Effective employee onboarding is crucial for retaining top talent and ensuring long-term productivity.
A strong onboarding process can improve new hire retention by 82% and boost productivity by over 70%.
Video has emerged as a growing trend for enhancing onboarding experiences.
It offers a dynamic and engaging way to convey important information, introduce company culture, and provide role-specific training.
Incorporating video into employee onboarding allows businesses to create scalable, consistent, and informative experiences that resonate with new hires.
From welcome messages to detailed tutorials, video can transform onboarding and set employees up for success from day one.
Let’s dive in to how video, in particular AI-generated video, can help your onboarding and employee experience overall.
The Benefits of Using Video in Onboarding
36% of employers do not have a structured onboarding process.
Incorporating video into employee onboarding offers several key benefits that can vastly improve the experience for both new hires and the organization.
And with the post-pandemic rise of remote work, video onboarding is fundamental to team collaboration and communication.
Consistency and Scalability
Using video in onboarding ensures all new hires receive the same information.
A standardized set of onboarding videos guarantees every employee, regardless of location or start date, is exposed to identical content.
This is especially valuable for organizations with multiple offices or remote teams.
It helps maintain a cohesive company culture and ensures all employees align with the company's mission and values.
Video content is easily updated and distributed.
As company policies, procedures, or products change, onboarding videos can be rapidly edited and redistributed to all new hires, saving time and resources compared to updating in-person training.
Engagement and Interactivity
Video captures attention through visual storytelling.
Onboarding videos that incorporate compelling narratives, dynamic visuals, and relatable characters can effectively communicate complex information in an engaging way.
This leads to better information retention and a more enjoyable learning experience for new hires.
Furthermore, video resources allow for the incorporation of interactive elements that promote active learning.
For example, onboarding videos can include quizzes, simulations, or branching scenarios that require new hires to apply their knowledge and make decisions.
This interactivity enhances the learning process and helps employees develop practical skills that they can immediately apply in their roles.
Time and Cost Efficiency
Using video in new hire orientation can significantly reduce the need for in-person training, saving both time and costs for the organization.
Onboarding with video can help reduce the average training cost per new hire, which is around $4,100.
Instead of dedicating valuable resources to conducting live training sessions, companies can create reusable video content that can be accessed by new hires at any time.
This approach is particularly beneficial for businesses with high turnover rates or frequent hiring cycles, as it eliminates the need to repeatedly deliver the same training.
Video onboarding enables self-paced learning, allowing new hires to absorb information at their own speed.
They can pause, rewind, or revisit sections as needed to fully grasp the content. This flexibility empowers new hires to control their learning journey and reduces the pressure of keeping up with a live instructor.
Types of Onboarding Videos
When creating an onboarding video program, you must consider the various types of content that will effectively introduce new hires to your organization and their roles.
Company Culture and Values
One crucial aspect of onboarding videos is showcasing the company's mission and vision.
These video resources should provide a clear and compelling overview of what your organization stands for and what it aims to achieve.
For example, a company dedicated to environmental sustainability could create a video highlighting its commitment to reducing waste, using eco-friendly materials, and supporting green initiatives.
This type of content helps new hires understand the bigger picture and feel connected to the company's purpose.
Employee testimonials and success stories are another powerful way to convey company culture.
Featuring real employees sharing their experiences, growth, and accomplishments within the organization can inspire new hires and give them a sense of what it's like to work there.
For instance, a testimonial video could showcase an employee who started in an entry-level position and worked their way up to a leadership role, emphasizing the company's commitment to professional development and internal growth opportunities.
Role-Specific Training
Besides company-wide content, include role-specific training in onboarding videos.
These videos demonstrate the daily tasks, workflows, and tools for each position. For instance:
- Sales team onboarding video: Walk through prospecting, qualifying leads, and closing deals
- Customer service video: Cover common inquiries and standard resolution procedures
This helps new hires understand their job responsibilities and expectations.
Step-by-step tutorials are particularly valuable for training new hires on key tasks or software.
These videos should break down complex processes into digestible chunks, providing clear instructions and visual aids.
For instance, a tutorial video for a marketing team could demonstrate how to use the company's content management system to create and publish blog posts, including screenshots or screen recordings of each step.
HR and Administrative Procedures
Onboarding videos are an excellent way to explain HR and administrative procedures like benefits, policies, and compliance requirements.
Provide an overview of:
- Health insurance plans
- Retirement options
- Paid time off policies
- Other perks and benefits
Clearly communicating this information upfront allows new hires to make informed decisions and feel supported.
Compliance and legal requirements are another important topic to cover in HR onboarding videos.
These could include sexual harassment prevention training, diversity and inclusion policies, and industry-specific regulations.
Presenting this information in an engaging video format can help ensure that new hires understand and retain these critical guidelines.
Finally, onboarding videos can introduce new hires to the HR team members and resources available to them.
