Shaping Workshop – BFH meets Practice: Digital Onboarding for Small and Medium-Sized Companies: A Toolbox Approach

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the onboarding process has emerged as a crucial
aspect of organizational success. With the advent of remote work and virtual teams, new challenges
have arisen, necessitating the development of structured onboarding processes that incorporate digital
tools. However, the integration of analog and digital tools to effectively assimilate new hires
remains a persistent challenge for organizations.

Effective onboarding of new hires has long been recognized as a critical factor in organizational
success. It ensures a smooth transition for new employees and facilitates their assimilation into the
organizational culture and workflow. However, with the paradigm shift towards remote work and virtual
teams, the traditional onboarding process has encountered new hurdles, necessitating the adoption of
novel strategies and digital tools. New work arrangements offer flexibility and access to talent pools
beyond geographical boundaries. However, they also present unique challenges in terms of team
collaboration, communication, and fostering a sense of belonging. Addressing these challenges
requires a reimagining of the onboarding process.

Leveraging digital technologies for employee onboarding creates complexities that differ from
traditional in-person onboarding. The absence of physical presence makes it challenging to establish
personal connections (commitment and organizational citizenship behaviour) and convey the
organizational culture effectively. The challenges posed by the combination of analog and digital tools
necessitate innovative strategies. By implementing a structured onboarding process that incorporates
digital tools effectively, organizations can foster a sense of connection, enhance employee
engagement, and lay the foundation for long-term success in a digital-first era.

A research Team of the BFH aims to develop a toolbox of digital solutions in order to empower
SMEs to effectively integrate new hires. Through empirical research and a focus on specific SME
needs, this study seeks to enhance the onboarding experience and promote organizational success. 

We are inviting companies interested in participating in a shaping workshop to share their
knowledge and insights regarding the use of digital tools in the onboarding processes. This
workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss the challenges they face and generate
initial ideas on how to effectively address these challenges. We encourage companies to join us
in this collaborative session to foster knowledge sharing and collectively enhance the onboarding
experience. 

The workshop will take place on 02.10.2023 from 16.30 – 18.00 at Haslerstrasse 30, 3008 Bern
followed by an Apèro.

The language of the workshop will be chosen depending on the number of registered participants
(German/English).

Registration is requested by 18.09.2023 to Sabrina.Schell@bfh.ch