In today’s fast-paced business landscape, the role of HR is more pivotal than ever before. HR professionals are at the heart of a company’s success. They are responsible for building and nurturing a talented workforce.
HRM is actively responsible for the employee onboarding process. So, making a good impression on new employees is critical. Making this process smooth goes a long way. It gets to the point where 69% of workers who go through a good onboarding process tend to stick around for at least three years.
According to 79% of employees, onboarding initiatives help in their integration and understanding of the corporate culture (Talmundo).
We know that every business, regardless of its size or industry, seeks cost-effective solutions, and our mission is to provide valuable insights into the top free HR onboarding software options available. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you find the “Best HR Onboarding Software Free.” Yes, you read that right—free!
So, without further ado, let’s get into the article and check out the 5 best free HR onboarding software.
Key features to look for in onboarding software
When you’re looking for HR onboarding software, whether it’s free or paid, consider the essential features. These features will make the employee onboarding process more efficient and effective. Here are the vital features to look for:
1. Customizable onboarding workflows: Your employee onboarding processes are unique to your company, and the HRM tool should allow you to create, edit, and customize workflows to match your specific requirements.
2. Electronic Document Management: Paperwork can be a major block in the onboarding process. HRM software should support electronic document management, allowing you to upload, store, and manage important onboarding documents. It should also support e-signatures to make the process completely paperless.
3. User-Friendly Interface: A user-friendly interface is critical to ensuring that both HR professionals and new hires can navigate the software with ease.
4. Integration Capabilities: Your onboarding software should work in tandem with other HR tools and systems you use, such as HRIS (Human Resources Information System) or payroll software. This integration minimizes manual data entry while ensuring data consistency.
5. Task Automation: Look for software that can automate routine tasks, such as sending welcome emails, setting up computer access, and assigning training modules. Automation streamlines the onboarding process and reduces the risk of human error.
6. Employee Information Portal: New hires can get access to crucial company policies, documents, and resources through an employee information portal. This feature ensures that new employees are well-informed and can refer to essential information whenever needed.
7. Mobile Accessibility: Accessing onboarding materials and completing tasks via smartphones and tablets is essential in today’s mobile-first world. A mobile-responsive design or a dedicated mobile app can significantly improve the onboarding experience.
8. Security and Data Privacy: Data security and privacy are critical considerations. Make certain that the software has strong security features, such as data encryption, role-based access controls, and compliance with data protection regulations.
Benefits of Free HR onboarding software
Onboarding tools can help both the employee and management in many ways. You could say the main benefit of free onboarding tools is that they are free, duh! But beyond that, there are some important ones. Let’s check out the benefits of HR onboarding software:
- Efficiency and Time Savings: By automating various administrative tasks, onboarding tools minimize the time and effort needed to complete paperwork, set up IT access, and carry out other standard onboarding tasks. This effectiveness enables HR professionals to concentrate on more strategic onboarding elements.
- Consistency: These tools guarantee a uniform onboarding procedure for all new hires. This uniformity makes it easier to communicate the company’s culture, values, and expectations to each new hire.
- Reduced Errors: Automated processes can minimize the risk of manual errors in data entry and paperwork completion. This can avoid problems with inaccurate payroll data, benefits enrollment, and other crucial information.
- Integration with other HR systems: Onboarding tools can integrate with other HR systems, such as HRIS and payroll software, ensuring that all employee data and processes are synchronized across the organization.
- Cost Savings: The reduced administrative burden, increased efficiency, and lower error rates can lead to overall savings in HR operational costs.
- Employee Retention: An organized onboarding procedure that familiarizes new hires with the company’s culture and values can help increase employee satisfaction and reduce turnover costs.
Top 5 free HR onboarding software
We have listed our top picks for free HR onboarding tools, and we have five to share with you. They are:
- Sentrifugo
- WebHR
- Bamboo HR
- Clickboarding
- Grove HR
Let’s see the reviews of these onboarding solutions!
1. Sentrifugo
It’s an open-source Human Resources Management System, or HRMS, solution that targets small and medium businesses to provide assistance in HR-related tasks. Being open-source software, it is completely free! However, it doesn’t come with any web apps.
