Onboarding new employees in the rail industry can be a complex and time-consuming process. With a wide range of regulatory requirements, safety procedures, and technical skills to master, it can be overwhelming to introduce new hires to the company in a way that is both efficient and effective. A poorly designed onboarding program can leave new employees feeling disengaged, confused, or unprepared for their roles.
One of the key issues many organisations face is the volume of training they need to complete. They need to cover compliance training, safety protocols, industry-specific knowledge, and role-specific skills. Traditional onboarding methods, which might involve classroom training or a series of in-person sessions, can be difficult to coordinate and may cause delays in getting employees up to speed.
Moreover, if onboarding is not structured well, new employees may feel lost or overwhelmed, leading to frustration and potentially higher turnover rates. In a highly regulated industry like rail, any gaps in training can have serious safety implications. Therefore, it’s crucial to provide a smooth and structured onboarding experience that ensures new employees feel prepared, confident, and motivated to start their roles effectively.
How to resolve the challenge
A comprehensive and well-planned onboarding program sets new employees up for success. Modern onboarding solutions structure and personalise the process, allowing new hires to progress at their own pace while meeting all regulatory and role-specific requirements. Digital platforms like a learning management system (LMS) streamline and automate this process.
Organisations can provide new employees with access to training materials before they start, helping them familiarise themselves with the LMS and avoid feeling overwhelmed on their first day. Onboarding should begin with introductory content that helps employees understand the organisation’s culture, values, and policies, before gradually introducing them to more specific job-related skills. It’s also important to provide ongoing support, both in terms of learning and mentorship, throughout the onboarding period.
An ideal onboarding program tailors to each employee’s role and career development goals. This demonstrates the organisation’s investment in employees’ success, increasing their likelihood of staying and growing. By breaking down the onboarding process into manageable, bite-sized modules, employees are more likely to stay engaged and retain the information they need to perform well in their roles.
How we can help
RailSmart Virtual Campus, powered by Docebo, is the award-winning LMS designed for rail industry onboarding. Personalised learning plans onboard and upskill teams while aligning with your development goals. Integration with RailSmart EDS, the leading competency management solution, ensures seamless data sharing for a complete view of employee progress. Customisable with your branding, it provides intuitive dashboards and navigation, making it easy for employees to engage and for you to track results.
