A positive onboarding experience is your chance to make a good impression on new hires and set them up for success at your company. However, conducting a thorough onboarding process can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive task for HR and People Teams. If performed manually, a significant amount of admin and paperwork are involved.

To streamline the onboarding process, HR Teams need access to technology and support that automates onboarding as much as possible. This article shares insights on the importance of an efficient onboarding process, and how you can deliver a better experience for both hiring managers and new employees.

The Importance of Efficient Onboarding

The competition for new talent is intense across all business sizes and sectors. People Teams are experiencing immense pressure to fill new positions while addressing increased levels of turnover. In this context, a streamlined onboarding process offers several benefits:

1.      Better employee experience

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression” is especially true for new hires. Starting a new job is a nerve-wracking adjustment, and the employee will be on high alert for signs they have made the right career move. A streamlined onboarding process is the first step in a long-term, positive employee experience. By demonstrating that you value employee development, company culture, and frequent check-ins, you show new hires that you care about their experience in the workplace.

2.      Increased employee retention

Employee retention is a top priority for many organizations, especially during a time when competition for talent is at an all-time high. There is a strong relationship between employee retention and the onboarding process. Considering 20% of employee turnover occurs within the first 45 days of employment, you can’t afford to neglect new hires. A high turnover rate is costly, especially when you account for the vacancy period and work involved to backfill the position. Although some turnover is expected, it’s good to optimize your worker’s lifetime value from day one.

3.      Improved employee engagement

A streamlined onboarding process familiarizes and connects employees with the organization’s mission, vision, goals, values, and culture. It also lets them know their responsibilities and how they contribute to the organization’s success, thereby increasing their engagement. This may seem like a minor benefit, but studies have shown engaged employees are more productive, have lower levels of absenteeism, and are more likely to have a long tenure with your company.

4.      Easier recruitment

New employees are unlikely to recommend an employer to others in their network following a poor onboarding experience. Dissatisfied employees can also publish their opinions on employer review sites and potentially tarnish your brand. On the other hand, a positive onboarding experience can inspire employees to spread the word about your workplace culture and benefits, which inevitably makes recruitment easier. Even better, they’re more likely to directly refer their connections for open vacancies, which is a faster and less expensive way to source new talent.

5 Ways to Streamline the Onboarding Process

If you find the onboarding process to be burdensome or frustrating, you’re not alone; 52% of HR professionals claim that onboarding is the most challenging aspect of their role. So, what can you do to streamline the onboarding process?

1.      Implement pre-boarding 

The first way to streamline your onboarding process is through pre-boarding. This is especially important if the candidate was hired virtually, or will be working remotely without any in-person interaction with your team. Pre-boarding may involve reaching out to the new employee for informal introductions prior to their first day, providing company swag, and sending a welcome delivery and message. This is also a good time to issue documents like company mission statements, employee handbooks, and culture decks. By covering these bases before the employee’s first day, you’ll lighten everyone’s workload during week one. Check out this onboarding checklist for other steps to include in this stage!

2.      Provide all necessary equipment

Ensure you provide all the equipment the employee needs from day one. In advance of the new hire’s first day, identify the appropriate devices and accessories for their position and provision them accordingly. Ensure they have active accounts on all company apps and the appropriate user settings are already in place. Too many organizations leave employees waiting around on their first day for IT to arrive with a laptop, which shows a lack of preparation and respect for your new team member. To overcome this pitfall, consider automating your device provisioning process. 

3.      Create a clear training plan

Design an effective training plan as part of your orientation process to ensure the new hire stays focused and develops the necessary skills to perform their role successfully. A job-specific training program also ensures new hires stay on target and have a clear path for progression with the company. Before initiating the training process, ask the employee about their goals and ambitions so you can tailor your plan accordingly. Then, schedule regular check in meetings from the very beginning to keep all parties accountable. 

4.      Ask for feedback

The best ideas for streamlining an onboarding process often come from past experiences. Determine the effectiveness of your historical onboarding process by surveying managers and employees. They are in the best position to know what works and what doesn’t. More importantly, ensure you check in with new employees regularly while their opinions and experiences are still fresh. Ask managers to schedule regular feedback sessions with new hires to track their progress and ask if there are areas that can be made more efficient in future.

5.      Implement a buddy program

New hires will usually have questions about your company or workplace customs that don’t necessarily need to be asked of their managers. A buddy program is a great way to address these queries, without placing all of the responsibility on the employee’s direct supervisor. When a new person joins your team, assign them an experienced employee who can help guide them through the onboarding process and regularly check in on them. By spreading the workload involved in onboarding, it naturally becomes more efficient.

Electric Can Help You Streamline Your Onboarding Process

Onboarding doesn’t have to be a tedious, manual process for HR and People Teams. With the right technology and support, you can deliver a seamless onboarding experience for hiring managers and new employees alike. At Electric, we can help you automate the hard work with simplified onboarding requests, device procurement and provisioning, and centralized user management and tracking. Contact us today to learn more about streamlining your onboarding experience.