WATCH: Is virtual onboarding worth it in today's remote working environment?

While the world’s governments have declared the pandemic over, businesses have been forced to adapt to a new reality—one that includes remote working and virtual onboarding (often called digital onboarding).

With the help of digital platforms and tools, such as Jugo’s Virtual Events and Meetings Platform, companies are finding innovative ways to integrate new employees into their teams from afar.

And while virtual onboarding was once considered a temporary solution, it has now become a permanent fixture in the modern workplace, with companies around the globe embracing this new trend as the new norm.

How to adapt to the new normal

Senior HR professionals need to adapt to this new environment and implement innovative virtual onboarding processes.

Virtual onboarding is the process of integrating new employees into a company using digital platforms and tools. It is an essential part of the hiring process, as it allows the company to introduce new remote and hybrid employees to the company and its culture.

It is an important tool for companies that are transitioning to remote working, as it allows them to integrate new employees into the company without physical contact. Getting it right is important because it sets the tone for the employee’s experience with the company.

It is the first impression that the employee has of the company and can influence their decision to stay with the company long term. But digital onboarding can be a challenge, especially for companies that are used to traditional onboarding methods.

However, it is important to embrace the change and take advantage of the opportunities that virtual onboarding presents. Companies can benefit from remote onboarding by saving time and money, improving efficiency, and increasing productivity.

For instance, Virtual Reality (VR) technology can be used to create an immersive environment for new hires and aid with information retention, ultimately resulting in better job performance.  Virtual onboarding technology can create beautiful environments where employees can feel immersed and inspired.

As such, embracing remote onboarding and leveraging technology can be a game-changer for senior HR professionals looking to enhance their remote onboarding processes.

Advantages and disadvantages of virtual onboarding

Virtual onboarding has several components that need to be considered before a HR team establishes a set policy.

While it is time and cost-effective compared to traditional onboarding methods, it lacks the personal interaction that comes with in-person onboarding, making it difficult for new employees to connect with colleagues and feel part of the company culture.

Next-generation technology used by Jugo, however, can emulate company culture as it allows employees to be fully immersed in an experiential platform.

Only 7% of body language is verbal the other 93% is nonverbal, fully immersing employees into an experiential platform using studio-quality camera angles and transitions leaving attendees feeling engaged and understood.

Companies can also save on travel expenses, office space, and other costs associated with in-person onboarding.

Virtual onboarding arguably also increases efficiency by allowing companies to automate parts of the onboarding process, such as paperwork and training. This improves efficiency and reduces the time it takes to onboard new employees.

However, it also has its disadvantages; virtual onboarding relies on technology, which can be unreliable at times and cause delays and frustration for new employees.

There is also the risk of miscommunication, especially if there are language or cultural barriers, which can lead to misunderstandings and a breakdown in communication. Whether this negates the flexibility it offers businesses – in that it can be done from anywhere – remains to be seen.

Impact on employee integration

There is no doubt that for a large share of businesses, virtual onboarding is here to stay, and companies must adapt to the new environment to remain competitive.

Effective virtual onboarding requires a strategic approach that includes effective communication, building a positive company culture, and measuring success.

Arming employees with the right information during onboarding gives them the best start possible. Interactive and gamified features within platforms such as Jugo help employees retain this information.

Companies should embrace the opportunities that virtual onboarding presents, such as increased efficiency, flexibility, and cost savings. However, they should also be aware of the potential disadvantages, such as the lack of personal interaction and technical issues.

HRD Connect Curators of the New Business Landscape. HRD Connect produces industry-recognized content for senior HR leaders. Through articles, case studies, Q&As, podcasts, events, and more, we offer truly progressive and cutting-edge insights designed to help people leaders address core HR challenges and add greater value to their business.

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