This could include short video introductions from each HR representative, outlining their roles and how they can support employees.
Additionally, video resources can highlight helpful resources such as employee assistance programs, wellness initiatives, or learning and development opportunities, encouraging new hires to take advantage of these benefits.
Best Practices for Creating Onboarding Videos
To create effective onboarding videos that engage and inform new hires, it's crucial to follow best practices throughout the planning, production, and distribution processes.
Planning and Scripting
Before creating onboarding videos, define clear learning objectives and key messages for each one. Consider what new hires need to know to succeed and prioritize the most critical information. For example:
- Company culture video: Focus on core values, mission statement, employee success stories that exemplify those values
- Craft engaging, concise scripts aligned with the learning objectives
- Use storytelling techniques like starting with a hook, relatable examples, appropriate humor to capture and maintain attention
Production Techniques
Choosing the right format for each onboarding video is crucial for effectively conveying the content.
Live-action videos are ideal for showcasing company culture, introducing team members, and demonstrating interpersonal skills.
Animated videos are well-suited for explaining complex concepts, processes, or abstract ideas, as they can simplify information through visual metaphors and engaging graphics.
Screen recordings are perfect for software tutorials or demonstrating digital workflows, as they provide a clear, step-by-step guide for new hires.
Regardless of the format, ensuring high-quality audio and visuals is essential for creating professional and engaging onboarding videos. Invest in quality recording equipment, such as high-definition cameras, studio lighting, and external microphones, to capture clear and crisp footage.
Pay attention to composition, framing, and background elements to create visually appealing shots.
During the editing process, use techniques like adding text overlays, transitions, and background music to enhance the viewing experience and reinforce key messages.
To streamline the video creation process and ensure consistent branding, consider using a platform like Pipio, which offers customizable templates, easy-to-use editing tools, and built-in collaboration features for seamless team production.
Accessibility and Localization
Make onboarding videos accessible to all new hires, including those with hearing impairments or non-native speakers, by providing captions and transcripts. Captions should accurately reflect the spoken content, identify speakers, and include non-speech sounds like laughter or applause.
Transcripts provide a full, written record of the video, useful for reference or translation.
For global teams, consider language and cultural adaptations when creating onboarding videos.
While English may be the primary language for many organizations, providing subtitles or dubbing in local languages can help non-native speakers better understand and engage with the content.
Additionally, be mindful of cultural differences in communication styles, humor, and visual preferences when developing video content for international audiences.
Collaborating with local team members or cultural consultants can help ensure that new hire orientation videos are culturally appropriate and resonant.
When planning for accessibility and localization, it's also important to consider the technical aspects of video delivery.
Ensure that onboarding videos are compatible with various devices and platforms, such as mobile phones, tablets, and learning management systems.
Provide multiple file formats and resolutions to accommodate different bandwidth and playback capabilities, ensuring that all new hires can easily access and view the content.
Integrating Video into the Onboarding Journey
To maximize the impact of onboarding videos, it's essential to strategically integrate them throughout the entire new hire orientation journey, from pre-hire to ongoing learning and development.
Pre-Onboarding
Use video to welcome new hires and set expectations before they even start. Send a personalized video message from the CEO or hiring manager to help them feel valued and connected. Include practical information in these welcome videos, such as:
- What to wear
- Where to park
- Documents to bring on the first day
This helps alleviate any pre-start jitters.
Orientation
During the orientation phase, video can be a powerful tool for introducing key concepts, company history, and organizational structure. Rather than overwhelming new hires with a barrage of information, break up content into digestible video segments that can be viewed at their own pace.
For example, create a series of short videos that cover topics like company mission and values, department overviews, and office tour, allowing new hires to absorb the information gradually and revisit as needed.
Ongoing Learning
Onboarding is an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and skill development. Provide a centralized video library new hires can access throughout their tenure to:
- Reinforce key concepts
- Learn new skills
- Stay updated with company developments
Include a mix of professional content like software tutorials and compliance training, and user-generated videos of team members sharing expertise and experiences.
To ensure that new hires are engaging with the video content, consider incorporating interactive elements, such as quizzes or reflection prompts, and tracking viewing metrics to identify areas where additional support may be needed.
Encourage managers to use the video library as a coaching tool, assigning specific videos to help new hires develop targeted skills or knowledge areas.
To make your video library easily accessible and trackable, consider hosting it on a dedicated platform like Notion or Airtable, which provides secure, cloud-based storage, robust search functionality, and detailed analytics to monitor engagement and completion rates.
By integrating video resources throughout the onboarding journey, from pre-hire to ongoing learning, organizations can create a cohesive and engaging experience that sets new hires up for success and fosters a culture of continuous growth and development.
Measuring the Impact of Video Onboarding
To determine the effectiveness of your video onboarding program and identify areas for improvement, it's crucial to measure its impact through various metrics and feedback channels.
