Five ways HR technology is changing employee onboarding

Did you know that 70% of employees that go through a well-structured onboarding program are more likely to stay with a company for at least three years? Below, The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) identifies the 'Four Cs' as the building blocks to a successful onboarding program:

• Compliance: the lowest level that includes teaching employees basic legal and policy-related rules and regulations
• Clarification: ensuring that employees understand their new jobs and all related expectations
• Culture: a broad category that includes providing employees with a sense of organizational norms- both formal and informal
• Connection: the vital interpersonal relationships and information networks that new employees must establish

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Up to 20% of turnover occurs within the first 45 days of employment. The pressure is on HR leaders to create an innovative and engaging employee onboarding experience that retains top talent. Here are five ways in which HR technology is changing the employee onboarding experience and helping HR leaders accomplish the Four Cs:

• Go green: with HR technology, new hires can fill out forms, view employee handbooks, e-sign documents, and more without ever having to hit the print button. Paperwork can be completed prior to an employee’s first day and your organization can reduce its carbon footprint. 
• Anywhere, any time: accepting a new job can be overwhelming. Your new hires have a lot on their mind that stretches far beyond the concerns of completing first day paperwork. Mobile self-service functionality affords your people the opportunity to complete any outstanding onboarding tasks virtually.
• Actionable insights: 45% of HR professionals estimate that over $10,000 a year is wasted on ineffective onboarding. Access to real-time data and reports lead to well informed decisions that contribute to the overall success of an organization’s onboarding program. HR leaders can drill down into data to view trends, determine what’s working, and reveal any gaps in the onboarding process. 
• eLearning: new hires can access videos, tutorials, and participate in any required classes during onboarding and beyond the first 90 days. eLearning empowers your people to learn at their own pace while also holding individuals responsible for knowing taught material, driving organization standards. 
• Goal achievement: setting attainable and realistic goals is a crucial part to a new hire’s success. Setting goals from the very beginning is an easy way to motivate new hires, set expectations, and align a team. These goals can be defined and automatically tracked by 30, 60, 90 day milestones and new hires can be rewarded for achieving set goals.

When it comes to executing a successful onboarding program, first time impressions are of the utmost importance. Leverage the available technology that can improve productivity, increase retention, and boost employee engagement.