Gallagher Launches AI Benefits Tools to Cut Through Enrollment Confusion
Gallagher has rolled out AI-enabled benefits capabilities designed to give employees personalized guidance during open enrollment and life events, while providing employers with data on utilization patterns and plan performance. The offering, built on Avante's AI platform and connected to Gallagher's analytics system, addresses a persistent problem: employees struggle to understand their benefits and often make the same choices year after year without reassessing their needs.
The Problem Gallagher Is Solving
Medical inflation continues to pressure benefits budgets. Large employers across North America and Europe report steady year-over-year cost increases driven by specialty drugs, delayed care from the pandemic, and higher mental health service demand. For many organizations, benefits rank among the largest people-related expenses after base pay.
Yet employees frequently report confusion about their options. Surveys from major consultancies show a significant share find benefits difficult to navigate. That gap between what employers spend and what employees perceive as value is pushing organizations toward decision-support tools.
How the New Tools Work
Avante's platform aggregates plan and usage data, then uses AI analytics and virtual agents to provide employees 24/7 guidance. The system feeds decision data into Gallagher Drive, the broker's proprietary people analytics platform, giving benefits and finance leaders visibility into utilization trends, high-cost groups, and opportunities to refine plan design.
The goal is to shift benefits management from reactive, once-a-year campaigns to proactive, data-driven decisions without adding HR headcount.
Why This Matters for Insurance Professionals
Gallagher's move reflects a broader trend: large brokers are using AI as a competitive differentiator by layering digital services and analytics on top of traditional broking. Mid-sized intermediaries may face pressure to partner with similar vendors or align with larger networks.
For risk and compliance teams, these tools raise governance questions. Benefits decision platforms handle sensitive health and employment data, creating obligations around privacy, security, bias, and transparency that require careful oversight.
Learn more about AI for Insurance and AI for Human Resources to understand how these tools fit into broader workforce technology strategies.
Your membership also unlocks:
