6 onboarding software attributes that drive employee engagement

Attribute #1: Onboarding Stakeholders

A diverse group of carefully selected stakeholders proves essential for successful onboarding.

Manager and Buddy

Effective onboarding software uses automation to nudge and coach managers into becoming "onboarding superheroes." Buddies free up time by handling tasks like form completion, allowing managers to focus on meaningful connections.

HR and IT

The software should help HR teams make better strategic decisions about managing people, support managers and new hires, and help the stakeholders prepare for new hires. Uniforms, access points, software, and welcome packages should be ready upon arrival.

New Hire

Building personas based on employee demographics helps design experiences that create "WOW" moments for incoming staff. Consider what would make your new hires go WOW!

The Company

People within an organization are individual stakeholders who collectively contribute to your company culture and competitive edge.

Attribute #2: The Journey Starts at Pre-Boarding

Modern solutions facilitate communication between new hires and company stakeholders during pre-boarding. This phase completes tasks, assesses personal strengths, introduces team members, and nudges managers to be ready and connect before the first days.

Change Management and Adoption

HR may still struggle to persuade all managers to engage in the new way. Choosing a partner that drives adoption and engagement ensures successful implementation.

Early Employee Support

Finding help quickly and finding the right people to talk to is key to reducing anxiety levels and supporting new hires in performing effectively.

Attribute #3: Delivery of Communication

Micro-messaging

Since managers are time-constrained, avoiding long-format information matters. Employees should spend as little time as possible on long-format information. Instead, apply the principle of micro-messaging over time to encourage people to act.

Personalization

Different people, departments, employee groups, and cohorts need different onboarding messaging to ensure appropriate experiences.

Attribute #4: Tailoring the Experience

Rather than using PDFs or PowerPoint presentations, engagement-driving platforms incorporate visuals — pictures, videos, and GIFs. CEO video greetings create positive cultural impressions. Your CEO might not have time to meet with each new hire, but a video greeting them when they join is a great asset.

Content Is King

Quality onboarding software provides customer service and content support. Business-centric content poorly designed without external help creates ineffective outcomes. Technology paired with proven data strategies determines messaging timing and frequency.

Employee-Centric Content

Focus on how new hire roles connect to company mission rather than simply reciting company values. Purpose-driven messaging engages disengaged employees and adds a sense of purpose.

Attribute #5: Functionality

1. No Apps or Logins

Employees already manage too many applications. Solutions should work with the tools that employees are already using through API integration with HR systems, LMS platforms, and communication tools.

2. Goodbye Emails, Hello Integration

Research indicates that 50% of deskless workers and 30% of office workers do not open emails from management. McKinsey Global Institute found that the average worker spends 13 hours — an estimated 28 percent of their workweek managing their e-mail. Modern solutions use existing platforms like Workplace, Microsoft Teams, Slack, or SMS.

3. Analytics

Measurement drives improvement. Tracking onboarding effectiveness identifies improvement areas and provides early warning signals before employee departures.

Build these six attributes into your onboarding strategy

Building these six attributes into employee onboarding strategy delivers ROI and achieving a range of business objectives propelled by a focus on employee experience.