Integrating new employees has become a strategic priority in today’s talent management landscape. In a market defined by a shortage of skilled professionals and high turnover rates, onboarding—particularly when it is tailored—is one of the most effective ways to accelerate integration and strengthen the connection between new hires and their organisation. Another clear advantage: a strong onboarding process boosts productivity from day one.

Yet, many companies still rely on standardised induction programmes that offer identical content to vastly different profiles. This results in onboarding experiences that lack relevance for the new employee and slow down their learning curve. Uniform onboarding often leads to disengagement at a time when engagement is most critical.

Personalisation: A Growing Priority in L&D

According to LinkedIn’s 2024 Workplace Learning Report, 78% of L&D leaders want to provide more personalised learning experiences, and 89% believe that technology will be essential in making that happen. Accenture’s 2024 report Reinvention in the Age of Generative AI also highlights the importance of aligning learning paths with individual skills, interests, and goals to increase engagement and prepare employees for constant change.

True personalisation goes beyond job titles. It means adapting content to the learner’s experience level, language, location, and preferred learning format. The result is a better user experience and a stronger impact. It is a powerful strategy for increasing employee productivity and fostering a sense of belonging from day one.

Technology that Enables Adaptive Onboarding

Today’s learning technologies make it easier than ever to personalise onboarding at scale. Some of the most valuable tools include:

• Intelligent LMS platforms that structure customised learning paths and offer role-based content access.
• Automation engines that manage administrative tasks such as course assignment or reminders, easing the burden on L&D teams and improving the user experience.
• AI and machine learning that analyse user behaviour in real-time, adapt content accordingly, and predict future learning needs.
• Advanced analytics that provide insights into individual progress, flag friction points, and highlight ineffective content or areas for improvement.
• Microlearning and adaptive content that present bite-sized information to ease the transition for new employees.
• Gamification, which increases engagement and knowledge retention, especially among younger or digitally native teams.

The Organisational Benefits of Personalised Onboarding

Adopting a personalised approach has a direct impact on several key business indicators:

• Reduced early turnover: Personalised, engaging onboarding increases retention during the crucial first few months.
• Faster productivity: Employees can add value more quickly when training aligns with their specific role and pace.
• Improved workplace culture: Feeling seen and supported from day one fosters trust and collaboration.
• Enhanced employer branding: A tailored onboarding experience showcases a people-first, values-driven culture.

Use Case: Tailoring Onboarding to the Learner

A multinational organisation, for instance, can design onboarding journeys by region, adjusting for language, local legislation, and cultural differences. This provides new employees with essential role-specific knowledge and a welcome that feels contextually relevant.

A compelling example is Lonza, a global pharmaceutical company that chose to redesign its onboarding for Project Managers—a critical role with limited training time but high client-facing responsibilities. Their objective, supported by Netex, was clear: to transform the onboarding process into a more efficient and engaging experience, tailored to different learning styles.

The result was a personalised onboarding experience delivered as an interactive animated film. New PMs embarked on a journey alongside their fictional mentor (a Project Manager Peer, an animated character or avatar designed to act as the user’s travel companion), travelling via high-speed train to various Lonza locations, while learning about company values and strategy. Developed using Netex Studio, the programme blended storytelling, motion graphics, and downloadable resources for text-based learners.

The success of this initiative led Lonza to replicate the methodology across departments such as Finance and Quality Control. As one Lonza representative noted, “We’ve succeeded in catering to all learner types—delivering a visually engaging e-learning programme while also offering reading formats to support different preferences.”

Solutions for Scalable, Personalised Onboarding

At Netex, we support organisations in developing effective onboarding programmes tailored to each new hire. We understand that no two employees are alike and that companies need flexible tools to match the pace and goals of their business.

• Netex Cloud allows organisations to create learning paths based on role, location, skill level or language. It integrates seamlessly with HR systems to provide a smooth onboarding journey from day one.
• Netex Studio enables the creation of interactive, high-impact content designed by our in-house team. It transforms onboarding into a dynamic, engaging experience.

These solutions make it possible to scale onboarding while maintaining a personal touch—even across complex organisational structures and global teams. They also offer performance metrics that help optimise the learning journey and support better decision-making.

A Strategic Step Towards Employee Loyalty

In a workplace where employee experience is a key differentiator, delivering a personalised onboarding journey offers a clear competitive advantage. It’s not just about integration—it’s about doing it with empathy and strategic intent. Adapting learning to the individual increases retention, reinforces organisational culture, and supports the development of diverse, high-performing teams.

Tools like Netex Cloud and Netex Studio help organisations reimagine onboarding as an engaging, effective and human-centred experience—one that inspires and motivates new employees from the very first day.

Would you like to redesign your onboarding experience? Get in touch with our team and discover how to create training journeys that are as unique as your people.