So, you’ve just hired some fantastic new team members—congrats! But now comes the challenge: getting them up to speed without overwhelming them (or yourself).

Wouldn’t it be awesome if there were a way to make them feel like part of the family even before they walk through the door?

Well, grab your favorite beverage and get comfy, because digital welcome packs are here to make that happen! Let’s dive into how you can use them to quickly induct and train your team while showcasing your amazing company culture.

Why Traditional Onboarding Might Be Missing the Mark

First off, let’s chat about the old-school way of onboarding:

• Stacks of paperwork that needs printing and that gets lost
• Lengthy meetings that eat up everyone’s time 
• Awkward first days where newbies feel like outsiders 

Not exactly the warmest welcome, right? It’s time to give onboarding a glow-up!

The Problem with Traditional Methods

• Inefficiency: Wasting time on repetitive tasks.
• Isolation: New hires can feel disconnected from the team.
• Culture Clash: It’s hard to convey your company vibe through a manual.

Say Hello to Digital Welcome Packs! 

Imagine sending your new team members a personalised digital package that not only covers the essentials but also gives them a taste of your awesome company culture. That’s what digital welcome packs are all about!

Benefits at a Glance

• Showcase Company Culture: Let your values and vibe shine through.
• Streamlined Onboarding: Everything your new hires need in one place.
• Engaging Content: Interactive elements make learning fun.
• Build Connections Early: Help them feel part of the team before day one.
• 24/7 Accessibility: Perfect for remote teams or different time zones.
• Cost-Effective: Save on printing and reduce admin workload.

Building Your Digital Welcome Pack: Step by Step

Ready to create your own culture-infused welcome pack? Let’s get started!

1. Pick the platform

Below are some various ways you can set these up and some tech examples to use. Your final choice on platform is going to be dependant on your budget and what else it might need to be used for within your business. 

• Process Management Tools: These aren’t just for your processes but can provide a really great team onboarding experience too!
  • Process Street:  This is one of our favourites – want to see it in action? Let us know and we will send you a link to an example.
• Client Portals: Not just great for your clients but for your team as well!
  • Motion.io
  • Content Snare
• Employee Engagement Apps: Not just for training but end to end employee management (including integration into your favourite accounting apps):
  • Connecteam
• Project Management Platforms: Bring your onboarding and tasks together in one platform
  • ClickUp
  • Notion

2. Gather Essential Content

Think about what will make your new team members feel at home:

• Company Story: Share your journey, mission, and what makes you tick.
• Team Introductions: Fun bios, photos, and even video hellos.
• Culture Highlights: Traditions, events, and office quirks.
• Policies and Procedures: Yes, the nitty-gritty, but keep it friendly!
• Training Materials: Role-specific guides 

3. Make It Engaging and Culture-Rich

Time to spice it up:

• Welcome Videos: A message from the CEO or team (if you are a bit more techy, look into solutions that can automatically personalise the video to include the new hire’s name!)
• Virtual Office Tour: Give them a sneak peek of their new environment.
• Interactive Quizzes: Fun facts about the company to test their knowledge.
• Playlists: Share the office’s favorite tunes!

4. Personalise the Experience

Show them they’re more than just an employee number:

• Customised Messages: Include their name and role throughout.
• Team Welcome Notes: Collect greetings from future teammates.
• First-Day Tips: Insider info on where to park and grab the best coffee nearby.

5. Share Before Day One

Consider sending the welcome pack ahead of their start date:

• Build Excitement: Get them pumped about joining the team.
• Ease First-Day Jitters: Familiar faces and places make a big difference.
• Show You Care: Early engagement speaks volumes about your culture.

Worried about sharing too much too soon? 

Confidentiality Matters

• Non-Disclosure Agreements: Ensure paperwork is signed before sharing sensitive info.
• Pre-Start Version: Create a lighter pack with cultural highlights and save the detailed stuff for later.

Pro Tips for Infusing Culture into Onboarding

Maximise the cultural impact of your digital welcome pack with these tips:

Highlight Core Values

• Storytelling: Share anecdotes that embody your values.
• Visuals: Use photos and videos that capture your workplace vibe.

Encourage Interaction

• Social Media Groups: Invite them to join internal communities.
• Utilise quiz’s and forms: Create pop quizzes throughout to test their knowledge, and forms to gather the data that you need. These don’t have just to be about the regulatory ‘stuff’ either. Think about other things you could ask that will help you and team get to know the new team member like what their favourite coffee is, how they best learn, sharing a highlight of their career, a little about their family etc. 

Include Fun Elements

• Company Swag: If you have company swag, gather sizes for clothing or gather a postal address for sending a ‘first day kit’ that includes a notebook, pen, water bottle etc. If you don’t want to post it, pop a photo of the kit waiting on their desk for them!

Tools to Bring Your Culture to Life

Here are some platforms to help you create an unforgettable welcome pack:

Canva

• Design: Need help to edit photos, or create images that fall in with your branding? Canva has a vast range of templates to help you pull this together. Think team photos etc.

Loom

• Video Messages: Record personal welcomes from team members.
• Screen Sharing: Walk them through what to expect.

Communication

• Platform: Depending on your chosen tool, chat funcationality comes included within it or if you need to use something else, Slack and Teams are great options.
• Channels: Set up channels for new hires to interact. These could include a ‘Get To Know Us’ where they can introduce themselves and be formally welcomed to the team. A channel for asking questions where they can ask and get answers to any questions that they need before they start!

Measuring Impact

Keep an eye on these metrics to see how your culture-focused onboarding is working:

• Employee Feedback: Surveys on their onboarding experience.
• Engagement Levels: Participation in pre-start activities.
• Retention Rates: Are team members sticking around longer?

Future-Proofing Your Onboarding Process

Stay ahead by continually nurturing your culture:

• Update Regularly: Keep content fresh with the latest team happenings.
• Involve the Team: Encourage current employees to contribute ideas. What could they have used when they first started that you could look at adding in!

Wrapping It Up 

Switching to digital welcome packs isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about making your new team members feel genuinely welcomed and connected to your company culture from the get-go.

So, why not give it a try? Your new hires will feel the love, and you’ll set the stage for a thriving, cohesive team.

Ready to Make Your Onboarding Unforgettable?

Onboarding is more than just paperwork—it’s your first chance to show new team members what makes your company special. By embracing digital welcome packs that highlight your culture, you’re not only streamlining the process but also building stronger connections from day one. 

Need a Hand Crafting Your Culture-Filled Welcome Pack?

At ProjectBox, we’re all about helping businesses like yours shine. If you’re excited to create a culture-rich digital welcome pack but need a little guidance, we’re here for you! Reach out, and let’s make your onboarding process something to rave about.