6 ways streamlined onboarding elevates employee experience

64% of new starters¹ are likely to leave within their first year because of a poor onboarding experience.

And this costs your organisation. Replacing an employee costs anything from 50% to 150% of their annual salary².

Getting your onboarding process right is a crucial part of identity management, and sets the tone for overall employee experience.

It impacts core HR metrics like staff satisfaction, retention, talent acquisition, and employer brand.

But it also plays a big part in driving better employee engagement and productivity across the business.

Especially when it comes to your IT team. They play a critical role in getting new starters up, running and ready to make a difference.

We’ll look at why streamlining your new starter onboarding can empower the employee experience.

And why this can be the catalyst for a positive culture, primed for success.

Challenges in manual onboarding

Manual onboarding can be a challenge, especially for IT teams.

Creating user identities, managing permissions, and ensuring access are essential for security and productivity.

However, they’re also time consuming, especially for under-resourced and overworked IT departments.

Leading to potential poor performance, human errors, lower job satisfaction and an overall reduction in employee experience.

The 6 benefits of a streamlined onboarding process

Streamlining the onboarding process not only benefits new employees but also brings advantages to the organisation, making it a valuable investment for both sides.

Accelerated start for enhanced productivity and engagement

New employees are eager to contribute immediately. And 62% of businesses that have effective onboarding programs see a 54% increase³ in employee engagement, and a have a higher time-to-productivity ratio

To achieve this, they need rapid access to the tools and resources essential for their roles.

This not only enhances their efficiency and job satisfaction but also minimises frustration.

Setting a positive tone for their entire journey within your organisation and improving the employee experience.

Self-service for a better onboarding experience

Many organisations now offer self-service portals to employees during the onboarding process.

This empowers new hires to manage their access, gain insights into company policies and resources, and cultivate a sense of independence and ownership over their working environment.

Optimising resources for strategic initiatives

IT teams often find themselves overwhelmed by an excessive workload. Routine onboarding tasks can therefore consume valuable resources and time.

But, with the right tools in the business, these processes can be automated. Removing much of the manual work and allowing your IT team to redirect their efforts to areas where they’re most needed.

This, in turn, drives the business forward and contributes to a more productive and streamlined operation.

Enhancing brand reputation and driving commercial benefits

In addition to its benefits for new employees and internal processes, a streamlined onboarding process also has a profound impact on your brand’s reputation and commercial success.

When employees have a positive onboarding experience, they are more likely to become brand advocates.

69% of employees⁴ are more likely to stay with a company for at least three years if they have a positive onboarding experience.

This positive sentiment extends to clients, partners, and investors, contributing to your overall commercial success and profitability.

Supporting HR management and demonstrating business value

A streamlined onboarding process is not only a strategic investment for the organisation, but also a valuable tool for HR management.

It enables HR professionals to demonstrate how their processes and the development of a positive organisational culture directly impact the bottom line. This ability to quantify the business benefits and report them to the board is essential.

Companies with a strong onboarding process achieve a 50% higher return⁵ on equity than those with a weak onboarding process.

By aligning HR practices with business outcomes, your organisation can strategically advance its mission and values. All while achieving tangible commercial success and an improved employee experience.

Enhancing security and efficiency

A streamlined onboarding process significantly reduces the risk of human error, which can otherwise hinder employees’ access to essential tools and resources.

Ultimately affecting their job performance and the employee experience.

By ensuring that employees are granted the right access from the outset, this approach minimises the risk of security breaches and data leaks.

Creating a secure environment that fosters trust and reliability within your organisation.

Conclusion

The onboarding process is the cornerstone of a successful organisation, impacting core HR metrics like staff satisfaction, retention, talent acquisition, and employer brand.

Manual onboarding can hinder the employee experience, causing delays and errors.

Streamlining the onboarding process benefits both the employee and the organisation. Providing a quicker start, self-service options, and optimised IT resources.

This not only bolsters security but also empowers HR management to demonstrate the value they bring to the organisation’s bottom line.

Ultimately, a well-optimised onboarding process creates a secure, efficient, and trust-based work environment, fostering a positive culture poised for success.

And a catalyst for enhancing employee engagement and productivity across the business.

Key takeaways

Next Steps

Sources

1: LinkedIn

2: Gallup

3: Workhuman

4: OakEngage

5: Deloitte