Traditional greetings and office visits are rapidly becoming obsolete. Companies will need to modify their onboarding processes to provide new employees with a warm and informative experience in a virtual setting, as remote work becomes more prevalent. Due to the pandemic, onboarding, like many other company operations, has recently gone virtual.

Nearly 49% of HR managers are planning to hire individuals capable of working remotely, increasing the need for virtual onboarding. However, virtual onboarding can create other challenges for companies. You can follow some effective steps to implement a seamless virtual onboarding process. This post will highlight the best strategies to improve your personalized onboarding process.

7 Tips for Implementing a Seamless Virtual Onboarding Process

  1.     Personalized Welcome

Establish a friendly and tailored welcome for each new employee as the first step in implementing a seamless virtual onboarding process. So, send a welcome email or package and arrange for a virtual team meetup. Also, hire a consultant for a more seamless integration into company culture.

  1.     Organize Meetings Properly

Setting up a remote onboarding process requires careful meeting scheduling. So, you need to arrange video conferences with current employees and new hires.

This enables both parties to engage in conversations. Keep in mind that it’s important that new and old employees feel connected from day one, so make it happen! And finally, arrange a group virtual call before the first meeting.

  1.     Be Professional and Friendly

Remember that when you onboard new individuals virtually, they are unable to read your body language the same way they could in person. As a result, be friendly yet professional. Professionalism ensures that you exude warmth while also letting new employees know that you are in charge.

Establishing a friendly demeanor makes you a trustworthy confidant to discuss their problem with.

  1.     Assign a Buddy

The simplest and most successful step in a seamless onboarding process is probably pairing an experienced employee with a new employee. According to HCI, 87% of businesses that designate an ambassador for the onboarding process claim that doing so is a successful strategy for accelerating new hire qualification. 

Despite the difficulties that come with socializing and organizing happy hours when working remotely, having a friend who regularly keeps in touch with your new hires can help greatly in their adjustment. So, having a team member on hand builds trust and gives them a safe space to discuss any difficulties they encounter.

  1.     Focus On The Company Culture

Modern companies are aware that management and employees must work together to develop a strong corporate culture. Even if a new person has never come to the office, a virtual onboarding process will help them become familiar with the company’s ethos, goals, vision, and values. These company culture components should be described in practical terms rather than just in rules or ideals.

If the company culture aligns with your employees’ personal beliefs and objectives, onboarding can create a strong sense of commitment and loyalty that leads to a higher sense of team purpose and increased employee retention.

  1.     Digital Documentation

The quality of your document determines how productive your team can be. In the absence of appropriate technical and project documentation, newly appointed employees lack a framework for work. Therefore, employ digital documentation solutions to expedite paperwork. The process is more eco-friendly and efficient due to the reduction in paperwork provided by e-signatures and digital onboarding forms. Make sure the required documents are easily available and understandable.

  1.     Provide Various Training Resources

 Since onboarding is a type of training, it needs to accommodate different learning preferences to be successful, especially when there is no direct, one-on-one supervision. Employees have different learning speeds, and certain communication styles may mesh more effectively with some than others.

 While some individuals learn best by doing, which can be simulated by quizzes, tests, and interactive digital games and activities, others learn best by watching. So, your onboarding content should have a strong video component.

 You need to enhance virtual onboarding by integrating interactive online resources and tools. Consider integrating webinars, and recorded videos along with live virtual training sessions for optimal results.