How do you automate employee onboarding workflows across multiple systems?

Employee onboarding automation orchestrates actions across HR, IT, facilities, and departmental systems. Workflow trigger: new hire record created in HRIS (Workday, BambooHR, or ADP). Automated steps: (1) IT provisioning: create Active Directory/Entra ID account, assign licenses (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace), provision email, set up VPN access, and create accounts in SaaS tools based on role template. (2) HR tasks: generate offer letter, initiate background check via API (Checkr, Sterling), create payroll record, enroll in benefits, assign training curriculum in LMS. (3) Facilities: assign desk/office, order equipment (laptop, monitors, phone), create building access badge request, set up parking. (4) Department-specific: add to relevant Slack channels, schedule 1:1s with team members, assign a buddy/mentor, share team documentation. Implementation: use an integration platform (Workato, MuleSoft, or n8n) with pre-built connectors, implement role-based templates that automatically determine which applications and access levels to provision, and create a self-service portal where the hiring manager can customize the onboarding package. Include automated check-ins at day 1, 7, 30, and 90 to track progress. Error handling: maintain a task list with status tracking, retry failed provisioning, and escalate to IT help desk for persistent failures.