Over the years, government regulations, managed care and skyrocketing costs have made employee benefits more complicated than ever. Today, with the advent of consumerism, employers are contracting with external vendors to manage many services connected with this trend—i.e., self-serve websites and other resources where employees can compare healthcare costs, access nurse help lines, appraise health risks and glean important health information.

Measuring the effectiveness of these plans and services is key. But it's a tall order for a company to stay abreast of the trends, negotiate with providers and communicate effectively with employees—all while monitoring plan usage and effectiveness and keeping track of impending rate increases.