Kallidus acquired Sapling to create a comprehensive Human Capital Management software and digital learning provider that supports the entire employee lifecycle. The platform has evolved from a standalone onboarding solution into a full-suite HRIS system that combines people operations, learning management, and talent development.
Sapling is a customizable HRIS that connects people, tools, and data to effectively manage distributed teams. With a mobile-responsive design and powerful automation capabilities, Kallidus serves organizations ranging from mid-sized businesses to large enterprises.
Core Features
Onboarding and Preboarding
The platform allows you to create incredible onboarding experiences for new hires before they even start. Key onboarding features include:
- Automated welcome workflows - New hires receive emails directing them to the preboarding portal
- Profile completion - Employees can complete personal information, bio details, and preferences
- Document signing - Electronic signature collection for paperwork
- Task assignment - Automated task distribution to new hires, managers, and team members
- Multi-hire onboarding - Ability to onboard multiple employees simultaneously
The preboarding experience sets the tone for employee success by ensuring all necessary information is gathered before day one.
Workflow Automation
Workflows act as the foundation to create automated, consistent, and repeatable processes to free up your team's time. The platform offers:
- Custom workflow creation - Build workflows for onboarding, offboarding, relocations, promotions, and other transitions
- Task collections - Group related tasks together for mass assignment
- Auto-assignment rules - Automatically assign tasks based on location, department, or employment type
- Relative dating - Delay task assignment or due dates to future dates
- Drip campaigns - Release tasks gradually to avoid overwhelming team members
Workflows encompass all stakeholders involved in employee transitions, ensuring coordinated and consistent processes across locations.
Offboarding Management
The platform provides comprehensive offboarding capabilities to manage employee departures professionally:
- Automated exit tasks - Systematic checklist for departing employees
- Knowledge transfer facilitation - Ensure critical information is documented
- Compliance assurance - Maintain proper records for audits
- Workflow assignments - Apply offboarding workflows during the departure process
Automated workflows help manage departures smoothly, minimizing disruptions and maintaining a positive employer brand.
Core HR Management
Sapling helps capture important employee information, manage workflows and tasks, ensuring all teams know exactly what needs to be done during every step of the employee lifecycle. Core HR features include:
- Centralized employee database - Single source of truth for personnel data
- Document storage - Secure storage for employee documents and files
- Profile tracking - Monitor job-related data such as promotions and salary adjustments
- Change tracking - View employee history and maintain audit trails
- Compliance management - Stay compliant with data retention regulations
- PTO management - Track and manage time-off policies
People Directory and Org Chart
The platform provides visibility into organizational structure:
- Searchable directory - Find any team member quickly
- Filtering options - Filter by team, location, or department
- Contact information - Easy access to email addresses
- Visual org chart - Understand team relationships and company structure
- Mobile access - View directory on any device
Task Management System
Tasks are action items assigned to employees, personas such as managers, or workspaces encompassing groups of individuals. Features include:
- Customizable tasks - Define title, assignee, due date, description, and attachments
- Sub-tasks - Break large tasks into manageable pieces
- Task comments - Enable team collaboration with @mentions
- Status tracking - Monitor task completion across the organization
- Survey integration - Insert surveys into workflows for feedback collection
Learning and Performance Management
Through integration with Kallidus' learning platforms, the system offers:
- Employee development tools - Access to training and learning content
- Performance reviews - Goal setting and feedback loops
- Talent management - Tools for assessment and retention
- Learning content library - Pre-built courses and materials
Companies prioritizing employee training and performance benefit from the integration with Kallidus.
