When hiring new employees, introducing tech to specific parts of the onboarding process can cut time in half for HR – especially at smaller companies – and save thousands of dollars in cost, writes Beatrix Potter, manager, .
Automating onboarding is necessary if you want your company and new employee to succeed. Implementing technology in critical areas will advance your business and help grow business effectively. Being ahead of the game and staying up to date with new technological trends will make your company appear more desirable for both job seekers and investors. When onboarding new employees, automating key processes can also cut time in half for HR and save you thousands of dollars in cost.
5 Areas of Onboarding Where You Can Introduce Tech for Quicker Results
If purchasing full-fledged onboarding technology seems too challenging right now, there are key areas of the process that you can use tech for and simplify for both employees and yourself.
1. Paperwork management
Hiring new employeesOpens a new window at your company can be a long process, especially when a tonne of paperwork is involved for signatures and other contracts. Instead of running the risk of losing this valuable information, and chasing your new employees for them, why not make the transition to a document signing solution.
Adopting an effective tool like DocuSign will save you time that otherwise would be wasted organizing paperwork and collecting a pile of papers. Employees can sign their papers virtually and both parties can maintain an online record of this paperwork safely.
2. Workflows
While managing new workloads and projects with new employees, things can get lost in translation. Some employees can be given too many responsibilities while others are left with little to do – not to mention the lack of clarity on a new job when tasks are allocated inefficiently. By bringing in an online tool, such as Trello, that organizes each step and to-do lists, your employees will have visibility into and manage their workload effectively.
Each employee and the department will automatically know what to do and when their specific task is due. Once you set up this program, line managers and HR teams won’t waste time reminding people to complete certain tasks. You can set deadlines through the tool for each task.
Learn More: Top 10 Employee Onboarding Software for 2020Opens a new window
3. Progress management
When tracking new employees’ performance and progress, it can be challenging to measure what stage they’re at. It is equally important not to overload them with too many tasks in the first few weeks and months of employment.
A simple performance managementOpens a new window tool is useful for tracking every new step they take and complete in their new role. The technology will keep track of who’s training them and if they are maintaining the same level of competency as the other employees. This tool can also audit their performance and help you process how effective your mentorship and communication are.
4. Information access
Keeping all information on one management tool can keep documents organized and in one place. A tool like Atlassian keeps together both employee benefits, payroll, and background information such as resumes is incredibly vital. With all this valuable information on hand, you can easily access this with one onboarding tool or app. This tool can handle handbooks and information that the employee can easily access if needed.
Learn More: 10 Best Onboarding Experience Strategies for Your 2020 HiresOpens a new window
5. Virtual networking program
Introducing new employees to other seasoned employees at your business is important for networking and collaboration. Your new employee must thrive and flourish in their new working environment.
When working in a new place, employees may feel intimidated, and not everyone is comfortable when meeting new people.
Implementing tools that can facilitate cultural programs in a remote environment and features that encourage employees to network and discuss new ideas as well as form new bonds is ideal for your business. Letting your new employees feel comfortable will help them work effectively, and collaboration can lead to your business growth and better ideas being produced.
Onboarding Must Be Automated for the Future of Work
Setting up onboarding technology tools and apps can take time, but it is useful in the long term if you want your business to succeed. It is also particularly useful if you have to onboard remote employees. Going digital is not only efficient in terms of time, cutting down on unnecessary paper waste is also greener for your business and an effective cost-cutter. For businesses to pivot rapidly, tech must become the mainstay of every HR function.
Which aspects of onboarding have you automated? Share your experience with us on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window .