July 21, 2010

Everest: Outsourced Benefits Administration Services Market to Grow 12-18 Percent

Unprecedented Consolidation Rapidly Changing the Supplier Landscape

DALLAS, July 21, 2010 ─ Remaining relatively stable during the recessionary economy, the Benefits Administration Outsourcing (BAO) market is projected to see deal signings grow 12-18 percent this year, according to Everest, a global consulting and research firm.

According to Everest’s Human Resources Outsourcing (HRO) market report, Benefits Administration 0utsourcing – Resilient Demand, Dynamic Supplier Landscape, the global BAO market is about US$5 billion. Propelling market growth are factors such as increased administrative challenges due to imminent healthcare reforms, advancement of global sourcing that provides a more attractive cost-saving value proposition, and quicker decision making in a more stable, improved economic climate.

“While cost reduction has always been an important driver for BAO, it gained further prominence with the pressures of the recent economic downturn and the need to address rising healthcare costs,” said Rajesh Ranjan, Research Director, Research. “Buyers are also increasingly looking to BAO to better manage the complexities and burdens associated with compliance issues and provide improved employee engagement and communications platforms that help employees make better healthcare and retirement decisions.”

More than 60 percent of BAO deals signed since 2006 include some type of offshoring component, and offshore delivery will increase, said Ranjan.

Other insights in the report include:

• While North America continues to be the dominant market for BAO, adoption is increasing in Europe where the United Kingdom is the most dominant market
• Most buyers are signing deals for single-country operations only to achieve cost reductions more quickly
• Defined Contribution is the most frequently outsourced area; however, Health & Welfare is growing at a much faster rate over the past few years
• Mid-market sized companies comprise almost 70 percent of BAO adopters

The BAO supplier landscape remains dynamic with a wave of continuing consolidation continuing in the market driven by the need to gain market share and enhance capabilities quickly. From a global basis, Hewitt is the leading supplier followed by Fidelity that together account for 40 percent of the market in terms of number of participants managed and annual contract value. Other share leaders are ACS-Xerox, Towers Watson, Mercer, ING, ADP and ExcellerateHRO.

BAO suppliers cited in the report come from different backgrounds and include HR consulting/technology providers Hewitt, Mercer, Morneau Sobecco, Towers Watson and Workscape; focused benefits outsourcing providers Empyrean, Capita Hartshead, Secova and Xafinity; HRO/BPO services providers ACS, ADP, Ceridian, ExellerateHRO, Infosys and Patni; and financial services providers Aon, Charles Schwab, Fidelity, ING, J.P. Morgan and Vanguard.  All suppliers involved in M&A transactions are treated as separate entities in the report if such a transaction is still subject to regulatory approvals.  

Everest will also soon be releasing a BAO supplier compendium report that will provide accurate, comprehensive and fact-based snapshots of supplier service suites, scale of operations, technology solutions and delivery locations.

For more information about the report, Benefits Administration 0utsourcing – Resiliant Demand, Dynamic Supplier Landscape, other HRO research reports or other research services, please visit www.everestresearchinstitute.com, email  info@everestresearchinstitute.com or call +1-214-451-3110.

Click here to download the full press release.