What is onboarding?

Onboarding is the process of welcoming a new hire into a role and providing them with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to succeed. Done well, it ensures new starters quickly understand how your business operates, helping them become productive faster.

As an example, in fast-paced industries like logistics, what employee onboarding looks like can be quite different. Rather than hiring internally, carriers often subcontract work to self-employed drivers to keep operations moving smoothly. That makes onboarding essential: businesses need a secure, efficient way to collect driver information, while drivers need contracts, compliance documents, and payment details provided clearly from the start.

Any delay or mistake in this process can significantly slow things down – impacting schedules, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, growth.

What is onboarding?

Onboarding is a structured process designed to help new hires feel comfortable and become productive in their roles. It begins with essential onboarding documents (contracts, right-to-work checks, insurance, and tax documents) before moving onto training, health and safety guidance, and an introduction to company culture. This is also the time to ensure that employees have access to the right tools and systems from day one, so they can actually carry out their responsibilities.

Rather than being a one-off task, the employee onboarding process typically lasts well beyond the first day, often continuing for up to 90 days or more. This period is critical, as turnover rates are at their highest during this period. A positive onboarding experience helps to reduce that risk by building confidence in the new starters and helping them to integrate smoothly.

Why is onboarding important?

Onboarding is what helps new employees to adapt seamlessly into their new role, and better understand what’s required of them. It also helps them integrate better with the rest of the business.

When done effectively, the onboarding process can lead to:

• Less time to productivity – People get up to speed quicker when expectations are clear.
• Higher engagement – A good first impression builds confidence and motivation in new hires.
• Reduced turnover rates – New hires who feel supported are less likely to leave.
• Compliance and safety – Processes and regulations are explained upfront.

However, whilst the principles of onboarding are universal, the process can differ greatly depending on the industry. For example, the logistics industry faces its own host of unique opportunities and threats.

Why onboarding is crucial for parcel carriers

Logistics is very different compared to most industries. Oftentimes, many workers are self-employed drivers who manage their own taxes, insurance, and schedules. So, for them, onboarding drivers is about more than just being introduced to company culture, and is also about making sure they are:

• Compliant with any legal and contractual obligations.
• Ready to work quickly, especially during peak delivery periods.
• Set up for payments so they know they’ll be paid on time.
• Prepared with everything they need to know, like safety procedures, delivery processes, and customer service.

Without this process in place, carriers risk losing drivers before they ever take their first job. This can have a heavy cost when regarding delivery capacity and customer satisfaction.

The phases of onboarding

Onboarding is easiest when thought of as a journey. So, what are the stages of on onboarding a new employee? For most industries, it covers:

• Pre-onboarding – Paperwork, contracts, and background checks.
• First day – Introductions, initial training, and system setup.
• First few weeks – Settling in, support, and feedback.
• Ongoing integration – Long-term development and retention.

Although, for the logistics industry, onboarding new drivers may look a little more like this:

• Pre-onboarding is now digital document submission, and right-to-work and insurance verification.
• The first day is likely remote, through training videos or instructions through an app.
• The first week shifts to consulting driver support hotlines, FAQs, or digital communities and forums.
• Ongoing integration might look like improving work efficiency and engaging in ongoing safety training.

The problem with traditional onboarding in logistics

In many courier businesses, onboarding still relies on paper-heavy, manual processes. New drivers are expected to fill out stacks of forms in person and potentially juggle information across different systems. This can cause unnecessary delays, especially in an industry where flexibility and speed are two of the most important factors, resulting in frustrations for both drivers and their carriers.

In some instances, consequences may become even more severe. Slow processes can increase dropout rates, create compliance risks, and put a burden on admin teams who are likely already swamped with work. Every lost driver translates to lost capacity, which may ultimately end up straining customer satisfaction.

The 4 essentials of onboarding

Employers who are looking to improve their onboarding experience should focus on four key areas:

• Compliance – Ensure all required documents are collected and verified quickly and securely.
• Payments – Trust in pay schedules is one of the biggest concerns for employees, so give them confidence.
• Clear Communication – Be direct and provide welcome information, role expectations, and training upfront to avoid confusion.
• Retention – Show employees they are valued beyond their first shift with ongoing support and check-ins.

How onboarding software can transform the process

Software can make the single biggest difference in the onboarding experience. Purpose-built SaaS (Software as a Service) platforms streamline the entire process, dramatically reducing onboarding times while easing pressure on admin teams and removing friction for new hires. This is achieved by automating repetitive admin tasks, centralising documents and other training materials, and improving experiences through personalised workflows and clear communication.

Because these systems can scale so easily, businesses can onboard 10 or 10,000 employees with the same efficiency. For employers, that translates into fewer delays, less admin strain, and a smoother experience for both HR teams and people joining the organisation.

Why onboarding can drive growth when done right

It’s easy to see onboarding as a necessary evil, but in reality, it can be mean so much more for business growth. Good onboarding practices help employees feel supported and confident from day one, making them more likely to stay with the company, deliver better service, and become long-term contributors. That loyalty reduces recruitment costs, and improves your work capacity in the long term.

This is where Wise can make a difference. Wise provides innovative solutions to companies that rely on drivers for their day-to-day operations – helping them save time, cut costs, and scale with confidence. Through Wise’s onboarding technology, carriers can streamline their workforce and get drivers on the road in as little as 10 minutes.

With unlimited document storage and customisable, role-specific workflows, the Wise platform gives carriers complete control and visibility over their fleet management. And, with a dedicated mobile app for drivers – where drivers can complete their onboarding process – the result is a quicker and more secure experience.