9 tips for ensuring successful remote onboarding

Successful onboarding is vital for business success. In fact, according to Boston Consulting Group, a company with effective onboarding practices achieves 2.5 times more revenue growth and 1.9 times the profit margin.

Onboarding is also the first step toward employee retention. A report from Glassdoor states retention rates can improve by 82 percent with a high-performing onboarding strategy. And that’s not far from the only way onboarding affects the bottom line.

These days, however, there’s a good chance a new hire will start work remotely. This has brought challenges as companies understandably struggle to provide an onboarding experience for someone who can’t visit the office, pop over to a colleague’s desk with questions, or go out to lunch with their new teammates.

In this article, we'll discuss nine essential tips for successful remote onboarding, covering everything from preboarding and provisioning to training and continuous support. Implementing these strategies can help your business thrive in the era of remote work, ensuring your new employees are supported from the start.

In this article:

• Preboarding/provisioning

• The first week

• Training and learning

• Summary

It’s important to remember that your onboarding strategy begins when the employee accepts the offer, not on their first day. Use that time to ensure your new hire has a seamless remote experience. Here are some of the most important things to consider.

1. They need more than technology

Your first step should be to figure out what the employee needs to get their job done. Obviously, you must provide the technology and applications they need, but don’t forget about low-tech items. If they need office supplies, send them along with the technology.

If their at-home workplace sounds inadequate, investigate the company’s willingness to help with any improvements that need to be made, like ergonomic furniture or partitions. This can make a huge difference when it comes to comfortable remote work.

2. Delivery or curbside pickup

When it’s time to deliver the goods, take the same approach as modern restaurants: delivery or curbside pickup. Obviously, if the new hire is not near the office, delivery is your only option. But if they can stop by, provide time slots for pickup so they interact with as few people as possible.

3. Start before the first day

Don’t be afraid of getting the new hire acquainted with the company and its culture early, just as they do at development firm Adeva. 

Before their first day, maybe they can join the team’s messaging channel or familiarize themselves with the technology tools they’ll be using. Set them up with a mentor and have them connect ahead of time.

4. Remote access and control

IT confusion is inevitable. Every business uses different tools and settings to get the job done, and a new hire won’t understand them all. Many times, a videoconferencing call is all it takes to get going, but other tasks are more intensive.

This is where remote access and control can save a lot of time and frustration. Instead of having to walk the new hire through connecting cloud accounts, establishing a VPN connection, or configuring two-factor authentication (2FA) over the phone, your IT admin can help guide the new hire in using the company’s tools effectively.

5. Virtual welcome lunch

Just as you would have in the office, organize a virtual welcome lunch so everyone can get to know the new teammate. To enjoy the full experience, have lunch delivered to everyone and share an actual meal together, virtually.

6. Loop in key people

Team building across the company is also important, so introduce the new hire to a few other key people. Try to get an executive or long-time employee to tell the story of the company. Get a product or sales rep to explain what the company does or makes.

If someone who once had the new hire’s position has grown within the company, have them share their experience about progressing within the organization. This helps new hires feel as though they will be an integral part of the company’s success.