ANNUAL DIRECTORY OF BENEFIT COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

E

Employee Communications Services

16 Tech Circle, Natick,

Mass. 01760; 508-655-6261;

fax: 508-653-1279

Interactive benefit systems since: 1980.

Software products:

Reward Management System.

System type/cost: Purchased: $150,000. Operated on a service bureau basis for $15,000 to $20,000 per month.

System requirements: PC system, network; operates in Windows NT. Online system.

Customized system.

First installation: 1991.

Total installations: 15.

Benefits communicated: Savings plans, health plans, pension plans, flexible benefits, flexible spending accounts, short- and long-term disability, life.

Features: Standard system provides plan descriptions; personal information; direct enrollment; option selection/adjustment; reports via computer diskette, electronic mail, printer, fax and mail. Options available to add modeling/projections; employee specific recommendations; health claims status; details on investment alternatives.

Accessed through: Telephone, kiosk, employee's PC, benefit department kiosk, e-mail.

User support: Onsite training*, telephone assistance eight hours per day*.

Staff: 40 total, 10 professionals.

Clients: 45 total, including eight new clients and 10 who added additional features to their interactive benefit communication system in 1996.

Branch offices: Atlanta.

1996 gross revenues: $6.5 million total. $6 million from interactive employee benefit communication systems sales and services, including 65% software sales, 15% software services, 10% hardware services, 10% user support.

Officers: Kenneth F. Phillips, president; Salvatore C. Percia, CEO; Michael J. Downey, Daryl R. Ashley, vps.

Contact: Michael J. Downey.

*Included in system price.

Ernst & Young L.L.P.

787 Seventh Ave., New York, N.Y. 10019; 212-773-3000

Interactive benefit systems since: 1992.

Software products:

E&Y Voice.

System type/cost: Operated on a service bureau basis.

System requirements: PC system, single user or network; operates in 0S/2. Online system.

Customization optional.

First installation: 1992.

Total installations: 20.

Benefits communicated: Options available for savings plans, health plans, pension plans, workers comp benefits, flexible benefits and flexible spending accounts.

Features: Options available to add plan descriptions; personal information; direct enrollment; modeling/projections; employee specific recommendations; option selection/adjustment; health claims status; details on investment alternatives; transfers among investment funds; reports via computer diskette, printer and fax.

Accessed through: Telephone.

User support: Onsite training*, telephone assistance eight hours per day*.

Prosper.

System type/cost: Purchased.

System requirements: PC system, single user; operates in Windows.

Customization optional.

Benefits communicated: Savings plans, pension plans.

Features: Standard system provides modeling/projections; employee specific recommendations; option selection/adjustment; details on investment alternatives; reports via printer.

Accessed through: Employee's PC.

User support: Telephone assistance 12 hours per day*.

Staff: 15 total, eight professionals.

Clients**: 18 total, including six new clients and 12 who added additional features to their interactive benefit communication system in 1996.

Branch offices: 89 locations nationwide.

Officers: Robert Garner, national director-personal financial counselings; Glenn Pape, national director-large employee group services; William Arnonc, director-employee education/counseling services; Gary Von Glinow, Jim Bosserman, Tom Kouri, partners; Owen West, principal.

Contact: Owen West, 312-879-2339.

*Included in system price. **Specific to E&Y voice.