Rippling has been quietly chugging along for more than a year now, but this week announced a new broker-facing capability. (Image courtesy of Rippling)
It's been six years since the launch of benefits software startup Zenefits, which grew like wildfire in response to an industry hungry for new HR tech solutions. Unfortunately, like a wildfire, things got a little out of control, leading to the departure of cofounder and CEO Parker Conrad three years ago, as well as ongoing regulatory and personnel scandals.
But founder Parker Conrad is back at it. Recognizing that Zenefits was just the first step in ben admin disruption, his latest venture takes it a step further. Rippling is an employee management system that not only handles payroll, benefits and HR administration, but adds in IT integration, creating a solution that speaks not just to HR but all company functions.
Related: Stirring the pot: Merging of payroll and benefit platforms creates new challenges, opportunities
"The thing that Rippling does that's really unique is recognize that employee data is important for a lot more than just HR systems," Conrad told BenefitsPRO. "For the same reason it was important for companies to have systems like insurance and ben admin hooked up to a central employee system, it's also really valuable to have all of these non-HR systems hooked up, as well."
When a new employee is hired, rather than being added to an HR database and then getting kicked to another department to be set up with computer hardware and access to software and tools specific to the employee's role or department, it's all done in the integrated system. "They get set up with an email account, Slack, Salesforce," Conrad explains. "Within those systems, they get access to the right groups, the right shared folders. We ship them a computer, all the right software is installed."
The new company has been quietly chugging along for more than a year now, but this week announced a new broker-facing capability. Says Conrad, "Rippling is going to be the first all-in-one integrated system for payroll, benefits admin and HR that is going to allow companies to keep their broker, and therefore give brokers a tool they can use to go head-to-head with all those all-in-one systems and win."
Brokers will not only be able to work with existing Rippling customers but also be able to use Rippling as a point of distinction when competing for new business through its new Broker Partner Program. The integration will also allow many administrative tasks to be automated, such as compliance paperwork, new hire enrollment or changes in benefit status.
"Rippling has been a valuable partner who has enhanced our ability to compete with digital-only brokers," Erik Hansen, president of Vita, said in a statement. "Rippling offers our clients a unique, all-in-one HR and IT platform that's powerful, simple to use, and easy to scale. We are experts in employee benefits, Rippling are experts in cutting edge technology that solves important problems. Rippling's modern technology platform makes our clients more efficient, which improves how our clients experience our personalized services."
Rippling is different, Conrad says. Different from Gusto, Namely, ADP, Zenefits and all the other ben admin platforms currently available. And, more importantly, its growth will be different than the controversial and rocky rise of Zenefits.
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Emily Payne
Emily Payne is director, content analytics for ALM's Business & Finance Markets and former managing editor for BenefitsPRO. A Wisconsin native, she has spent the past decade writing and editing for various athletic and fitness publications. She holds an English degree and Business certificate from the University of Wisconsin.
