AI for HR: 6 ways AI is redefining benefits management (and how Nava fits in)

HR leaders today are expected to do it all: shape culture, retain talent, manage compliance, and prove the ROI of every program. But when most of your time goes to chasing down documents, fielding employee questions, and navigating renewals, strategic work can often take a back seat.

Much like other industries, we have started to see how AI can provide leverage for HR teams. Transforming the role by helping leaders automate repetitive tasks, visualize benefits data, and make smarter, faster decisions. Instead of being stuck in administrative mode, HR teams can finally act like true advisors, using AI to guide benefits strategy, not just execute it.

Here are six ways forward-thinking HR teams are using AI for HR to level up benefits management and employee engagement, and the tools they’re using to make it happen.

1. Using AI assistants to track down information instantly

Every HR professional knows the frustration of digging for information: “Which plan covers that?” “What’s our renewal rate from last year?” “Where’s that summary doc again?”

AI assistants built for HR are changing that. They can summarize a 40-page plan document, find every policy that mentions mental health coverage, or pull up last year’s open enrollment results in seconds.

Instead of switching between folders, PDFs, and emails, HR leaders can simply ask, get the answer, and move on to more strategic work. Tools like Nava HQ are helping teams spend less time searching and more time advising their organization.

2. Creating benefits communications in seconds to save time and boost engagement

Clear, engaging benefits communications are critical, but they take time. Between writing announcements, explaining plan changes, and tailoring messages for different audiences, HR teams spend hours crafting the right words.

AI tools designed for HR can take on much of that upfront work. You can ask an assistant to draft an open enrollment reminder, write a quick explainer about a new fertility benefit, or create a personalized message for employees who haven’t completed their elections yet. The AI can adjust tone, simplify complex details, and help HR communicate faster and more effectively.

The result is clearer communication that helps employees understand and use their benefits, while freeing up HR to focus on strategy instead of rewriting the same messages.

3. Visualizing benefits data to tell a clearer story

HR teams have more benefits data than ever before, but turning that data into something actionable is another story. That’s where AI-powered visualization tools are stepping in.

With just a prompt, HR can transform raw data into visuals that highlight participation trends, cost drivers, or changes in engagement year over year. For instance, an AI assistant can instantly create a chart showing how medical plan enrollment has shifted across departments or which benefits employees are using most.

These visuals make it easier to communicate insights to leadership, showing not just what’s happening, but why. It’s the difference between reporting on data and telling a story that drives decisions.

4. Using AI insights to simplify renewals and plan strategically

Renewal season doesn’t have to feel like a scramble. With the right AI tools, HR teams can walk into renewal conversations prepared, not reactive.

By analyzing current and historical data, AI can surface which benefits are driving costs, highlight underused plans, and forecast how potential changes might affect employees. Having this information at your fingertips means HR can lead renewal discussions with clarity and confidence, backed by data specific to their own organization.

That’s exactly where platforms like Nava HQ excel. HQ turns your benefits and enrollment data into actionable insights, helping you make informed, strategic decisions throughout the renewal process, and ultimately transforming renewals from a reactive exercise into a year-round strategy.

5. Empowering employees with AI support

AI isn’t just changing HR operations — it’s transforming the employee experience too.

The AI assistant in the Nava Benefits app gives employees the support they deserve: quick, clear answers about their coverage whenever they need them. It can explain what’s covered, compare plans side by side, or guide employees to the right care, all in plain, human language.

When employees get reliable answers on their own, they feel more confident using their benefits and making health decisions. And for HR, it means fewer repetitive questions and more time to focus on higher-impact work.

6. Turning data into strategy with AI for HR

AI is giving HR the context and insights to act like true business partners. By surfacing trends and patterns across benefits data, HR teams can pinpoint which programs drive satisfaction, where costs can be optimized, and how engagement differs across teams.

With the manual work handled, HR can finally focus on strategy, leading with proactive, evidence-based recommendations that align benefits with organizational goals. It’s the shift from admin to advisor, powered by insight and supported by AI.

Getting started: what to look for in AI tools for HR

The AI landscape is evolving quickly, and not every tool is designed with HR’s unique needs in mind. If you’re exploring how AI can enhance your benefits strategy, focus on a few key factors:

Prioritize data security and privacy.

AI platforms should meet strict data protection standards and clearly outline how information is stored and used. Look for solutions that comply with SOC 2 or other relevant certifications, especially when handling employee data.

Choose tools built for HR workflows.

Generic AI tools can be helpful, but platforms designed specifically for HR understand benefits terminology, plan data, and compliance nuances. You’ll get better, faster results with solutions tailored to your work.

Read reviews and compare user experiences.

Sites like G2 make it easy to see how real HR teams rate AI solutions. Look for feedback on usability, customer support, and measurable outcomes, not just flashy features.

Avoiding common pitfalls with AI for HR

Once you’ve chosen a tool, the next challenge is implementation. Success with AI depends as much on process and planning as it does on technology. Here are a few pitfalls to watch for:

Rushing adoption without a plan.

It’s tempting to dive right in, but a focused rollout always delivers better results. Identify one or two specific workflows, like data visualization or employee communications, where AI can make an immediate impact, and start there.

Overlooking data quality.

AI insights are only as good as the information they’re built on. Before introducing new tools, make sure your benefits data is clean, current, and centralized. The best results come from AI that works directly from your own benefits data, not generic datasets. That’s what makes a platform like Nava HQ especially effective, since its insights are powered by your organization’s real benefits information.

Over-automating communication.

AI can help write and clarify messaging, but HR’s human voice should always lead. Employees value empathy and context, things AI should enhance, not replace.

Skipping security reviews.

When employee data is involved, security can’t be an afterthought. Confirm that any vendor you partner with meets strict standards for privacy and compliance, such as SOC 2 or GDPR.

Handled thoughtfully, AI doesn’t just make HR faster. It makes HR better.

Taking the next step with Nava

If you’re ready to explore how AI can streamline your benefits management and help your team operate more strategically, Nava is a great place to start.

Nava HQ brings together everything HR teams need to manage, measure, and communicate benefits in one place. It combines cutting-edge technology with human expertise, giving you AI-powered support backed by real benefits advisors who understand the challenges HR teams face every day.

AI for HR isn’t a trend. It’s the next evolution of how people teams lead. The right tools — and the right partners — will help you get there.