As free software, Sentrifugo is equipped with various essential modules, such as
- Onboarding
- Performance appraisal analytics
- Background checks
- Lead management
Here are some pros and cons of Sentrifugo:
Pros
- Open-source and free.
- Modular approach.
- Employee self-service.
- Performance management.
- Recruitment and applicant tracking.
Cons
- Lack of payroll management
- Lack of invoice features
- Limited features
- Self-hosting
- No mobile support
One thing to note is that since Sentrifugo is open-source software, the users have to host the software on their own website, which can add up to some costs.
2. WebHR
WebHR is an HR management solution that stands out with its exceptional employee onboarding feature. It simplifies onboarding with a user-friendly interface and customizable workflows. The onboarding process for new hires is made efficient and user-friendly through a smart wizard.
This digital assistant guides them through each step, ensuring the secure storage of their information. This approach benefits both employees and employers by simplifying the process and concluding with administrative approval and data archiving.
With WebHR’s onboarding solutions, you can avail of the following features for employees:
- Review and sign offer letter
- Online training
- Benefits enrollment
- Company policy acknowledgement
- Electronic document signing
- Form and paperwork completion
- Personal information submission
- Document upload
With all these functionalities included, WebHR is free for up to 5 employees. If you plan to unlock all the features, you will need to spend $2 per employee.
Let’s jot down the pros and cons of WebHR:
Pros
- User-friendly Interface
- Comprehensive HR management
- Customization
- Cloud-based accessibility
- Employee Self-Service
Cons:
- Not budget-friendly for small businesses
- Learning curve
- Limited Customer Support
- Weak mobile compatibility
3. Freshteam
Freshteam is a top-notch HR onboarding tool known for its efficiency and user-friendly design. It automates the onboarding process with document sharing, digital signatures, and task management. The platform fosters collaboration by assigning notifications to stakeholders. It’s an all-in-one HR solution, but pricing may vary. However, it’s free for up to 50 employees.
Pros
- Customizable reports.
- Efficient filters and tags.
- User-Friendly Customization.
- All-in-one ATS solution.
Cons
- PDF CV upload requirement
- The mobile app needs improvement.
- Search function reliability.
- Subuser customization costs.
For streamlined onboarding and HR management, Freshteam is a strong contender in terms of staff onboarding software for growing teams.
4. Click Boarding
Click Boarding is a user-friendly employee onboarding and HR platform that streamlines the onboarding process. It offers a customized onboarding management system, digital paperwork, and electronic signatures.
With mobile accessibility, task management, and integration capabilities, it simplifies onboarding tasks. The platform places a focus on compliance, employee engagement, and adaptable content to promote a seamless and interesting transition for new hires.
You can request a demo to test out the product on their product page for free!
5. Grove HR
With Grove HR, you can create tailored onboarding workflows, enable digital document signing, and provide a self-service portal for new hires. The platform is a great option for businesses looking to modernize and improve their onboarding procedures because it places a strong emphasis on efficiency, compliance, and a fun onboarding experience.
If you look at the surface-level features of Grove HR, you’ll find the following:
Recruiting and Onboarding: Onboarding
Organization Management: Time, Attendance, and PTO
Platform Customization: User, Role, and Access Management, Mobility, Dashboards
Platform Additional Functionality: Onboarding Notifications
Here are the top pros and cons of Grove HR:
Pros
- User-Friendly Interface
- Customization.
- Mobile Accessibility
Cons
- Limited integrations
- Limited feature set
- Pricing variability.
- Variable customer support
Conclusion
For a modern business or organization, an advanced tool to manage human resources effectively is vital. The use of such software is an investment in the future of your business, regardless of whether you select free employee onboarding software or a premium HR management platform. It’s a win-win scenario: new hires get a smooth transition into their roles, and employers set the stage for a more productive and satisfied workforce.
So, if you’re looking to elevate your onboarding process and, by extension, your company’s success, exploring HR onboarding software is a step in the right direction.
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