Onboarding Still Matters—Here’s How to Make It Count

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Recent onboarding statistics from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) validate that organizations with formal onboarding programs experience 50% higher employee retention and a 62% increase in productivity among new hires.

Yet too often, onboarding is treated as an HR checkbox instead of a strategic advantage. Onboarding isn’t just a formality—it’s your chance to make a lasting first impression on the people who will represent your mission every day.

In today’s competitive market, where attention is short and expectations are high, onboarding is more than a welcome packet. It’s a brand experience. It’s a culture builder. It’s a retention strategy.

And yes, it still matters—now more than ever.

What’s New in Onboarding: Trends Shaping Today’s Experiences

• Personalization at Scale: New hires expect tailored experiences. Role-based pathways, persona-driven content, and modular eLearning allow for scale and specificity.
• Extended Journeys: From preboarding to 30/60/90-day checkpoints—and even full first-year programs—onboarding is no longer limited to the first week.
• Human + Digital Blends: Virtual mentors, video introductions, mobile-friendly modules, and scheduled live check-ins strike the right balance.
• Data-Driven Improvements: The best programs are measured. Think feedback loops, pulse surveys, and analytics that inform future iterations.
• Accessibility + Inclusion: WCAG-compliant experiences, closed captions, and screen reader-friendly content ensure everyone can engage.

Your Blueprint: d’Vinci’s Onboarding Planning Guide

Before jumping into platforms or content, we help clients start with purpose. Our Onboarding Planning Guide is a foundational tool to align stakeholders and clarify the onboarding experience.

Key questions include:

• What KPIs are you trying to impact?
• Where does onboarding begin?
• How should onboarding reflect your mission, values, and brand identity?
• What should employees know, feel, and do by each milestone?
• Who owns which parts—HR, IT, Marketing, the manager?

Real-World Results: 3 Client Spotlights

Constellation Brands
Challenge: Equip field sales reps with brand knowledge, tools, and confidence.
Solution: A 6-week immersive journey blending brand modules, checklists, mentorship, and cultural immersion.
Why it worked: It aligned onboarding with brand power and performance goals.

Learn more about the work

SCORE Association
Challenge: Refresh outdated onboarding for a national volunteer network.
Solution: Updated Storyline modules with a modern interface, improved accessibility, and content aligned to SCORE’s mentoring approach and organizational values.
Why it worked: Brand-aligned, mission-driven, and accessible.

Learn more about the work

A Fortune 500 Transportation Leader
Challenge: Standardize onboarding across site leaders.
Solution: Six short videos in Articulate Rise, covering pre- to post-onboarding.
Why it worked: Short, visual, consistent training for time-strapped leaders.

Take Action: Two Ways to Strengthen Onboarding Today

1. Download our Onboarding Planning Guide to reflect on your goals, messages, and delivery strategy.
2. Schedule a free discovery session with our team. We'll walk you through our design approach and explore onboarding success for your organization.

Ready to turn your first impression into lasting impact? Let’s talk about what onboarding could (and should) do for you.