You close a workers’ comp claim in 90 days. Is that good? Without something to compare it against, it’s genuinely hard to say. Maybe your peers are closing similar claims in 60. Maybe 90 is exceptional given your claim complexity. You can use the data to understand what happened, but benchmarking can help you understand what that data means. Benchmarking is one of the most powerful forms of data analytics available to claims organizations. Used to measure performance against competitors and identify areas for improvement, it thrives on an abundance of data, the kind that accumulates naturally through the claims process. With the right RMIS, you can collect that data seamlessly and use benchmarking tools to extract meaning from it, turning routine claims information into a strategic advantage. How Does Benchmarking Make Your Data Meaningful? Data analytics can improve claim outcomes and, in some cases, help prevent future claims by identifying trends and outliers that may otherwise go unnoticed. Benchmarking, specifically, involves comparing your data and performance against the industry’s best, which helps identify opportunities for improvement and establish long-term goals. For example, risk managers, insurers, TPAs, and others who work with workers’ comp claims benefit from the annual Workers’ Compensation Benchmarking Study, conducted by Rising Medical Solutions. The most recent study, based on 2024 survey data, examines how claims organizations are balancing digital transformation with the human elements that drive better outcomes for injured workers, and what separates high-performing payers from their peers. Another example is policy benchmarking for brokers. As clients face increasingly complex risk environments, they expect their brokers to provide hard data showing they’re offering the most competitive products and processes. Industry research shows providing plan design and policy benchmarking data has become a standard expectation in broker-client relationships and a key differentiator for brokers who do it well. Deciding to use benchmarking is a powerful first step. Getting Started Benchmarking requires the aggregation of the right data to be an effective tool, making it a daunting endeavor for many organizations. However, by leveraging existing data and the right RMIS, you’ll be well on the way. Start with What You Have If your organization already has access to broad industry data sets, Origami Risk can integrate those directly into the system. Origami Risk’s data import center converts data from legacy claims administration, underwriting, policy administration, and billing systems, with a team of data transformation experts who work closely with clients to analyze, map, and load data. Make Competition Internal Benchmarking doesn’t always have to involve comparing one organization to its peers. Internal benchmarking can treat individual departments or business units as friendly “competitors,” with the top-performing department’s strategies studied and shared broadly to replicate improvement. Or, your organization’s aggregate data could serve as the benchmark that individual units strive to meet. Origami Risk’s flexible and scalable RMIS allows for data collection from anywhere within an organization: any department, any office, any line of business. Claims Comparison Reporting Internal benchmarking can become even more granular by undergoing claims comparisons within an individual business unit or department. Origami Risk’s Claims Comparison Report compares data elements from similar claims within the system and displays the results on a scatter chart. This allows internal adjusters to compare similar claims within a standard deviation and make informed decisions about the next steps and can also be shared externally with TPA partners when needed. Integrated Workers’ Compensation Claims Benchmarking Origami Risk has integrated the Official Disability Guidelines (ODG) into its claims administration platform for simplified benchmarking in the workers’ comp industry. The ODG integration provides access to evidence-based medicine (EBM) data, including more than 10 million cases and decades of research by a team of physicians, nurses, methodologists, and external reviewers who value data-driven science. Each claim has duration guidelines and reserving statistics that include a best-practice number and benchmark numbers based on actual claims data (with and without outliers). The difference between the best-practice number and the benchmark number represents an opportunity for cost savings and quicker return-to-work times, helping set internal process-improvement goals. Make Every Benchmark Count Benchmarking works best when anchored to your organization’s specific goals and grounded in high-quality data. Three principles help ensure your program delivers lasting value. Anchor Benchmarks to Your Strategy Competitive benchmarking is most valuable when it magnifies the differences between organizations. If your claims adjusters spend more time with clients than your peers do, and that human element is central to your strategy, claimant satisfaction scores matter more than efficiency metrics. Copying a competitor’s approach without understanding the context behind it can pull you away from what actually drives your outcomes. Verify Data Before Acting on It A metric that looks favorable can reflect a broken process. Short service call times might signal unresolved issues rather than fast resolutions. Prioritize leading indicators (metrics that predict potential risks before they materialize) over lagging measures. Origami Risk’s integrations give you access to vetted, comprehensive data so your conclusions reflect reality. Treat Benchmarking as a Continuous Practice Top performers often have uncaptured improvements available, and leading today doesn’t guarantee leading tomorrow. Industry variables shift constantly. Scheduling regular benchmarking cycles keeps your program from stagnating and ensures improvements compound over time. Origami Risk Can Help You Launch into Benchmarking Benchmarking, when used strategically, has the potential to improve the claims process. Besides gaining on your competitors, benchmarking can help your organization parse its trouble spots and deliver on internal goals. Origami Risk’s data analytics tools can get you well on your way to a robust claims benchmarking program that works for you. Trying to move the needle on metrics that never seem to budge, regardless of resources expended, can lead to resignation and acceptance of problematic conditions as just the way things are. Many of these challenges, however, simply require a new approach. Frequently Asked Questions What is benchmarking in claims management? Claims benchmarking is the process of comparing your organization’s claims data and performance metrics against industry standards, peer organizations, or internal targets. It helps risk managers, insurers, and TPAs identify performance gaps, validate strategies, and set measurable improvement goals. What types of benchmarking apply to claims management? Three main types apply: external benchmarking (comparing against industry peers or published studies like the annual Workers’ Compensation Benchmarking Study), internal benchmarking (comparing departments or business units within your organization), and claims comparison benchmarking (comparing similar individual claims within a system to surface outliers and cost-saving opportunities). What data do I need to start claims benchmarking? A solid starting point is historical claims data, including incurred costs, time-to-close, return-to-work rates, and litigation rates — combined with an industry data source such as the ODG or a workers’ comp benchmarking study. The more complete and centralized your data, the more actionable the benchmarking analysis. What are the biggest risks of benchmarking? The two most common pitfalls are strategic convergence (copying competitors until all organizations look alike and differentiation disappears) and relying on data without understanding how it was generated. Benchmarking works best when tied to your organization’s specific goals rather than used as a generic performance chase. How does a RMIS support claims benchmarking? A RMIS like Origami Risk centralizes claims data across departments, integrates external data sources like the ODG and industry feeds, and provides purpose-built tools like the Claims Comparison Report to surface outliers and trends. This gives risk managers the foundation to benchmark effectively, both internally and against industry standards.