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Workflows
22 Jan 2026
5
min read

Onboarding workflows: Why good onboarding starts before the first day of work

Onboarding is one of the most important HR processes — and at the same time one of the least standardized. In many companies, onboarding processes consist of emails, Excel lists, and manual handovers.

Jan Heinen
peopleIX Team
Table of Contents

Onboarding is one of the most important HR processes — and at the same time one of the least standardized.
In many companies, onboarding still consists of emails, Excel lists, and manual handovers.

The problem:
This type of HR workflows doesn't scale.

who Automate HR processes Will, should start right here.

Onboarding is not a single process — it's a workflow

Onboarding consists of many recurring tasks:

  • Provide contract and system access
  • Schedule meetings
  • Allocate tasks to HR, managers, buddies and IT
  • Documenting progress

Without clear Onboarding workflows arise:

  • Media breaks
  • delays
  • lack of process reliability

A structured workflow ensures that all steps are neatly intertwined — automated, comprehensible and measurable.

Why onboarding must start before day 1

A modern onboarding workflow doesn't start on the first working day, but at the moment when a Start date is deposited.

This event will be Workflow triggers:

  • Tasks are created automatically
  • Meetings are being planned (schedule meetings)
  • Tickets for IT and system access are created (create tickets)
  • Forms are provided (form creation)

This is how we create automated processes that don't depend on manual reminders.

Workflow automation instead of a reminder culture

Many companies are trying to solve inefficient processes with more control.
But real Workflow automation replaces manual coordination with clear logic:

  • 30/60/90 day role-based plans
  • A central workflow builder instead of individual solutions
  • Reusable workflow templates
  • System integration with HRIS, ATS, Slack, and Microsoft Teams

The result:
Less operational work, more overview — and higher process reliability.

Transparency through monitoring & reporting

A good workflow doesn't end with automation.
It makes progress visible.

By Workflow monitoring and Real time monitoring see HR and managers:

  • Which tasks are open
  • Where bottlenecks occur
  • Which steps have already been completed

At the same time, Automate reporting — without additional tools or manual evaluations.

Increase efficiency with automated onboarding processes

Structured onboarding workflows have measurable business impact:

  • Faster time-to-productivity
  • Unified onboarding experiences
  • Fewer manual HR efforts
  • Higher process reliability

In short:
Automated onboarding processes are a central lever for to increase efficiency and make HR more strategic.

Onboarding workflows as part of an HR workflow platform

Onboarding unfolds its full potential when it is part of an overarching HR workflow platform is:

a Recruiting

  • Onboarding
  • probation
  • unfolding
  • Offboarding

This is how you can Optimize workflows, instead of looking at individual processes in isolation.

Because good onboarding is no accident.
It is the result of well-defined, automated HR workflows.

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