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Cooch County approves electronic benefits interface (Benefits Connect) to cut manual enrollment work
Summary
The board approved implementing an EDI interface (Benefits Connect) for open enrollment to reduce manual payroll and benefits work; staff estimated the cost at $3.50 per employee and an annual total of about $7,000, with initial months billed into next year. Commissioners supported the change and the motion passed 3–0.
County staff recommended adopting an electronic data interchange (EDI) interface — Benefits Connect — to replace manual benefit‑election entry during hiring and open enrollment. Staff told the board the current process requires manual extraction and reentry of elections, increasing workload and error risk; an EDI interface would automate uploads and reduce those manual steps.
Costs presented in the record: the county currently pays $1.75 per employee for the existing service; Benefits Connect would cost $3.50 per employee. Staff estimated the total annual cost for both systems at roughly $7,000 and said the vendor will not bill for the final months of the current year until 2027, allowing the county to absorb start‑up months into next year’s budget.
Commissioners expressed support, citing heavy manual workarounds in payroll and benefits and the risk of errors as rules have changed. The board approved moving forward by unanimous voice vote and asked staff to return with any necessary contract details.
