Employee Link
UI/UX Design
Product Optimisation
Research

Driving key metrics for Employee Link through smarter onboarding, activation, and paywalls

UI/UX Design
Product Optimisation
Research

The combined improvements across onboarding, activation, paywalls, and feature design for Employee Link - a workforce management app designed for business owners, managers, and employees.

Client

Employee Link

Website

Services

UI/UX Design, Product, Research

Project period

2025-ongoing

The Challenge

<p>Employee Link is a workforce management app designed for business owners, managers, and employees to streamline scheduling, time tracking, and team coordination.<p>

<p>While the platform offered robust functionality, we saw an opportunity to improve how new users experienced their first moments in the app.<p>

<p>Our focus: make it easier for users to get started, understand the app's value, and convert with confidence.<p>

"The quality of their work is the best I’ve seen. Thanks to Applica, I've seen a 30% increase in product page views and downloads, as well as great improvements in revenue. ''
Morgan Trudeau
CEO at Magnify Technologies

The Solution

<step-l>1<step-l><case-h3>Goals<case-h3>

<p>The project centered around four key initiatives:<p>

<p> 01. Redesign the onboarding flow to reduce drop-offs, increase personalization, and drive early trial intent.<p>

<p> 02. Launch a new export timesheets feature, guided by user feedback and designed for fast adoption.<p>

<p> 03. Test and optimize the paywall experience, experimenting with different entry points, messaging, and layouts.<p>

<p> 04. Boost post-onboarding activation by introducing a Get Started flow that encourages immediate action and reveals product value quickly.<p>

<p>Our guiding principle throughout was simple: every screen should move users closer to value.<p>

Typography & Color

<step-l>2<step-l><case-h3>Onboarding Flow<case-h3>

<p>The original onboarding was short but lacked personalization, making it harder for users to feel connected to the app early on.<p>

<p>We introduced new screens to tailor the experience based on role, industry, and feature needs. Users now select whether they're a business owner, manager, employee, or freelancer, and choose their industry and top use cases-like GPS timesheets or scheduling.<p>

<p>These changes made the flow more relevant, and set the stage for better activation and engagement.<p>

Simplified Payroll

<step-l>3<step-l><case-h3>Post-Onboarding: Get Started Flow<case-h3>

<p>After completing onboarding, users now see a "Get Started" popup that walks them through setting up their company in just a few steps. It's focused, friendly, and highlights how little time each task will take.<p>

<p>This flow was made mandatory to drive activation, and we paid close attention to drop-off points.<p>

<p>Initially, asking users to invite teammates too early led to friction-so we moved that step to the end of the setup sequence, after users had already configured key settings.<p>

<p>The result was a smoother path to value, with more users completing setup and exploring the app.<p>

Before the Redesign

After the Redesign

<step-l>4<step-l><case-h3>Export Timesheets Flow<case-h3>

<p>Exporting timesheets was one of the most requested features from users managing payroll and reports. Previously, users had no easy way to pull out logged hours in a shareable format-leading to frustration and support tickets.<p>

<p>We designed and built the export flow from scratch focusing on simplicity and clarity.<p>

<p>Users can now quickly select a date range, choose format (CSV or PDF), and generate timesheets in seconds.<p>

<step-l>5<step-l><case-h3>Paywall Versions & Testing<case-h3>

<p>Most of our testing focused on onboarding paywalls, where timing and clarity are critical.<p>

<p>We explored multiple versions, ranging from simple prompts to more dynamic formats across onboarding and in-app moments.<p>

<p>The most successful version was a table-style layout introduced during onboarding.<p>

<p>It clearly outlined the differences between core and pro, making the decision straightforward.<p>

<p>Users responded well to this level of transparency, and it consistently outperformed other formats in trial starts and conversions.<p>

The Result

+35%

ARPU

+15%

Onboarding completion rate

<p>The combined improvements across onboarding, activation, paywalls, and feature design led to measurable lifts across the funnel. Export feature engagement contributed to higher retention and repeat app usage:<p>

<p> - ARPU saw a lift of 35%, indicating stronger monetization per user.<p>

<p> - Onboarding completion rate improved by 15%, thanks to personalized steps and reduced early friction.<p>

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