Integration Capabilities
The platform seamlessly integrates between your ATS, Payroll and more. Integration features include:
- Applicant Tracking Systems - Connect with recruitment platforms like Lever and Greenhouse
- Payroll systems - Sync with Paylocity and other payroll providers
- Identity management - Integration with Okta for authentication
- Data synchronization - Connect people data across existing systems
- Field mapping - Customize which data syncs between platforms
Reporting and Analytics
The platform provides data-driven insights for HR decision-making:
- Custom reports - Build reports tailored to your needs
- Report scheduling - Automate report delivery to specific users or groups
- Real-time analytics - Access up-to-date workforce data
- Employee lifecycle visibility - Track the entire employee journey
- Compliance reporting - Generate audit-ready reports
Key Benefits
Time Savings and Efficiency
The platform eliminates manual tasks and clunky processes, allowing teams to say goodbye to spreadsheets. Organizations experience:
- Reduced administrative burden - Automation handles repetitive tasks
- Faster onboarding - New hires become productive quickly
- Streamlined processes - Consistent workflows across all locations
- Bulk operations - Handle multiple employee transitions simultaneously
Improved Employee Experience
The platform creates positive experiences throughout the employee lifecycle:
- Seamless transitions - Smooth onboarding and offboarding experiences
- Self-service capabilities - Employees access information independently
- Clear expectations - Everyone knows what tasks need completion
- Mobile accessibility - Work from anywhere on any device
Scalability for Growing Teams
The platform supports companies whether they're hiring one person or scaling rapidly. Benefits include:
- Flexible workflows - Adapt processes as the organization grows
- Multi-location support - Manage distributed teams effectively
- Consistent processes - Maintain quality as you scale
- Custom configurations - Tailor the system to your needs
Data Accuracy and Compliance
The platform ensures data integrity and regulatory compliance:
- Centralized data storage - Eliminate data duplication
- Audit trails - Track all changes for compliance purposes
- Secure document management - Protect sensitive employee information
- Compliance automation - Built-in tools for regulatory requirements
Enhanced Collaboration
The system fosters better teamwork across departments:
- Coordinated transitions - Multiple stakeholders work together seamlessly
- Task visibility - Everyone knows their responsibilities
- Communication tools - Comments and mentions facilitate collaboration
- Standardized processes - Consistent communication for key events
Strategic HR Transformation
The platform helps companies turn HR from an administrative role into a strategic function. Organizations gain:
- Data-driven insights - Make informed decisions with analytics
- Proactive management - Anticipate needs rather than react
- Employee engagement - Tools to improve retention and satisfaction
- Competitive advantage - Better talent management capabilities
Pricing Structure
Pricing Model
Kallidus typically operates on a subscription model, with costs varying based on the number of users and specific modules selected. The pricing approach includes:
- Annual subscription - Pricing starts at $10,000 annually
- Per-user pricing - Costs scale with employee count
- Module-based pricing - Pay for the features you need
- Flexible structure - Organizations can scale investment according to needs
Pricing Considerations
Simple pricing that scales with you. When evaluating costs, consider:
- Company size - Number of employees affects total cost
- Feature requirements - Core HR versus full HCM suite
- Integration needs - Additional costs for system connections
- Support level - Different tiers may be available
- Implementation - Initial setup and training costs
Getting Pricing Information
To obtain specific pricing for your organization:
- Request a demo - See the platform in action
- Custom quote - Get pricing tailored to your needs
- Free trial - Some features may offer trial periods
- Expert consultation - Discuss requirements with sales team
Ideal Users and Use Cases
Target Organizations
Kallidus Sapling HRIS has typical customers including Large Enterprises, Mid Size Business, and Small Business. The platform works best for:
- Mid-sized companies - Organizations with 50-500 employees
- Fast-growing startups - Companies scaling rapidly
- Distributed teams - Organizations with remote or multi-location workforces
- Process-focused companies - Businesses prioritizing consistency and automation
Industry Applications
The platform serves various sectors including:
- Technology companies - Software firms and digital businesses
- Professional services - Consulting and service organizations
- Manufacturing - Production and distribution companies
- Retail - Customer-facing businesses
- Non-profits - Organizations with limited HR resources
Best Use Cases
Organizations benefit most when they need:
- Onboarding excellence - Creating exceptional new hire experiences
- Workflow automation - Reducing manual HR processes
- Multi-location management - Coordinating teams across geographies
- Learning and development - Prioritizing employee growth
- Compliance management - Maintaining regulatory requirements
Customer Success Stories
InVision uses Sapling globally with nearly 1,000 team members to connect and empower their fully distributed team. They leverage integrations with Greenhouse, Paylocity, and Okta to build streamlined, automated employee experiences.
