Getting onboarding right is key for new hire success and retention. But let’s be honest: many companies struggle to create a consistent and engaging experience that balances efficiency with a personal touch. This article explores how People leaders can leverage Donut Journeys to streamline their onboarding process, ensuring new hires feel welcomed, informed, and set up for success from day one.

The Onboarding Challenge

According to the 2024 LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report, 90% of organizations are concerned about employee retention, with learning opportunities being the top retention strategy. A robust onboarding process is the first step in providing these essential learning opportunities. However, creating a comprehensive, personalized onboarding experience can be time-consuming and resource-intensive.

The Solution: Automating Onboarding with Donut Journeys

Donut Journeys offers a powerful solution to automate and enhance your onboarding process. By following these steps, you can create an efficient, engaging, and effective onboarding program:

1. Set Up Automated Workflows

Efficiency is key in modern HR practices. Use Donut Journeys to create a fully automated onboarding program that delivers timely, relevant information to new hires.

• Set up triggered flows based on start dates
• Customize message templates for different roles, departments, or employee types
• Integrate with HRIS to import employee data and automate program enrollment

Pro tip: Beyond critical comms, use Donut to facilitate introductions, streamline channel access, and schedule key trainings for new hires. While automation is crucial, don’t forget to inject some personality.

2. Foster Authentic Connections

Building genuine relationships is at the heart of great company culture. Use Donut’s features to facilitate meaningful interactions from day one.

• Implement a buddy system pairing new hires with experienced team members
• Set up virtual coffee chats to connect newcomers with various colleagues
• Create cohort channels to connect new hires with peers sharing the same start date across departments, roles, and regions

Implementation Tip: Authenticity is key. Encourage participants to share real experiences and insights to create lasting bonds.

3. Empower Managers with Expert Guidance

Managers play a crucial role in onboarding success. Equip them with the tools and knowledge they need to excel.

• Provide automated reminders for key check-ins at key milestones (e.g., week one, 30 days, 90 days)
• Share best practices and templates for effective onboarding conversations
• Create pre-boarding checklists to ensure a smooth first day

Strategic Insight: Access Donut’s reporting dashboard to track program insights, collect, and demonstrate accountability. Use this data to refine initiatives and showcase value.

4. Customize Onboarding Journeys

Every role and department has unique needs. Tailor the onboarding experience accordingly.

• Create role-specific journeys (e.g., separate paths for engineers vs. marketers)
• Develop location-based content for office or remote workers
• Provide department-specific resources and introductions

Best Practice: While customization is important, ensure core company values and culture are consistently communicated across all Journeys.

5. Gather and Act on Feedback

Continuous improvement is vital. Use Donut’s polling features to collect and act on new hire feedback.

• Implement regular pulse surveys to track satisfaction and engagement
• Ask open-ended questions to gather qualitative insights
• Use “smart” poll responses to dive deeper into specific areas

Key Recommendation: Schedule regular check-ins with new employees during their first 90 days to address any concerns and ensure they feel supported and integrated into the team.

The Outcome: A Streamlined, Effective Onboarding Process

With Donut Journeys, you can create an engaging onboarding program that balances automation with a personal touch, ensuring a tailored experience for every new hire and laying the foundation for long-term employee engagement and retention.

As Rubi Ali, Associate Director of Employee Experience at Axios, demonstrated in a recent webinar, a well-structured onboarding program can significantly impact employee engagement and retention. By focusing on culture, customization, and continuous improvement, Axios created an onboarding experience that equips employees with the knowledge and support to excel in their roles.

Effective onboarding is the cornerstone of a thriving workplace. With Donut Journeys, you’ve got the tools to make a strong first impression, automating tasks where you can but keeping the personal touch that makes onboarding really work.

Interested in automating your onboarding program? If you have questions about implementation or anything else, chat with our team.