Having built teams for over two decades, I've watched onboarding evolve from handwritten manuals to polished video libraries. But as AI reshapes how we work, it's time to ask some hard questions about our current approaches.
Are Onboarding Videos Still Worth It?
The honest answer is complicated. Those carefully produced videos stored in your LMS may not be delivering the ROI you think they are. New hires skip through them, retention is poor, and the information becomes outdated faster than it can be updated.
But here's what I've learned: the format isn't the problem. The one-size-fits-all approach is. A backend engineer doesn't need the same onboarding flow as a product manager. Yet we continue to create generic content that serves no one particularly well.
The real question isn't whether videos work, but whether we're using them strategically. Short, role-specific videos that address immediate pain points? Those still have value. Hour-long company culture presentations? Those are probably dead weight.
AI-Powered Onboarding That Works.
AI isn't just another buzzword here. It's solving real problems that have plagued onboarding for years.
Personalized learning paths are finally practical. AI can analyze a new hire's background, role requirements, and learning preferences to create custom onboarding sequences. Instead of forcing everyone through the same 40-hour program, you can deliver targeted content that gets people productive faster.
Real-time Q&A support is a game changer. New hires have questions at 2 AM when they're reading through documentation. AI-powered chatbots trained on your company's knowledge base can provide instant answers without waiting for their buddy to come online. Intelligent content recommendations keep learning relevant. As new hires interact with different systems and tools, AI can suggest next steps, appropriate documentation, or connections with team members who have similar expertise.
Communication Still Makes or Breaks Everything
Technology won't save bad communication. I've seen companies invest heavily in AI-powered onboarding platforms while completely ignoring the human elements that matter.
The best onboarding programs I've implemented combine AI efficiency with human connection. Utilize AI to streamline information delivery and logistics, while ensuring that real people are available for the conversations that truly matter.
Set clear expectations upfront. New hires need to understand not only what they'll be doing, but also how success is measured and when they'll receive feedback. AI can help track progress against these milestones, but managers need to own the actual conversations.
Create multiple communication channels. Some people prefer Slack for quick questions, while others want video calls, and some require written documentation that they can reference later. AI can help route questions to the correct format and the relevant personnel.
The Bottom Line
AI isn't replacing human judgment in onboarding. It eliminates the tedious parts, allowing us to focus on what matters: helping new hires understand their role, connect with their team, and start contributing quickly.
The companies getting this right aren't just throwing AI at their existing processes; they're also leveraging it to enhance their operations. They're rethinking onboarding from the ground up, using AI to create more personalized, efficient, and practical experiences.
Start small. Pick one pain point in your current onboarding process and see how AI can help solve it. Then build from there. The goal isn't to automate everything, but to make the human interactions more meaningful and impactful.