"Sapling was pivotal in supporting our company scale remotely from 100 to over 1,000 people", demonstrating the platform's ability to support rapid growth.
Notable clients include:
- InVision
- Digital Ocean
- Coupa
- Geckoboard
- JYSK
- Nestle
- McDonalds
- Aston Martin
User Feedback
Positive Aspects
Users consistently praise several features:
- Ease of use - Intuitive interface for employees and administrators
- Onboarding workflows - Document signing and task automation help teams significantly
- Customer service - Responsive and helpful support team
- Setup simplicity - Quick implementation and configuration
- Mobile functionality - Work effectively from any device
Areas for Improvement
Users have noted some limitations:
- PTO functionality - Limited options for complex time-off policies
- Integration gaps - Some desired integrations not available (e.g., ADP for PTO)
- Document limitations - Restrictions on multiple signatures
- User interface - Occasional loading issues and image upload problems
- Feature constraints - Some edge cases not supported
Support and Resources
Available Support Options
Kallidus Sapling HRIS offers Email/Help Desk and Phone Support. Support includes:
- Help desk tickets - Written support for non-urgent issues
- Phone support - Direct assistance for urgent needs
- Documentation - Comprehensive help center articles
- Training resources - Materials for administrators and users
Self-Service Resources
The platform provides:
- Intranet links - Centralized hub for company information
- Knowledge base - Self-serve resources and guides
- Security policies - Access to important documentation
- Benefits guidelines - Employee reference materials
- Company handbooks - Centralized policy information
Comparison with Competitors
Kallidus vs. Rippling
Sapling excels in onboarding, offboarding, and learning management due to Kallidus' heritage, while Rippling offers broader integration with IT and finance systems. Sapling focuses specifically on HR and talent management.
Kallidus vs. BambooHR
While BambooHR emphasizes payroll integration and performance management, Sapling focuses on onboarding, workflow automation, and employee development through learning platforms.
Unique Advantages
Kallidus stands out with:
- Learning integration - Deep connection with Kallidus learning platforms
- Workflow customization - Highly tailored automation capabilities
- Onboarding specialization - Best-in-class new hire experiences
- Mid-market focus - Purpose-built for growing organizations
Getting Started
Implementation Process
To begin with Kallidus:
- Schedule a demo - See the platform's capabilities
- Assess requirements - Identify your specific needs
- Request pricing - Get a customized quote
- Plan implementation - Work with the team on setup
- Configure workflows - Customize for your organization
- Train users - Prepare administrators and employees
- Launch - Begin with onboarding or phased rollout
Success Factors
For optimal results:
- Define clear workflows - Map processes before implementation
- Engage stakeholders - Include managers and HR team in planning
- Plan integrations - Ensure compatibility with existing systems
- Train thoroughly - Invest in user education
- Iterate and improve - Refine workflows based on feedback
Conclusion
Kallidus (formerly Sapling) represents a powerful HRIS solution designed specifically for organizations that prioritize employee experience and operational efficiency. The platform automates people workflows from onboarding to offboarding and everything in between by connecting people data across existing systems.
With its focus on workflow automation, comprehensive onboarding capabilities, and integration with learning and development tools, Kallidus serves mid-sized to large organizations seeking to transform HR from an administrative function into a strategic advantage.
The platform's scalable pricing model, strong customer support, and proven track record with companies like InVision and Nestle make it a compelling choice for growing businesses. While some limitations exist around PTO management and certain integrations, the overall value proposition—particularly for companies focused on creating exceptional employee experiences—remains strong.
For organizations evaluating HRIS solutions, Kallidus deserves serious consideration, especially if onboarding excellence, workflow automation, and learning and development are key priorities. The best approach is to request a demo and custom pricing quote to determine if the platform aligns with your specific organizational needs and budget.