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Case Study

IG Group

Online trading platform
2,000 employees
Workforce located across five continents
Listed on the London Stock Exchange

Introduction

IG Group, an online trading provider with over 2,000 employees spread across five continents, enlisted the services of Zest in 2020, around the same time that the company was listed on the London Stock Exchange.

IG had previously run a flex programme with one of the traditional consultancy-based EBCs but was keen to advance its offering with some fresh, creative thinking from a provider focused on technology.

Zest was brought in to bring IG’s employee benefits offering up to date and the company was particularly impressed with the onboarding process, which took place during lockdown.

IG Group’s UK Payroll & Benefits Manager tells us more about how Zest has helped transform and speed up the operation of the business’s employee benefits strategy.

Why did you choose Zest as your benefits platform?
“The Zest platform just looked and felt ‘right’ from the start. Zest were the first people we had in for a demo and became the benchmark for others we saw to beat. No one really came close.”

How was the onboarding process?
“The project started in early 2020. Virtually all of it was delivered in lockdown, whilst working from home and went smoothly regardless of the unfolding situation we found ourselves in.

The speed of the onboarding process was excellent and our project manager was always available, and very patient with us which I am thankful for. It’s always daunting getting used to a new system, especially as the main ‘admin’ user of the platform, however, the more I used it, the easier I have found it.”

Which parts of the platform do you find particularly useful?
“The Engagement centre is really useful for sending targeted communication to employees on a whole range of subjects or as reminders for them to take action, which is something that ALWAYS needs doing! And the Insight centre enables us to delve deeper and find out what/when/how/why our employees are using on the platform, which is great.

The exporting of reports is also very quick and straightforward.”

What they say

Zest became the benchmark for others to beat - no one really came close.

How has the platform helped with flexible working?
“Prior to the pandemic, we did offer working from home on a more relaxed basis but our new hybrid model has really just formalised this arrangement. Employees access the platform via a single sign-on, so they can update/select benefits anytime without having any tricky logins and remembering passwords.”

What’s the biggest benefit you’ve experienced from the platform?
“The main area is the speed of the monthly reporting process on the 1st of each month, which gives me all the provider reports and my payroll report for benefit selections to be imported to the payroll. With our old system, this process would take the best part of a day, whereas now it takes a couple of hours at most.”

If someone’s not sure about using Zest, what would you say to them?
“Don’t be afraid of going away from the big players in this area, Zest will provide you with a benefits system at least as equally good if not better – and probably save you some money too.”

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