3 Tips for Hybrid Onboarding with VR

3 Tips for Hybrid Onboarding with VR

With more and more offices moving to a hybrid office model, some companies are eliminating their elaborate in-person training and onboarding processes. In many cases, the employees are given their equipment, have a call with their boss and are on their way. Unfortunately, skipping in-person orientations is not always a successful way to start off a new relationship with workers. Instead, companies need to rethink the onboarding process to find a way to effectively train their employees in a welcoming, cohesive way. Enter virtual onboarding and its capabilities to help employees.

Here Are 3 Tips to Considering When Adding Virtual Onboarding into Your Program

1. Planning is Crucial

During the planning process, set the goals of the orientation. What do you want the employee to know before, learn during, and be able to do after? The answers to these questions will guide the entire process, from the storyboard and script to the scenarios you include on the virtual tour. The answers will also help you build structure into the onboarding while supporting your organization's goals. 

2. Setting the Scene (Literally)

Think about where you want your employees to start on their first day and go from there. Are they at the front door? At reception? Start your virtual onboarding exactly where you would start an in-person tour and go from there. 

You will want to take 360 video (ZOOM, Microsoft TEAMS, Google Meet) of every area you use for the experience. Do not worry about the area looking perfect. In this case, real is better, so embrace the personalized desks and bits of clutter that make things authentic. 

You can include the background noise of the office too. Subtle chatter or sound from the clinic all add to the experience when everything is put together. Find ways to add as many details as possible, since that is what will help create a feeling of reality. Additionally, include a real voiceover of the tour, rather than using AI, since it helps the employee feel more welcome. 

3. Include Key Players

Who would new employees be introduced to if the training were in person? Include a video message from every individual you may want to incorporate into the training. Members of the C-Suite, managers, or team leads could be introduced. Make it fun––for example, you could virtually bump into the CEO in the hallway during the tour, or a desk phone could ring, with a recorded message from a manager that plays when the phone is clicked on or picked up.

Get Started, You’ve Got This!

Hopefully, these tips help you feel more confident with creating a virtual onboarding experience. Take advantage of the available technology to improve orientation for your new employees and help them feel more included in the company. Done right, a more immersive onboarding experience will improve engagement, provide better training, and build your company culture.