The percentage of employees working primarily from home accelerated in 2020, from 14.2% in 2018 to 17.4%. On a global scale, around 52% of employees are working remotely at least once per week. Though the events of 2020 accelerated the shift to remote working practices, many experts agree that the future will be defined mostly by remote working.
The good news for today’s employers is Salesforce staff already can work from anywhere. As digitally savvy innovators, these professionals are comfortable with a workplace built in the cloud. However, this doesn’t mean that preparing for the future of remote work won’t require some planning from an employer perspective.
Knowing how to make the most of your Salesforce talent means knowing how to hire and successfully onboard the right employees remotely.
What’s Involved in Remote Onboarding?
Onboarding is the art of successfully preparing your new Salesforce employee for success in your business. A traditional work environment would typically involve introductions to team members, help setting up tools and technology, and a tour of the office.
In today’s remote working world, onboarding needs to be considered from a more digital perspective. Like traditional methods, remote onboarding aims to support employees in accessing everything they need to be productive in their new role.
Often, aspects of the remote onboarding strategy might include:
- Video interactions: Following on from video interviews, video meetings and conferencing sessions can be an excellent way to welcome an employee into the business and introduce them to other staff members. Compared to a standard phone call, videos can feel more intimate and personal, encouraging bonding.
- Contract signing: Virtual contract signing will be a common part of bringing your new Salesforce talent on board. You may need your professional to sign an NDA agreement or provide their signature for various other pieces of hiring documentation. A digital solution can speed up this process.
- Cloud-based technology delivery: This part of the onboarding strategy will often involve sharing log-in information with Salesforce professionals through secure password sharing systems. Remote staff will need access to all the right tools for managing their day-to-day tasks, as well as tools for communication and collaboration.
- Account setup: Professionals will need access to a range of digital accounts, including single-sign-on platforms for security, VPN networks, and collaboration tools for file sharing, video conferencing and messaging.
- Training: Initial sessions of onboarding can sometimes involve training periods delivered through one-on-one conferences or recorded videos. Some companies can also deliver digital training sessions which involve online examinations and tests.
What Challenges Do Companies Need to Overcome?
To succeed in the age of remote onboarding, employers will need to ensure they have all the right tools in place to empower their new staff members, regardless of where they’re working from. Creating a plan for clear and consistent communication will be crucial for understanding which challenges your new team members face and what they need to become more efficient within your company. Challenges to prepare for include:
- Lack of engagement: Being distanced from the office makes it hard to form emotional connections with a business. Companies will need to create long-term strategies for engaging their employees post-onboarding, such as implementing regular feedback and arranging scheduled meetings.
- Misunderstandings: Remote employees need clear guidance from day one to deliver their best work. Onboarding practices should include introductions to company culture, values, and how team members will be evaluated to reduce misunderstandings.
- Isolation: Salesforce professionals work best when they can collaborate seamlessly with other members of staff. If your team members feel isolated or removed from the rest of the team, they may struggle to deliver their best work.
Preparing for Remote Onboarding
Remote onboarding can seem like a daunting prospect at first, but plenty of tools and services are available to help today’s tech-savvy companies connect with remote workers. The best way to make sure you’re prepared for this new age of Salesforce hiring is to connect with a recruitment agency that can help you navigate the various challenges.
As experts in Salesforce recruitment, ROD can guide you through everything from ensuring you have the right systems to connect with remote workers to helping you set up the right training plans.
IMPORTANT: We’ve even got a complete guide on how to onboard your new Salesforce talent available. You can download here for advice on best practices for your onboarding process.
Thanks
Lee
P.S. Wondering why our Salesforce clients keep coming back to ROD for their hiring needs? Then read our case studies here.