From the couch to the job: Why mobile onboarding is the future

Mobile-first solutions are becoming increasingly important for companies to assert themselves in the modern working environment. This also applies to the onboarding of new employees. Mobile devices and apps offer companies a cost-effective, efficient, and user-friendly way to train new employees. In this blog article, we will show you the advantages that mobile onboarding brings and why it is of crucial importance, especially for frontline workers.

This is mobile onboarding

Mobile onboarding refers to the process of digitally introducing new employees to the company using mobile end devices such as smartphones or tablets. In contrast to traditional onboarding, which often takes place in an office or a training facility, mobile onboarding can be carried out from anywhere. The start can take place via a personal device, e.g., from one's own mobile phone. The only requirement for this is an internet connection and access to the onboarding software. This happens via an app or a web browser. An email address or a voucher code is required for registration. Thus, access to the onboarding is possible without any problems even for employees without an email address.

Mobile onboarding can include everything that makes it easier for new employees to start: training, interactive learning modules, videos, or downloadable documents. The goal of onboarding via an app is to train employees quickly and efficiently and to design the process individually and flexibly.

Advantages and benefits of mobile onboarding

Those who handle the onboarding of new employees mobile-first enjoy numerous advantages. Among others:

• Flexibility: The start at the company can be begun from anywhere. This is particularly practical for remote employees or frontline workers.
• Time savings: Mobile onboarding accelerates the process by reducing paperwork and offering all necessary resources online.
• Improved employee retention: Missing or disorganized onboarding is a known reason for resignation. With an efficient process, new employees feel better welcomed.
• Cost reduction: Mobile onboarding lowers costs because you reduce expenses for training rooms, printed materials, and lecturers.
• Better flow of information: Someone forgets to pass on important information? This risk is eliminated. All necessary information reaches new employees reliably and completely.

Frontline workers: Onboarding new employees

Frontline workers are employees who work directly with customers or products. Thus, they play an important role in a company's value chain. They are often the ones who interact with customers first or are directly involved in the manufacture of the product. Examples of frontline workers are sales staff, cashiers, customer service representatives, technicians, and production workers. They are indispensable for a company's success and should therefore be appropriately appreciated and supported from the very beginning.

These employees usually do not have a desk. Traditional onboarding processes reach their limits here. For example, special training days or meetings usually have to be organized. This is associated with time and financial expenditure. Mobile onboarding welcomes frontline workers better. Because it allows participation from any location, regardless of a desk workstation.

With this technology, you enable mobile onboarding

For the mobile start, you need an onboarding app. Here are some practical application possibilities:

• Training modules: Knowledge can be conveyed efficiently with intuitive training modules.
• Training materials: Frontline workers understand their tasks and responsibilities quickly thanks to practical materials.
• Auto-translate: Thanks to the translation function, training content is displayed in the preferred language. This is a great advantage, especially for non-German-speaking employees.
• Course library: A pre-installed course library offers numerous pieces of information on general and industry-specific topics, such as quality management, data protection, and occupational safety.
• Quizzes: Thanks to a gamification approach, knowledge can be conveyed playfully. Fun and onboarding are not a contradiction.
• Corporate culture: Convey your company's values and goals conveniently via app. This makes expectations clear from the start.
• Administrative matters: The first few days involve a lot of bureaucratic information, such as working hours, breaks, and vacation regulations. Store this information transparently in the app so that employees have access to it at any time.
• News: Through a news function, current information can easily be sent out via message to all employees or to specific employee groups.

An onboarding app makes it easier for new employees to start their job. Knowledge and information can be conveyed asynchronously. After all, not all new employees start on the same day. Once created, online content can be retrieved again and again by every new employee.

Conclusion

With just a few swipes, your new employees learn everything they need to know for their first few days on the job. This ensures that frontline workers can successfully step into their role. Through appreciation and successful communication, you minimize the risk that new colleagues will say goodbye again after just a few weeks.

Do you want to take the leap towards mobile onboarding? We would be happy to advise you in a non-binding and free initial consultation!