As all HR and Hiring teams are having to adapt and explore new ways of working remotely, onboarding is one area where operations can be effectively maintained.

The current period of uncertainty provides HR managers with the chance to review their processes and to futureproof processes say they can handle an environment in which remote working looks set to become a norm. For some hiring demands have surged, meaning more than ever a fast and streamlined onboarding process is absolutely necessary.

With digital tools and cloud-based services, remote working members of an HR team can keep managing and monitoring from wherever they have an online connection.

Here’s a look at how employee onboarding can be handled remotely:

Remote onboarding

While movements are restricted, video conferencing allows HR teams to keep interviewing and communicating with candidates. Along with interviews, conferencing can be used for more informal ‘meet and greet’ sessions and allow candidates to get to know more about a role and even the company they will be working for.

Onboarding starts at candidate selection

From the moment a candidate is selected, an offer is made and the onboarding process begins. This covers everything that’s required to get the person started in a role, from contracts of employment to uniform and provides them with the best experience possible. This process can be managed and tracked remotely and provide all the necessary information needed for the job.

Contract handling

Traditionally, contracts and offer letters have had to be printed and posed with an ink signature required. An online approach allows documents to be securely signed with a digital signature.

This creates a fast and efficient process with candidates able to instantly access documents. If any changes are required or there’s a negotiation over terms, this can be dealt with quickly.

Are your onboarding processes compliant?

With future roles more likely to be remote, a cloud-based approach to onboarding means that onboarding can be handled online, digitally signed and before a job starts.

HR teams can track in real-time when documents, such as a homeworker policy, are received by candidates with confirmations when they are read, understood and accepted.

Communications

The delays to the hiring process and the changes to business structures are particularly frustrating for candidates. They face being left in limbo and not knowing where they stand as events change.

Cloud based onboarding management can help to tackle this by giving candidates clear info on exactly what’s happening. Real-time status updates and messaging can help to keep them engaged and feeling ‘in the loop’.

Experience

With onboarding handled remotely, the experience for candidates can be significantly improved. HR teams have the flexibility to provide new starters with any kind of content, help them to connect with the employer.

This can be a company video or links to social media accounts and company groups that help them to connect. Improving the experience reduces the risks of candidates dropping out.

Administration

A digitally connected onboarding process will help a remote HR team to manage all of the administrative tasks that are required for a new starter. For homeworking roles, this includes arranging for any required kit or infrastructure to be delivered.

First day

Whether a new starter attends a workplace or is working remotely, an effective onboarding process reduces stress and makes sure that everything is ready and prepared.

With the main administrative tasks having already been handled, the first-day experience can focus more on making sure that new starter feels integrated and have everything they need to start their role.

Working together: Onboarding for the future

For those companies that still rely on traditional methods, now is an ideal time to review processes and look for more flexible ways to handle new hire administration.

By switching to digital tools and cloud-based services, HR teams have the flexibility required to handle onboarding while working remotely. Not only can they continue to manage new hires, they can also do so faster and more efficiently than before