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How to Use Employee Engagement Technology for Faster Onboarding and Team Retention

How to Use Employee Engagement Technology for Faster Onboarding and Team Retention
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Last Updated: December 18, 2024

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85% of specialists are disengaged at work, but turnover costs can still be reduced. By using modern tools, platforms, or onboarding services, you can boost talent management and employee engagement. Companies that focus on engagement experience an 18% reduction in turnover and 21% higher profitability compared to those with disengaged teams. Would you like that as well? Let’s get started.


Learn Why Your Team May Be Disengaged


The key barriers include:


  • Workplace stress: 52% of new hires report daily stress, and 30% quit within three months due to stressful onboarding.

  • Task overload: 20% of specialists take on extra responsibilities, with 17% working longer hours.

  • Lack of career development: 80% of tech team members say learning opportunities would boost their engagement.


When you spot the pain points, you can tailor your integrated talent management strategy to address your team’s needs step by step.


Use Technology to Drive Engagement

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An Automated Onboarding as a Catalyst for Productivity


A clunky onboarding process can leave new hires feeling overwhelmed or even questioning their decision to join your company. If they decide to leave, you have to add up recruiting costs to make a replacement. It's estimated that replacing an employee can cost as much as their annual salary, or even multiple times that amount when factoring in recruitment, training, and lost productivity​.


In fact, during the first month, a new employee may only be 25% as productive as they will be after a year​. 58% of those hires who have structured onboarding stay for over three years. Looks like, it’s better to arrange a successful start for your freshers, then let things take their natural course, hiring and hiring again.


Tools like BambooHR and Sapling HR make it easy to create customized and clear onboarding experiences. With them, newcomers can:


  • Complete paperwork digitally.

  • Access personalized training modules at their own pace.

  • Connect with mentors and teammates through chat platforms.


When new team members feel confident and prepared from the start, they adapt to their roles faster and their engagement levels increase.


Related: How to Boost Employee Engagement with Authentic Experiences


Technology as a Catalyst for Systemic Talent Management and Employee Engagement


Employee engagement technology can reshape not only how you onboard your hires, but also how you support them further.


1. Borderless Collaboration Through Technology

Isolation is not the best friend of engagement. With collaboration tools like Trello, Asana, or Zoom, remote team players can collaborate on a project in real time with colleagues across the globe, share updates, and solve problems together.


2. Personalized Learning and Development

When your team sees you're investing in their growth, they're more likely to stay with a company long-term. That’s where learning management systems (LMS) like Workday Learning or LinkedIn Learning come in. These platforms allow team members to take career-focused courses, develop new skills, and earn certifications to validate their expertise.


3. Engagement Tracking Tools

Only 16% of companies track employee engagement with digital tools, but AI-driven sentiment surveys and engagement dashboards offer real-time data that can help managers take action. Companies using AI for predictive analytics have reduced turnover by up to 25%, highlighting how employee engagement technology can prevent disengagement before it becomes a bigger issue.


4. AI and Task Automation

While AI platforms identify disengagement patterns, AI automation tools handle repetitive tasks, boosting productivity. In tech teams, Jenkins and GitLab CI/CD streamline software development, Terraform automates infrastructure management, and Zapier syncs data between apps. Tools like Ansible simplify IT tasks, enabling teams to deliver quality products faster with less effort.


5. Real-Time Feedback

Today, specialists seek more frequent feedback than just annual reviews.

Technology enables managers to give real-time updates, celebrate achievements, and offer constructive criticism instantly. Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams facilitate quick communication, while platforms like 15Five help track performance and set goals collaboratively.


6. Technology for Recognition and Reward

Team members want acknowledgment in real time for their hard work.

Recognition platforms like Bonusly or Kudos make it easy to celebrate achievements, whether it’s completing a big project or going above and beyond in their role. These platforms allow peers and managers to give shout-outs, making recognition a company-wide practice.


7. Integrated Talent Management Solutions

Integrated talent management platforms can be the heart of your integrated talent management strategy, as they combine key HR functions like recruitment, performance management, and employee engagement into a unified system.


For example, an integrated solution can:


  • Identify specialists at risk of disengagement and provide tailored interventions.

  • Help managers recognize high performers and offer timely rewards or promotions.

  • Ensure that career development plans match the company’s plans.


These systems can reduce turnover, saving companies the cost of constantly replacing talent.


By considering integrated solutions, mind their strength: a lot of tools we’ve described before are already built-in. Yet, don’t forget their weakness: not all the features work as well as in specified solutions. That’s why, ​experienced HR professionals often combine the integrated systems with narrow-purposed tools.


Related: Employee Engagement Ideas You Can Use in Your Organization


How to Optimize the Resources You Invest in Long-Term Engagement


Talent management and employee engagement can be overwhelming for business owners without a strong HR team. HR experts handle performance management, career progression, and feedback systems, freeing up leaders to focus on other areas. They ensure the right balance of incentives, benefits, and development opportunities. For onboarding, HR pros go beyond basic tasks, introducing company culture, building early team connections, and setting clear goals and expectations.


Smaller businesses may not have the budget for an in-house HR team, but outsourcing HR functions can be an effective solution. By working with an HR outsourcing firm, businesses get the same expert support than with in-house teams but at a lower cost. Additionally, outsourcing enables businesses to hire in foreign countries without being tied down to complicated compliance matters​.


Whether you have an in-house HR team, an outsourced one, or manage HR ops without dedicated people, let us give you 3 final tips. They work, we've checked.


Best Practices for Employee Engagement Technology Integration


  1. Align tools with company culture. Ensure the tools you adopt reflect your company’s mission and values.

  2. Act on feedback. Engagement tools are only effective when they drive meaningful action.

  3. Encourage managerial involvement. Managers play a critical role; equip them with tools that make engagement initiatives seamless.


By doing so, business owners can build stronger, more motivated teams!


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Cindy Baker
Editorial Team
Author
The editorial team behind is a group of dedicated HR professionals, writers, and industry experts committed to providing valuable insights and knowledge to empower HR practitioners and professionals. With a deep understanding of the ever-evolving HR landscape, our team strives to deliver engaging and informative articles that tackle the latest trends, challenges, and best practices in the field.
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