The One Thing I'd Change About: Flexile
At Goated Guild, we're all about streamlining processes and making sure that every touchpoint in a product journey is as smooth as possible. That's why when I look at Flexile—a platform that holds immense potential for connecting elite talent with profitable companies—I see an opportunity to make a significant impact. Flexile is already doing great things by enabling companies to compensate top talent with a mix of cash and equity, but there's one area I believe could use some love: the onboarding process.
As someone who’s been in the trenches with profitable companies through events like Inflection, I've seen firsthand how crucial it is for companies to find ways to manage their expenses. Every dollar counts, and saving on upfront payments by giving equity is an innovative way to get top talent to buy into a company vision. With the tech industry facing macro shifts, more entrepreneurs are realizing that self-funded businesses may be the best path forward. The need for a platform like Flexile is clear—what’s important is communicating that value in a smooth and effective way.
Why Onboarding Matters
Onboarding involves more than getting users to sign up; it serves as the gateway to everything your platform offers. A well-designed onboarding process accomplishes four key things:
- Reassures the user about what they can accomplish with your platform.
- Guides them through the next steps they should take.
- Gathers data on who your users are and what their goals might be.
- Moves them quickly through the process so they can start realizing value.
Right now, Flexile’s onboarding seems heavily focused on that last goal—getting users through the door and into the system as quickly as possible. While speed is important, the current flow overlooks some critical steps that could enhance user experience and trust.
The Missing Pieces
The first thing I'd tweak is the way Flexile gathers information during onboarding. Are users signing up just to see the talent in the network? Are they tasked by a higher-up to evaluate the platform? Are they exploring contractor experiences compared to other tools? These are vital questions that Flexile should answer early in the process to better tailor the experience.
Here's how I'd improve it:
Introduce an Onboarding Call: Speed is important, but so is understanding. A quick, optional call during onboarding could provide a lot of insight into what users are looking for, allowing Flexile to better customize their experience.
Delay the Bank Account Step: Asking for bank details early in the process can be a big turn-off, especially when users are still getting familiar with the platform. Instead, I'd focus on getting them hooked by sending their first contract to a contractor. This would give them a preview of the experience that matters most—actually using the product.
Communicate Security and Compliance Early: Before asking for sensitive information like bank details, Flexile needs to reassure users about security and compliance. Without the backing of a well-known brand or years in the market, it's crucial to build trust through clear communication on these topics.
How Flexile Stacks Up
To put this in context, let’s look at how other platforms approach onboarding:
- Deel offers a clean and simple user interface that immediately aligns the user with the product's capabilities and next steps, making the experience intuitive and reassuring.
- Rippling uses strong messaging and clear benefits right from the start, along with an option for a demo, which helps to build trust before asking for too much information.
- Gusto takes a step-by-step approach, guiding users through each stage while offering plenty of support and explanations along the way. They even create an actual calendar with specific dates and times for completing each onboarding element, which helps users stay on track and ensures nothing falls through the cracks. Their emphasis on security and compliance is also apparent, which is something Flexile could emulate.
- Justworks simplifies the process, ensuring that users aren't overwhelmed and that they understand the value they're getting at each stage.
Flexile has a lot going for it, and with a few tweaks to the onboarding process, it could be even more effective at attracting and retaining users. In a world where entrepreneurs are increasingly leaning toward self-funded, profitable ventures, ensuring that onboarding is not just quick but also thorough and reassuring is key to long-term success.
This is just the beginning of what Flexile could achieve with a more thoughtful onboarding process. With these changes, I believe Flexile could become an even more powerful tool for companies and talent alike.
Interested in more insights like this? Join Goated Guild, where we’re always exploring the next steps for building and growing profitable businesses.