Tracking Engagement Metrics
Track engagement metrics to gauge the success of your onboarding videos. Monitor:
- Views
- Completion rates
- Average watch time
These provide insights into how new hires interact with the content and which videos resonate most. For example, a video with high views but low completion rates may be too long or not engaging enough. Regularly monitoring metrics helps identify trends and make data-driven decisions to optimize video content.
Gathering Feedback
In addition to quantitative data, gathering qualitative feedback from new hires and their managers is essential for understanding the impact of your video onboarding program.
Conducting surveys or interviews with new employees after they complete the new hire orientation process can provide valuable insights into what worked well, what could be improved, and how the videos contributed to their overall onboarding experience.
Similarly, soliciting feedback from managers can help you understand how well-prepared new hires are for their roles and identify any gaps in knowledge or skills that the video resources may not have addressed.
Assessing Retention and Performance
Ultimately, the success of your video onboarding program should be measured by its impact on employee retention and performance.
By tracking retention rates for new hires who have completed the video onboarding program and comparing them to historical data, you can determine whether the videos are contributing to lower turnover and longer tenure.
Additionally, assessing performance metrics, such as time to proficiency, productivity, and manager satisfaction, can help you understand how well the videos are preparing new hires for success in their roles.
To gain a comprehensive view of the impact of your video onboarding program, consider setting up a dashboard that integrates data from various sources, such as your learning management system, HR software, and performance management tools.
This will allow you to track key metrics over time, identify correlations between video engagement and employee outcomes, and make informed decisions about how to optimize your onboarding content and delivery.
By regularly measuring the impact of your video onboarding program through engagement metrics, feedback, and performance assessments, you can continuously improve the effectiveness of your initial training efforts and create a world-class experience that sets new hires up for long-term success.
Embracing the Future of Onboarding with Video
Video is a game-changer for employee onboarding, enabling engaging, consistent, and cost-effective experiences through visual storytelling, interactivity, and self-paced learning. It offers a versatile and scalable solution for organizations of all sizes to convey:
- Company culture and values
- Role-specific training
- Compliance information
To maximize the impact of video onboarding, follow best practices in planning, production, and integration. This includes:
- Defining clear learning objectives
- Crafting compelling scripts
- Ensuring high-quality audio and visuals
Integrate these videos throughout the onboarding journey, from pre-hire to ongoing learning, for a cohesive and impactful experience.
Measure the impact of your video onboarding program through engagement metrics, feedback, and performance assessments. Continuously refine and optimize content to drive better outcomes, such as:
- Increased retention
- Faster time to proficiency
- A more engaged and motivated workforce
Ready to enhance your onboarding process? Sign up for a free trial of Pipio, a leading video onboarding platform.
Pipio makes it easy to create, manage, and distribute high-quality onboarding videos while tracking learner engagement and measuring business impact. Take the first step towards scalable, engaging onboarding experiences that position new hires for success.
How To Leverage Text-To-Video AI Tools Like Pipio
Text-to-video AI tools like Pipio have changed the way organizations create and deliver onboarding content.
By using the power of artificial intelligence, it’s much easier to quickly and easily transform written scripts into engaging, professional-quality videos.
One of the key benefits of using Pipio is the ability to streamline the video creation process.
With Pipio's user-friendly interface, you can write your onboarding scripts focusing on key topics like company culture, role-specific training, and HR procedures.
Once your script is complete, Pipio's AI-powered text-to-video conversion automatically generates corresponding video content, complete with visuals, animations, and voice-overs.
This saves you countless hours of manual video production and ensures a consistent, high-quality output.
Additionally, you can customize the look and feel of your videos by selecting from Pipio's library of Actors, Voices, B-roll video, images, music and more.
Here’s a peek into the many Voices you can use to read your script for employee onboarding:
This ensures that your onboarding content aligns with your brand identity and visual style.
Personalization is another powerful feature of Pipio that can greatly enhance your video onboarding experience.
With Pipio's dynamic content capabilities, you can create personalized onboarding videos tailored to each new hire's role, location, or team.
For example, you can include personalized greetings that mention the new hire's name and start date, making them feel welcome and valued from day one.
Accessibility and localization are critical considerations for any global organization, and Pipio offers powerful tools to ensure that your onboarding videos can be understood and appreciated by all new hires, regardless of their hearing abilities or language preferences.
Pipio’s Video Dubbing feature allows users to easily translate videos into multiple languages, supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Additionally, Pipio's text-to-speech engine allows you to create voice-overs in different languages and accents, ensuring that your onboarding content resonates with new hires from various backgrounds.
By prioritizing accessibility and localization, you demonstrate your organization's commitment to creating an equitable and welcoming environment for all employees.
Embrace the power of AI-driven video onboarding with Pipio and watch as your new hire engagement, retention, and performance reach new heights.
