the client’s network to suppliers. RemoteNet’s services to the client have since been extended to provide multiple solutions to meet the stated initiatives. The objective and goal of each solution, together with the actions taken to implement it, are described below.

4.1.   Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

4.1.1.      Objective

Improve functionality of and access to distributed supplier systems.

4.1.2.      Goal

Replace leased data lines.

4.1.3.      Action

RemoteNet proposed to engage two of the client’s major suppliers for the installation of a VPN between the client and the supplier. The project took a two-step approach: first, install a VPN from Benefits Administration Provider “B” to the client and, second, upon successful testing of functionality, repeat the process with Benefits Administration Provider “A”.

Figure 4.A: Client - Supplier VPN Configuration

The project plan was to install VPN technology that would allow leased lines through a public switched network to appear as a private WAN link between the client and suppliers’ offices.

RemoteNet’s recommendation of the installation of VPNs was due to research indicating that VPNs:

• Connect LANs in different sites without use of a PSTN or leased line
  

• Provide the ability to transfer secured data to suppliers as if they were part of the client’s LAN
  

• Provide secure access to corporate resources for customers, clients and consultants
  

• Replace traditional dialup connections for remote users and telecommuters
  

• Reduce telecom costs by using the Internet to carry traffic and reducing the number of access lines required
  

• Reduce operational costs by outsourcing remote access management to a service provider 
  

• Employ a standard communication protocol regardless of platform (Unix, Windows, Mac) enabling true distributed computing

The project began with a statement of work, which was delivered and discussed with the suppliers to coordinate and plan the upcoming steps. Initially, the supplier IT teams were not enthusiastic about the plan for a collaboration of services and data via a VPN.

Security concerns prompted the client and RemoteNet to form a task force with the suppliers in order to further examine and test the VPN concept. Tests were performed to gauge VPN integrity, security, stability, and bandwidth availability. The task force determined that the VPN solution appeared to be as secure, if not more so, than the configuration of the existing LAN with a frame relay to the Internet. Furthermore, the group discovered that by utilizing the public network, monthly connectivity costs would be reduced as much as 50%.

The VPNs were successfully installed in February 1999. The success of these initial installations has led to the client adopting VPNs as the preferred method of connectivity between internal operations and suppliers.

4.2        Executive Project Tracking

4.2.1.      Objective

Track client and supplier projects and costs.  

4.2.2.      Goal  

Develop, operate and maintain a project tracking and reporting system.  

4.2.3.      Action  

At the start of its engagement with the client, RemoteNet discovered that one of the client’s chief challenges lay in tracking the progress of and costs associated with supplier-managed projects. The client expressed a need for a high-level project review capability.  

RemoteNet responded in 1999 with the creation of the web-based Executive Project Tracking system. This custom application allows both the client and its suppliers to enter and track projects, associated costs, milestones and activities while also linking the project to the original contract and/or statement of work.  

The Executive Project Tracking System answered the client’s need for a method of monitoring the work of suppliers and adherence to their contractual agreements. Off-the-shelf applications, such as Microsoft Project, could not meet the client’s needs due to their project-centric nature. The Executive Project Tracking System is unique in that, while it provides project detail, it is not focused exclusively on the details and minutia of the project. It’s value-add lies in its high-level tracking and reporting capabilities.

Figure 4.B: Sample Executive Project Tracking Screen

The first version of the Executive Project Tracking System was based on a Microsoft Access database with a Visual Basic user interface. As the client requested increased functionality from the application, it was converted to an SQL/ASP based solution. Requirements for the application continue to expand, and RemoteNet anticipates adding invoice-tracking and other functionality in the near term.

4.3          Metrics

4.3.1.      Objective

Provide web-enabled management reporting.  

4.3.2.      Goal  

Assimilate content and data from suppliers, internal resources, and customer/supplier survey.  

4.3.3.      Action

The client receives a variety of weekly, monthly, and annual reports and data concerning benefits costs; benefits processing speed and accuracy; customer satisfaction; and supplier costs and action plans. These measurement reports have historically been paper-based and available only via traditional channels.

Figure 4.C: Benefits Metrics Site Opening Page

In September 1999, RemoteNet proposed to web-enable these reports in order to provide the client with easy, shareable access to the materials. A website for the client’s internal use, Benefits Metrics, was built to meet this need. Benefits Metrics provides the client with a single source for the metrics that measure the operations of the benefits efforts. The client can define who within the company has access to the site and to individual reports, thereby making reports available to users on an as-needed basis.

Since the successful launch of the Benefits Metrics site in 2000, RemoteNet has provided ongoing maintenance for the site and is currently researching the use of real-time streaming data to update reporting. RemoteNet proposes to put in place an XML solution that will (1) reduce the need for manual entry and manipulation of data; (2) provide a conduit for ease-of-sharing of client-supplier metrics data; (3) enhance and expand the site’s functionality for the client.

4.4        Benefits OnLine

4.4.1.      Objective

Provide integrated, client-focused benefits delivery system.  

4.4.2.      Goal