The pressure on healthcare leaders to do more with less isn’t new — but the playbook is changing.
Today, digital transformation in healthcare isn’t just about adopting new technology; it’s about using it strategically to make care simpler, smarter and more sustainable.
Across payers, providers and employers, priorities are converging around two powerful goals: managing costs and building trust through transparency.
According to new research from Zelis and Datos Insights, employer digital investments are coalescing around three areas — a clear signal that strategies are aligning with what members want most: visibility into cost and care.
TL;DR
- Employers now rank transparency tools alongside analytics & engagement
- 35% of employers say transparency is their top cost-savings strategy
- 42% of members want price comparison tools; 38% want cost evaluation
- The biggest opportunity? Connected platforms — not disconnected point solutions
From Tools to Connection
Cost pressures are rising across every stakeholder — payers, providers and employers alike. Rather than cutting back, leaders are investing in digital systems that create clarity, connection and confidence at every step.
So the question isn’t which tools to buy — it’s how they work together.
When data and design align, costs get clearer, communication gets easier, and relationships grow stronger.
The Shift from Cost Cutting to Cost Clarity
For payers and TPAs, managing costs always requires balance — affordability, access and sustainability.
What’s changing is the approach. Automation, integration and transparency are simplifying processes, streamlining operations and improving how members interact with their benefits.
It’s not about short-term fixes. It’s about building a system that lasts — where every interaction shows value.
Transparency Becomes the Universal Language
“Transparency has evolved from compliance requirement to competitive advantage.”
For payers and TPAs, that means integrating tools that do more than display prices — they help members make informed choices before care begins, building confidence and trust.
Is Integration the New Differentiator?
Despite broad agreement on transparency, many tools still operate in silos.
63% of employers call transparency tools “very important,” yet only 47% rate their current solutions as excellent — the widest performance gap among digital benefits tools.
The next era will be defined by connected platforms — where provider data, claims information and cost estimates flow seamlessly across the member journey, reducing manual work, accelerating claims and making cost data actionable in real time.
The Bottom Line
Healthcare’s digital transformation isn’t about how many tools you deploy — it’s about how well they connect.
When data flows freely and decisions are informed, everyone wins — from employers managing spend to members making confident care choices.
See the data and strategies shaping transparency-driven digital transformation
Source: Proprietary research commissioned by Zelis and led by Datos Insights, 2025.
