The Future of First Impressions: Embracing AI in HR for Better Onboarding
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As technology reshapes onboarding experiences, both companies and recent hires are navigating this new terrain. What’s the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on new hire onboarding and human resources (HR) professionals? What challenges do businesses and HR leaders face when integrating new technology into onboarding? What insights can we glean from the perspectives of recent hires onboarded, both with and without AI, regarding the future of first impressions?
We surveyed 309 HR professionals and 1,003 recent hires to uncover how technology impacts the hiring and onboarding process. We provide data-driven insights on how HR professionals can utilize AI to provide a better onboarding experience based on recent hire feedback and, in turn, help improve retention.
New Hires Weigh In
Recently hired employees we surveyed point to a need for improved onboarding. They suggested how HR professionals can help fix the onboarding process to enhance employee experience and retention.
New hires surveyed who were onboarded with AI have experienced certain challenges and identified areas for improvement. While AI has streamlined many onboarding processes, according to HR professionals surveyed, employees can still feel overwhelmed by the information overload during their first few weeks on the job.
Both new hires onboarded with and without AI suggest the need for more transparent communication of job expectations and performance metrics during onboarding (45%), and 35% of those onboarded with AI shared this sentiment. This change could help new employees prepare for future performance reviews.
A similar number of overall new hires (41%) suggest a more personalized training approach addressing individual skills gaps. 33% of surveyed AI-onboarded new hires agree. Another 33% of AI-onboarded employees suggest aligning onboarding content more closely with actual job responsibilities would help improve their onboarding experience.
HR professionals can improve the onboarding experience by clearly communicating job expectations and performance metrics, including personalized touches, and providing opportunities for increased human interaction.
Onboarding Pros and Cons for HR Leaders
AI tools and machine learning technology can help HR leaders support new employees and save their organization time and money. HR leaders may see significant improvements in aspects like performance management, talent acquisition, and employee engagement. This can aid in data-driven decision-making when HR leaders consider incorporating AI solutions to improve employee onboarding and recruitment processes.
For those contemplating the adoption of AI systems, these are the top three onboarding tasks HR professionals have improved using AI:
- Paperwork automation. Automating traditionally time-consuming manual workflows saves HR professionals time and resources.
- Chatbots and virtual assistants. Previously approved responses to common questions among new hires are programmed with company policies and procedures.
- Gathering and analyzing feedback. New hires’ experiences can offer valuable insights to improve future onboarding processes.
Customized training programs and ongoing support after onboarding are also valuable AI applications, highlighting how HR pros can utilize AI to help enhance the employee experience.
HR professionals who have embraced AI for onboarding highlight its most significant benefits:
- 53% report a reduction in onboarding time
- 38% say it decreases associated costs
- 43% note streamlining administrative tasks
- 65% believe AI will improve employee retention
The gap between recognizing AI’s potential and the ability to implement it shows a need for upskilling and system compatibility within HR teams.
The Future of HR in Employee Integration
From reducing turnover to ensuring new hires are satisfied and well-prepared, HR professionals are turning to AI to help improve onboarding challenges that new hires often experience.
Listen to our AI webinar Transforming HR: The Role of Technology and AI to learn how leaders use AI to streamline HR tasks and turbocharge efficiencies.
Methodology
To explore the role of AI in onboarding and offboarding processes, we surveyed 309 HR professionals on January 16, 2024, and 1,003 recent hires (who started their jobs within the past 12 months) on January 11, 2024.