Quadrant4 Systems Corporation, which makes enterprise resource planning and business intelligence software, will acquire Atlanta-based empowHR, a developer of SaaS platform technology for health insurance and employee benefits administration.

Officials say the deal will see Quadrant4 integrating empowHR technology into its cloud-based Health Exchange platform. Quadrant4 will also expand the empowHR platform into a full-scale portal that will include:

• Integration of employer sponsored insurance and benefits, as well as work-site benefit products for enrollment, communication and administration;
• Agency portal for management and administration of multiple client types incorporating insurance, employee benefits and financial services into a single platform;
• Employer portal for managing insurance, employee benefits, human resources, financial services and integration with third-party product providers such as payroll systems, human resource systems, and others;
• An employee portal for managing benefit programs; and
• Analytics aimed at providing insight into employee behavior and benefit expense trends.

[See also: Employers looking for cost-saving health plans, backed by top IT.]

empowHR technology has been in deployment for more than a decade and has been used by more than 2 million members for various benefits administration between licensing, OEM and recurring subscription based models. Its key user groups and customers include insurance companies, agencies, third party administrators, health plans and large employers.

Dhru Desai, Quadrant4's chairman, said the two companies together "will accelerate the development of empowHR technology beyond its current capabilities to the next generation market requirements.”

"Our ability to deliver the most complete benefits administration, communication and enrollment tool in the industry … coupled with the ability to capitalize on Quadrant4’s significant development capability, will allow us to close bigger deals, provide custom development, and deploy significant enhancements quicker," said Robert Steele, founder and CEO of empowHR.