The art of remote onboarding: building a foundation for success

Starting a new role is always a mix of excitement and nerves. When that role is remote, the nerves can feel amplified. In a traditional office setting, those initial jitters are often eased with friendly coworkers, guided tours, and hands-on introductions to tools and workflows. In a remote environment, replicating that experience requires intentional planning and the right tools.

As companies increasingly adopt remote and hybrid work models, remote onboarding has evolved into much more than sending out a laptop and a welcome kit. Done well, digital onboarding can provide new hires with clarity, connection, and confidence from day one. The key is to focus on creating a positive and engaging experience that sets the tone for their journey with your organization.

Here’s how to build a strong remote onboarding process that ensures your new hires feel supported and ready to succeed.

Create connections from day one

A warm welcome goes a long way. The first few interactions a new hire has with their team can shape their perception of the company and their role within it. Remote onboarding should prioritize fostering these human connections to make new hires feel like they’re part of the team from the moment they log on.

Tips for creating meaningful connections:

• Provide a comprehensive onboarding guide that outlines expectations, resources, and key contacts.
• Organize monthly new hire orientations that bring fresh faces together for a shared experience.
• Include interactive team-building activities like virtual trivia or icebreaker games to spark camaraderie.
• Create dedicated Slack channels for hobbies or interests to help new hires connect with colleagues on a personal level.

Even in a virtual setting, these moments can help your new team members feel seen, heard, and valued. Building these bonds early ensures they feel comfortable sharing ideas and asking questions as they integrate into their role.

Use digital tools to bridge the gap

Remote onboarding comes with its challenges: fostering a sense of belonging, communicating company values, and ensuring access to the right tools. Fortunately, the right digital solutions can bridge these gaps and create a seamless onboarding experience.

How digital tools can help:

• Use Notion to house onboarding resources, checklists, and training materials in one centralized location.
• Leverage video platforms like Zoom or Loom for face-to-face interactions and personalized walkthroughs.
• Implement collaborative tools like Notion, to ensure smooth communication and task management.

With these tools, new hires can quickly get up to speed on workflows, gain insights into company culture, and collaborate effectively—all while having a single source of truth for everything they need.

Follow up and foster growth

Onboarding doesn’t end after the first week. Continuing to check in with new employees ensures they feel supported, and it gives you valuable insights to improve the process for future hires.

Ideas for meaningful follow-ups:

• Send a survey at the one-month mark to gather feedback on their experience and identify areas for improvement.
• Schedule 90-day check-ins to discuss their progress, challenges, and overall satisfaction.
• Maintain an always-available resource hub where employees can find answers to FAQs or revisit onboarding materials.

These touch points help keep communication open and show new hires that their feedback is valued. They also provide a solid foundation for ongoing engagement and growth.

A new era of onboarding

The days of donuts and coffee on a new hire’s desk may be behind us, but remote onboarding offers its own opportunities to create unique and impactful experiences. With the right mix of human connection, digital tools, and thoughtful follow-ups, companies can ensure that every new hire feels confident and prepared to contribute to their team.

At its core, successful onboarding—whether remote or in-person—is about making people feel welcome, equipped, and empowered.