High technician turnover in modular construction and industrial manufacturing leads to extensive onboarding. Onboarding can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars or more for each technician, as it includes recruiting and hiring, training and certification, and lost productivity during the ramp-up period. It also increases the chances of quality errors, rework, and downtime.
Here are some best practices for reducing technician turnover and onboarding costs:
Structured Onboarding and Mentorship
Role-specific onboarding keeps the new team member process focused and relevant. Consider pairing new technicians with senior mentors who can provide guidance and insight on the organization’s structure and operations. Mobile apps are also integral for delivering ongoing training on the job site.
Digital Tool Investment
Updated, centralized digital tools facilitate seamless onboarding. Equip technicians with a field service management platform, mobile checklists, and other digital guidelines to reduce onboarding friction.
Clear Career Progression
Define any career ladders so that new technicians understand their career progression from the outset. Offer micro-credentials, specialty certifications, and pathways to other facets of work, such as supervision.
Work Culture and Recognition
Facilitate networking with various team members during the onboarding process. Recognize the strengths and backgrounds of new hires. This practice should continue beyond onboarding through bonuses, advancement, and public recognition for high performers.
Actionable Feedback
Gather feedback from new technicians regarding any issues during onboarding. They can provide helpful suggestions for onboarding tweaks. Furthermore, use exit interviews and digital surveys to identify trends and improve retention strategies.
The entire company benefits when technicians are set up for success. Manual, unfocused onboarding processes mean that technicians waste time on clerical work instead of utilizing their skilled labor.
Structured onboarding and mentorship, digital tools, and clear career progression can facilitate a more efficient and well-rounded onboarding system. A positive work culture, consistent recognition, and regular feedback are also critical elements of a high-quality onboarding process that helps you engage and retain team members.
Nearly half of all companies still rely on paper-based operations to their detriment — don’t be one of them. The Gomocha Field Service Platform enables your company to onboard seamlessly and effectively, resulting in improved retention and increased productivity.