> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.wiacom.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# User Onboarding Overview

> How Wiacom registers, identifies, and onboards users across all channels

Onboarding is the process by which a user is registered, identified, and consented before receiving WiFi access. Wiacom supports multiple onboarding channels that can operate independently or together at the same location.

<Info>
  Onboarding and access are configured separately. A user onboarded through any channel can receive connectivity via Portal, WiFi Pass, Key Access, Passpoint Connect, or Horizon — independently of how they registered.
</Info>

## What Onboarding Covers

| Aspect              | Detail                                                                      |
| ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Identity**        | Who the user is — email, phone, social profile, or external system identity |
| **Consent**         | GDPR-compliant marketing consent and terms acceptance                       |
| **Verification**    | OTP (SMS/email), social OAuth, or external system validation                |
| **Access delivery** | Credentials, passphrase, or QR code sent to the user after registration     |

## Registration Methods

Regardless of onboarding channel, users can register using:

* **Email** — sign-up with email address and optional password
* **Phone (OTP)** — PIN authentication via SMS
* **Social / OAuth** — Facebook, Google, Apple, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Microsoft 365, Azure AD, and other providers
* **Custom integrations** — loyalty programmes, PMS, SSO, CRM, or mobile app SDK

## Onboarding Channels

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Captive Portal" icon="browser" href="/onboarding/captive-portal">
    Registration embedded directly in the WiFi connection flow. Users complete a form before gaining access — no link or QR code required. The most common channel for public and guest WiFi.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Guest Connect" icon="link" href="/onboarding/guest-connect/overview">
    A standalone registration page accessed via URL or QR code — independent of the WiFi connection flow. Users can register before arriving, from a poster, or from any device.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Student Connect" icon="graduation-cap" href="/onboarding/student-connect">
    Onboarding flow designed for educational environments with institutional identity verification. Coming soon.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Staff Connect" icon="id-badge" href="/onboarding/staff-connect">
    Onboarding flow for employees and contractors with role-based access assignment. Coming soon.
  </Card>

  <Card title="API & External Platforms" icon="code" href="/onboarding/api-platforms">
    Register users programmatically from any external system — mobile apps, PMS, CRM, loyalty platforms, or custom workflows via the Wiacom API.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Choosing a Channel

| Scenario                                                   | Recommended channel                     |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Public guest WiFi — users connect and register on the spot | Captive Portal                          |
| Pre-registration before arrival, or QR code on signage     | Guest Connect                           |
| Campus or school WiFi with student IDs                     | Student Connect                         |
| Employee or contractor WiFi                                | Staff Connect                           |
| Hotel PMS, loyalty app, or custom mobile app               | API & External Platforms                |
| Multiple channels at the same location                     | Any combination — channels are additive |

## How Onboarding Connects to Access

After a user completes registration through any channel, Wiacom delivers their access credentials based on the access features configured for the location:

| Access feature        | What the user receives                                                           |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Portal**            | Session credentials handled automatically — user is admitted after registration  |
| **WiFi Pass**         | A personal passphrase and QR code sent by email                                  |
| **Key Access**        | The shared SSID passphrase and QR code sent by email                             |
| **Passpoint Connect** | A Hotspot 2.0 profile for automatic connection on supported devices              |
| **Horizon**           | A personal SSID provisioned at the venue for the duration of the stay or session |

For details on each access feature, see [Access Features](/access-features/overview).