At Softstart, a platform dedicated to employee onboarding, we identified a significant barrier to adoption: the intricate process of creating onboarding templates and plans from scratch. The complexity and content-heavy demands often left new users overwhelmed and uncertain. However, we saw an opportunity to blend technology with user-centric design, aiming to simplify and enhance the onboarding experience.

Using AI to Assist in User Onboarding: Central to our changes was the inclusion of AI technology. It wasn't just about automation. It was about recognizing the needs of HR professionals or hiring managers, understanding their company's ethos and objectives, and the roles they were recruiting for. Based on this, we provided tailored advice. Whether users wanted to input an existing onboarding plan, initiate a role-specific template, or draft a general one, the AI was there to help. It actively created activities, described them in detail, scheduled them, and more, all while drawing from industry standards, ensuring a comprehensive and supportive onboarding process.

AI Assistance in Real-Time: As users started their onboarding journey, the AI's contributions were evident. Templates and plans formed directly in response to their inputs, showcasing the AI's role in a tangible way. This allowed users to see the content being crafted for them on the spot.

A Helpful Companion: From the outset, the onboarding journey addressed a significant time-consuming task for users. As they delved further into the platform, after having already completed a big job to be done, they were met with insights and suggestions. These not only felt intuitive but also allowed them to expand upon and enhance what was already good content, grounded in industry best practices. This deepened their connection to the platform's capabilities.

User-Centered Design: Our updates prioritized user understanding. We aimed for an intuitive platform, with tools designed for easy navigation. Each feature was intended to make users feel more at ease.

Encouraging Ownership: We incorporated the idea that people value what they help create. It's called the endowment effect. By involving users in shaping their onboarding plans, we hoped to foster a sense of ownership and connection to the process, enhancing their commitment.

The outcomes of our efforts were positive: we saw better activation rates and users who felt a closer tie to their onboarding journey. With a mix of technology and a focus on the user, we sought to provide a refreshed onboarding experience, letting users appreciate the capabilities of AI.

Find out how you can integrate AI into your onboarding journey by contacting me today. Let's help your product's first impression leave a lasting impression.