How to build the best Mac onboarding experience

During this JNUC 2025 presentation titled “Build the Best Onboarding Experience,” Mischa van der Bent, Manager of Consulting Engineering at Jamf, shared best practices for creating an exceptional Mac onboarding experience.

Building trust

A smooth, welcoming first interaction with a company device builds trust between IT and the end user. The key is to automate and standardize the setup process using tools like Jamf Pro and Automated Device Enrollment (ADE), providing transparency and helping new employees get to work right away.

In brief, here is how to do it:

• Automate enrollment: Use zero-touch deployment so users can unbox their Mac and set it up themselves, fully configured, without IT involvement.
• Customize the experience: Use tools like Jamf Setup Manager to guide users through installation, display branding, and provide clear communication about what’s happening and when.
• Streamline device setup: Install applications and settings in the background before the user logs in, so their Mac is ready to use the moment they reach the desktop.

Why does the first impression matter?

A new employee’s first day is a critical moment. The initial contact with their company-issued Mac sets the tone for their relationship with IT and the organization. A clunky, confusing or slow setup process can create frustration and erode trust from the start. By providing seamless and transparent onboarding, IT can demonstrate its value and commitment to user success. The goal is to make the device ready for productivity as quickly as possible, reflecting the efficiency and user-friendliness of the company itself.

What are the different Mac deployment strategies?

There are two primary methods for deploying Mac computers: zero-touch and single-touch deployments.

Zero-touch deployment

The gold standard, zero-touch deployment facilitates shipping a device directly to the end user, who unboxes it and is guided through an automated setup. This process, enabled by Apple’s Automated Device Enrollment (ADE), requires no IT intervention.

Single-touch deployment

IT-driven enrollment, or single-touch deployment, involves IT preparing the device first. This is useful for complex software installations or for providing a “white glove” service to executives. Both strategies can be optimized to ensure the user is productive as quickly as possible.

How can you automate and customize enrollment?

Tools built by the Jamf community and Jamf itself can transform the standard enrollment process into a branded, user-friendly experience. While the native macOS onboarder in Jamf Pro offers good visibility, other tools like swiftDialog and Jamf’s own Setup Manager take it further. Setup Manager runs during the Setup Assistant, allowing IT to install applications, set the time zone and display progress to the user before their account is even created. This means that when the user lands on the desktop, the Mac is already equipped with the necessary software and configurations. The experience is customizable with company branding, logos and messages: building trust and providing a polished first impression.

How does Jamf Setup Manager work?

Setup Manager is a powerful tool that enhances both zero-touch and single-touch deployments. It is deployed as a package during prestage enrollment.

For a zero-touch workflow, the end user is guided through a branded interface that shows them exactly what’s being installed and when.

For a single-touch workflow, an IT administrator can log in, pre-load the user’s information, and let the installations complete. When the end user receives the device, they simply log in with their credentials, and their desktop is ready. The tool supports multiple languages and can be configured using a simple XML or JSON file. This streamlines deployment, reduces setup time, and ensures a consistent and secure process.

Key takeaways

• A great onboarding experience is the first step in building trust between IT and end users.
• ADE is the foundation for modern, zero-touch Mac deployment.
• Jamf Setup Manager allows for a customized, transparent, and streamlined setup process that occurs before the user logs in.
• Single-touch deployments are a valid strategy for devices requiring large software payloads or special handling.