In a December 2023 updated report, Ernst & Young (EY) found the average cost per manual data entry made by an HR professional increased to $4.78. Read about EY’s latest findings for more information.
In “Start Off on the Right Foot With Digital Onboarding, Part 1,” we discussed the impact of embracing the digital transformation and how a digital onboarding strategy can empower HR managers and boost the bottom line. When an applicant tracking system flows directly into digital onboarding, you create a smoother experience for new hires as you communicate volumes about your corporate culture and their place within it. Let’s dive into the different ways digital onboarding can help drive organizational growth and improve employee experience — the classic win-win-situation!
Onboarding that starts before Day 1
Digital onboarding offers a chance to create a positive first impression with your employees even before their first day, and having a self-service app makes it even more convenient to handle those new-employee tasks. New hires will have access to essential information like employee handbooks, benefits info and job descriptions, and they’ll be able to review them at their convenience. When it comes time to enter personal data, nobody knows it as well as the employees who own it, and they’ll be empowered to enter it quickly and accurately.
A digital onboarding system that’s part of a single software offers greater access to primary functions like enrolling in benefits and completing essential documentation. This allows employees to handle routine tasks on their own schedule without waiting for HR staff to walk them through the process. This also saves them from first-day surprises so they can comfortably take time meeting their new co-workers and getting acclimated to the new environment.
Music to your HR staff’s ears
According to an Ernst & Young study, a single instance of data entry performed without self-service HR technology costs an average of $4.51 to complete. Some tasks can be even more costly, with the study discovering that manually completing a single I-9 form costs $8.54. For a company that hires 200 new employees annually, that’s almost $2,000 in one year. When you eliminate manual re-entry through the use of a single-database system, the bottom-line savings offered by digital onboarding are clear.
But it’s not just about money — it’s about time. By removing time-consuming, outdated or paper-based processes, a company can give its HR staff members the freedom they need to focus on the recruiting, training and development that can help achieve strategic goals. Digital onboarding also eliminates that first-week mad dash of new employee paperwork and orientation every time a new hire is added to the team. Essential onboarding tasks can be taken care of before their first day, easing the transition for employer and employee alike.
Benefits for organizational growth
Creating a smoother, more user-friendly onboarding process is an effective way to communicate a new hire’s place within the culture and build engagement right from the start. These benefits aren’t just limited to employees; they can also help drive organizational growth. According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the average U.S. employer spends $4,125 to hire a new worker. Increased employee engagement not only leads to financial savings from lower turnover, but it helps organizations hold on to the value created by training and institutional knowledge.
From the big picture all the way down to new hires’ simple connections with their direct supervisors, it’s important to recognize how digital onboarding allows an employer to introduce company culture and help jump-start a positive relationship. A Gallup poll found that 75% of workers who left their jobs voluntarily did so because of their managers — they didn’t quit the company; they quit their boss. Knowing this makes it even more valuable to have tools at your fingertips that promote a direct and personal exchange of information, like Ask Here and Manager on-the-Go®.
But it doesn’t have to stop there. Through Paycom Learning, managers can customize welcome content that helps foster personal connections every step of the way, improving retention and overall employee experience. A single-database solution provides the tools necessary for an optimal digital onboarding experience. With tools to track applicants, acclimate new hires and manage benefits and training in one place, you’re able to show your newest team members exactly why they made the right career choice.
Are you ready to put tools like these to work in your organization? Contact us about a demo today!
Disclaimer: The information provided herein does not constitute the provision of legal advice, tax advice, accounting services or professional consulting of any kind. The information provided herein should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional legal, tax, accounting or other professional advisers. Before making any decision or taking any action, you should consult a professional adviser who has been provided with all pertinent facts relevant to your particular situation and for your particular state(s) of operation.