What software can I use to automate employee onboarding?

You can automate employee onboarding with either dedicated **onboarding platforms** or more general **automation/integration tools** that connect the systems you already use. The best choice depends on your size, tech stack, and whether you want an out‑of‑the‑box HR tool or a more customizable workflow approach.

Below are the main categories and leading options.

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## 1. Dedicated employee onboarding software

These tools focus specifically on onboarding (often with broader HR features). They typically include task workflows, e‑signatures, checklists, IT requests, and welcome communications.

Common capabilities across tools include:

- Automated **pre‑boarding** emails and tasks for HR, IT, and managers[1][8]

- Role‑based **onboarding journeys** with checklists and reminders[1][6]

- Integrations with **ATS, HRIS, ITSM**, and collaboration tools[1][6][8]

- E‑signature and document collection (contracts, policies, I‑9, etc.)[4][5][6]

- Dashboards and analytics to track completion and engagement[1][6][8]

Widely cited tools:

- **Enboarder** – Specializes in **personalized, automated onboarding journeys** from offer to 90+ days, integrating HR, IT, and managers.[1] It can automatically coordinate buddies, introductions, meetings, IT provisioning, and compliance workflows based on role and context.[1]

- **HR Cloud (Onboard)** – Automates **I‑9 and E‑Verify**, tracks credentials, manages leave policies, and stores documentation securely; geared toward frontline and hourly teams.[4]

- **ClearCompany**, **BambooHR**, **Rippling**, **Bob (HiBob)**, **Sapling by Kallidus**, etc. – Identified as top onboarding platforms that manage tasks, e‑signatures, provisioning requests, and integrations with core HR systems.[5][6][9]

If you mostly want a turnkey HR solution with built‑in best practices and compliance workflows, choose a **dedicated onboarding platform**.

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## 2. Automation & integration platforms (build your own workflows)

If you already have systems like Workday, Greenhouse, Okta, Microsoft 365, ServiceNow, etc., you can automate onboarding by connecting them with an integration/automation tool.

### Workato (enterprise automation)

- Workato describes *onboarding automation* as using a platform that listens for events (e.g., “Candidate marked as hired in ATS”) and then triggers cross‑app actions.[2]

- Example workflow they show: once someone is marked as hired in an ATS like Greenhouse, Workato can automatically:

- Create the employee profile in an HRIS (e.g., Workday)

- Create an Okta account

- Send a welcome email

- Create a ticket in an ITSM tool (e.g., ServiceNow) to track onboarding stages[2]

This is ideal if you’re an IT/People Ops team wanting **deep, cross‑system automation** without writing code.

### Microsoft 365 + Power Automate

- You can build an onboarding flow with **Microsoft Forms** (for requests or data), **Power Automate** (for workflows), and Azure AD/Entra, shared mailboxes, and ticketing tools.[3]

- Demonstrated workflows include:

- Triggering a Power Automate flow when a Microsoft Form (“Employee Onboarding”) is submitted

- Creating user accounts and group memberships

- Generating initial passwords

- Sending **automated welcome emails** from a shared mailbox

- Creating tickets in a PSA or help desk for tracking onboarding tasks[3]

This works well if you’re a Microsoft‑centric organization and want **low‑code, customizable automation**.

### Zapier / similar no‑code tools

- Zapier’s roundup of onboarding software calls out tools that integrate well and can be stitched together with Zaps for **smaller, flexible automations** (e.g., send welcome emails, create accounts, schedule meetings).[5]

- Good for SMBs that use a mix of cloud tools and want lightweight automation rather than a full HR suite.

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## 3. SharePoint‑based onboarding (for Microsoft environments)

- Tools like **Beyond Intranet’s Employee Onboarding for SharePoint** provide an onboarding app inside SharePoint, managing onboarding and offboarding tasks in a secure Microsoft environment.[7]

- Suited for organizations heavily invested in SharePoint/Teams that want onboarding to live there.

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## 4. How to choose (quick guidance)

Consider:

- **Company size and complexity**

- Small to mid‑size, limited IT: choose an **HR onboarding platform** (e.g., BambooHR, HR Cloud, Enboarder).[4][5][6]

- Larger / multiple systems (ATS, HRIS, Okta, ITSM): consider **Workato** or **Power Automate** flows to orchestrate everything.[2][3]

- **Tech stack**

- Mostly Microsoft: **Power Automate + Forms + SharePoint** or a SharePoint‑based onboarding tool.[3][7]

- Mixed SaaS stack: use an **onboarding platform with strong integrations** or **Workato/Zapier** to glue systems together.[2][5][6]

- **Goal**

- Need structured, content‑rich journeys, manager prompts, and analytics: **Enboarder** or similar experience‑focused onboarding tool.[1][6][8]

- Need to automate technical provisioning and data sync across many apps: **Workato** or **Power Automate**.[2][3]

If you tell me your approximate headcount, current HR/IT systems, and budget level, I can narrow this to 3–4 specific recommendations.