Must-Have Features When Building Employee Onboarding Software

Remote new hire onboards on a laptop

Developing employee onboarding software that addresses compliance and employee retention is essential for SaaS vendors. Employers require platforms that streamline regulatory adherence while also fostering a positive, engaging onboarding experience that helps retain new hires. From automating compliance-related tasks to enhancing the onboarding process for deskless workers, a well-equipped platform should provide the right tools to meet these challenges head-on. There is must-have functionality to help you build software that not only simplifies workflows but also supports your clients’ efforts to retain employees and stay compliant in a complex regulatory environment.

Must-Have Functionality for Your Clients

As SaaS vendors exploring the development of employee onboarding software, ensuring your platform has the right features to address your clients' needs is critical. From simplifying workflows to ensuring compliance, these functionalities will be essential for delivering value and creating a seamless onboarding experience.

A seamless user experience is critical for both HR teams and new hires. Your clients need an intuitive platform that doesn’t require extensive training to use. An ideal onboarding solution allows HR teams to easily set up workflows, track progress, and customize the platform to reflect their company's brand and culture. Simplifying the process is key to engaging new hires quickly and efficiently.

With the rise of deskless workers, mobile accessibility is a must-have feature. Onboarding software should allow employees to complete tasks anytime, anywhere, ensuring flexibility and efficiency for workers who may not have access to a traditional office setting. Building this kind of user-friendly interface requires careful design, thorough testing, and a focus on both functionality and aesthetics. It’s essential to think about the entire onboarding journey from the perspective of your clients and their employees to ensure the process is seamless and engaging.

Automated Workflow Management

Efficiency is the cornerstone of effective employee onboarding, and automation plays a crucial role in achieving it. Automated workflows can manage repetitive tasks like sending reminders, tracking document completion, and supporting compliance, which frees up HR teams to focus on more strategic efforts.

In building your own onboarding platform, you’ll need to ensure it can integrate with your or other HR systems. This allows data to flow seamlessly and reduces the need for manual entry. You’ll also need to consider task management features that allow HR to assign tasks to specific stakeholders (HR, IT, managers, etc.) and track their completion, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring every aspect of the onboarding process is timely and efficient.

Compliance and Documentation Management

One of the most complex and critical aspects of onboarding is ensuring compliance with regulatory and legal requirements. Onboarding software must manage the collection and secure storage of sensitive information such as tax forms and employment verification documents.

Developing a platform that supports compliance hiring practices can be resource-intensive but is absolutely necessary. Incorporating digital signature capabilities can help streamline the process while providing an audit trail for compliance. Additionally, secure cloud-based storage ensures that documentation is easily accessible but protected against breaches.

When considering building your own onboarding solution, understanding the compliance landscape and incorporating features that can adapt to future regulatory changes is crucial. It’s a significant undertaking but critical for ensuring that your clients stay compliant and protected from legal risks.

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Must-Have Functionality for Software Providers

For SaaS vendors developing employee onboarding software, it’s crucial to deliver features that not only address operational needs but also enhance client outcomes. Below are the essential functionalities that should be prioritized to meet the growing demands of HR teams and their organizations.

Integration

Seamless integration with existing systems is essential for any onboarding platform. Your software should easily sync with your core platform, automating data flow to minimize manual input and reduce errors. Offering robust API capabilities allows your software to connect with third-party tools and adapt to the varied needs of different clients. Additionally, Single Sign-On (SSO) improves security and streamlines access, making the user experience smoother across multiple platforms.

Scalability & Flexibility

Scalability is key to supporting your clients’ growth. Your software should accommodate increasing user counts, departments, and locations without performance issues. A modular design and cloud-based infrastructure allow for future enhancements without requiring major redevelopment. Equally important is flexibility—your platform should provide customizable workflows that adapt to the unique needs of different roles, departments, and evolving business processes.

Positioning & Branding

Your onboarding software should enable clients to fully brand their onboarding experience, reflecting their company’s identity through logos, colors, and messaging. Beyond aesthetics, the platform should allow organizations to embed their culture, values, and tone throughout the onboarding journey. Proper product positioning is also crucial. Frame your software as a strategic solution that enhances employee retention, compliance, and productivity—key challenges for HR teams. Lastly, market differentiation is essential in a crowded space. Offering an intuitive interface, advanced features, and seamless integration can set your software apart and create additional value for your clients.

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To Build or To Buy Onboarding Software

As you evaluate whether to build an employee onboarding solution, the decision might hinge on your business priorities and resources. Developing a platform from scratch gives you complete control over features and functionality, but it can be a resource-intensive endeavor—especially when addressing critical trends like compliance complexity and employee retention. Building robust automation, integration, and compliance features requires significant investment in development and ongoing maintenance.

Alternatively, white labeling an existing solution allows you to offer your clients a proven, feature-rich onboarding platform while saving time and resources. By opting for a white-label solution, you can quickly fill the gap in your product offering, leverage cutting-edge technology, and focus on your core competencies without the burden of starting from square one. Ultimately, whether you build or buy, ensuring that your onboarding software aligns with your clients’ needs and industry trends will be key to delivering value and staying competitive in the HR tech market.

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About HiringThing

HiringThing is a modern recruiting and employee onboarding platform as a service that creates seamless talent experiences. Our white label solutions and open API enable HR technology and service providers to offer hiring and onboarding to their clients. Approachable and adaptable, the platform empowers anyone, anywhere to build their dream team.

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