Driving Innovation in Employee Benefits: How OneDigital’s Partnership with Avante AI Transformed HR Support

At OneDigital, we believe better benefits start from within.

Our culture of caring drives us to continually seek out innovative solutions that make work-life better for our people and our clients. In early 2025, we took a bold step forward—partnering with Seattle-based startup Avante to integrate their AI-powered benefits concierge, Carly, into our daily workflows across the East and West Region.

The Situation

Employee benefits are a cornerstone of the modern workplace, yet navigating them can be complex and time-consuming. HR leaders often find themselves fielding repetitive questions—everything from “What’s my deductible?” to “Am I eligible for this plan?”—pulling focus away from strategic priorities. We saw an opportunity to model excellence for our clients by streamlining this process internally, freeing our HR teams to focus on high-value work while enhancing the employee experience.

The Challenge

Our HR teams were spending significant time answering routine benefits inquiries, creating bottlenecks and limiting capacity for strategic initiatives. Employees, meanwhile, wanted faster, more accessible answers—without waiting for office hours or navigating dense plan documents. The challenge was clear:

• Reduce the administrative burden on HR.
• Provide employees with accurate, consistent benefits information 24/7.
• Maintain our human-first culture while embracing cutting-edge technology.

The Solution: Carly, the AI-Powered Benefits Concierge

Enter Carly, Avante’s AI benefits agent designed to transform how employees access and understand their benefits. Seamlessly integrated into our internal systems, Carly became the digital front door to HR—available anytime, anywhere, to resolve over 70% of benefits-related inquiries with consistent, accurate responses.

Built with enterprise-grade security and compliance, Carly protects sensitive employee data while delivering a conversational, intuitive experience. By automating routine questions, Carly empowers HR teams to focus on strategic, people-centered work—deepening engagement and fostering stronger connections across the organization.

The Results

The impact was immediate and measurable:

• 2,000+ hours saved in HR administrative time within the first months of rollout.
• 93% employee satisfaction rating, reflecting the ease and clarity Carly brought to benefits navigation.
• Significant increase in employee engagement with benefits programs, as measured by usage analytics and feedback surveys[1].

Employees embraced Carly’s 24/7 availability, appreciating the ability to get quick, accurate answers without hesitation. HR leaders reported greater bandwidth to tackle initiatives like workforce planning, benefits strategy optimization, and culture-building programs.

Culture Meets Technology

For us, this wasn’t just about adopting AI—it was about embedding it into the fabric of how HR operates, in a way that aligns with our values. As Chief People Officer Elizabeth Chrane put it, “HR is fundamentally about people, and technologies like Carly empower employees to self-serve in ways they’re increasingly comfortable with. This allows our HR teams to focus on the non-routine, more strategic work that truly requires a human touch—creating space for deeper, more meaningful engagement”.

Looking Ahead: Expanding AI’s Role in HR

The success of Carly has sparked a forward-looking vision: expanding AI-assisted support into other HR functions. From onboarding and leave-of-absence management to predictive analytics for workforce trends, the possibilities are vast. By leveraging AI-powered solutions, we aim to deliver greater efficiency, foster deeper connections, and achieve lasting impact for the people and organizations we serve.

Our partnership with Avante is proof that when culture and technology work hand-in-hand, the results can be transformative. As we continue to innovate, we remain committed to ensuring that every technological advancement serves one purpose—helping people do their best work and live their best lives.

To learn more about how Avante is changing the game for HR and benefits teams, click here.