First Impressions Matter: The Critical Role of Onboarding in Building Company Culture
First impressions count, right? Onboarding is the first stage of an employee’s journey, and 81% of employees have said they found onboarding to be „overwhelming.” With new hires typically facing 54 onboarding tasks — most of which involve compliance and paperwork — this isn’t surprising. If your onboarding process still relies on paper-based processes and manual efforts from your HR team, it’s likely holding your company back from establishing a culture of innovation and forward-thinking problem-solving.
Technology’s Role in the Onboarding Process
Technology is the answer to the slog of traditional onboarding, turning it into a more efficient and engaging experience for new employees. There are many digital platforms on offer, delivering personalised online onboarding and making it more interactive and immersive, taking the stress away from everyone.
Onboarding software automates admin, from creating onboarding packets to inputting new employees’ personal information, allowing HR teams to check off their onboarding tasks faster and focus more on strategic initiatives. MindBody is a great example to show off the benefits of this. By shifting to a fully digitised process, their HR department saved 4 hours a day of onboarding admin. The online process could involve a self-service portal for new employees to complete the necessary paperwork at their convenience — even before their start date — leading to a more streamlined experience. This software also serves as a digital repository, storing important documents like signed offer letters and skills certifications.
Onboarding software also allows for crafting personalised onboarding journeys with tailored content based on employees’ roles, departments, and locations. This ensures that new hires receive the information that’s most relevant to their roles and positions. Many onboarding platforms also feature social tools that help new hires connect with colleagues, generating a sense of community and promoting a collaborative work culture from day one.
What to Look For in Employee Onboarding Software
The best employee onboarding software offers features that make the process both engaging and culturally aligned. Accenture, for example, took advantage of the newly innovated virtual reality software and the metaverse for their onboarding. They created virtual versions of their physical offices, which was particularly useful for new hybrid works. This novel idea was favoured by 94% of newly onboarded employees.
You could also upload video welcome messages from leadership or team members, helping convey the company’s values and mission while creating a sense of connection from the outset. Plus, if it’s the first thing a new employee sees, it can build momentum for them to power through the onboarding process.
Social collaboration tools further encourage employees to connect with their peers, building a community spirit early on. These tools may include public shout-outs and celebrations, as well as an internal news feed where employees can track coworkers’ progress and recognise great work.
The use of AI in onboarding is also on the rise. AI-powered chatbots can answer new employees’ questions 24/7, and automated workflows can guide both new hires and HR through each step of the process.
With tech-enabled onboarding solutions, new hires can easily share their experiences, ask questions, and give and receive feedback. These two-way communication channels encourage continuous engagement and ensure new employees feel heard and valued, contributing to a culture of inclusivity and respect.
Embracing Onboarding Tech Solutions
Technology, like in pretty much every aspect of life, is there to make your life easier. And onboarding employees is no exception. What’s more, not only does using technological onboarding software make the process simpler for all parties involved, but it also makes the process more engaging and exciting! So many employees are used to — and dread — the traditional, mundane onboarding process. If your company can spruce it up a bit by sprinkling your company culture from the start, new employees can feel more at ease and be a part of the company from the get-go. Having an interactive onboarding provides a platform for a personalised, engaging, and efficient introduction to your company’s values, mission, and work environment.
As seen by the various case studies we’ve included, the digitisation of onboarding is already reshaping how companies welcome new employees. By tailoring employees’ onboarding journey, companies can ensure new hires are prepared for their roles and feel a strong connection to the culture.
To summarise, technology in onboarding isn’t just a smart strategy — it’s an essential strategy. It’s the key to creating a powerful first impression, nurturing a strong company culture, and setting new employees up for success from day one.
Author: Mark Ollerton
