Employee onboarding is a critical process that sets the tone for a new employee’s success. However, traditional onboarding methods – long presentations, dense manuals, and one-size-fits-all training – often fail to engage employees effectively. With increasing remote and hybrid work models, companies need innovative ways to make onboarding more interactive, memorable, and scalable. After all, ineffective onboarding will cost the company further down the line.
Many organisations struggle with inconsistent and ineffective onboarding.
New employees are expected to absorb large amounts of information quickly, yet traditional formats often lead to disengagement and information overload.
We’ll explore how video can revolutionise onboarding and enhance engagement and retention.
The Challenges of Traditional Onboarding
Companies often face these common onboarding challenges:
- Information Overload – New staff are bombarded with policies, expectations, and training materials in a short period, making retention difficult.
- Lack of Engagement – Static documents and lengthy presentations fail to capture attention, leading to passive learning.
- Inconsistency – Onboarding experiences can vary depending on who delivers the training, leading to knowledge gaps.
- Limited Accessibility – For remote and global teams, scheduling live onboarding sessions can be challenging.
The Power of Video in Onboarding
Video solves these challenges by providing an engaging, consistent, and accessible learning experience.
Key benefits include:
- Visual Learning – More information is retained through video compared to text-based materials.
- Scalability – Video content can be reused, ensuring all new employees receive the same high-quality onboarding experience.
- Flexibility – Employees can watch videos at their own pace, reducing information overload.
- Interactivity – Modern video tools allow for engagement through quizzes, decision-based training, and real-time feedback.
Interactive Video: A Game-Changer for Onboarding
One of the most exciting advancements in video-based onboarding is interactive video. Instead of passive watching, employees can engage with the content, making decisions, answering questions, and exploring personalised learning paths.
A great example is Mindstamp’s “Choose Your Own Journey” interactive video.
This approach allows employees to navigate their own learning experience, making onboarding more immersive and role-specific.
Practical Ways to Use Video in Onboarding
If you’re looking to incorporate video into your onboarding process, here are some effective strategies:
- Welcome Videos – Introduce company culture, leadership, and values in an engaging way.
- Role-Specific Training – Create customised video modules tailored to different job roles.
- Interactive Scenarios – Use branching videos where employees make decisions and see the outcomes.
- Quizzes & Knowledge Checks – Reinforce learning with interactive questions throughout training.
- Employee Testimonials – Showcase success stories from current employees to build connection and motivation.
Effective onboarding is more than just handing new hires a handbook – it’s about creating an engaging, structured experience that helps them succeed from day one. Video, especially interactive formats, can transform how employees learn, ensuring they feel confident and prepared in their new roles.
Ready to make onboarding more efficient and engaging? Let’s explore how video can scale your training.
Book a free strategy call with Tale Productions today!
