How Training Videos Save Time and Improve Onboarding

Onboarding can be a headache. Whether you’re a startup hiring your first few employees or a large corporation with a constant flow of new recruits, bringing people up to speed efficiently is always a challenge. That’s where an onboarding video comes in. This isn’t just some trendy HR tool; it’s a strategic investment that saves time, improves the onboarding experience, and helps your team hit the ground running.

At Hatch Studios, we’ve been developing animated training and explainer videos for over two decades, helping companies streamline the way they train, onboard, and educate both employees and customers. In this article, we’re going to break down exactly why animated training videos are a game-changer for onboarding and how to use them effectively.

Why Use an Onboarding Video?

An onboarding video is essentially your company’s welcome mat. It sets the tone for the employee onboarding experience and gives new hires the information they need to thrive. But why video?

Because people retain information better when it’s presented visually. Animated training videos take complex concepts and simplify them into digestible, engaging stories. Instead of lengthy documents or tedious lectures, employees watch a short, dynamic video that communicates the same information more effectively.

And here’s the kicker: once it’s made, a good onboarding video works 24/7. No need to schedule trainers or run the same sessions over and over. That’s a serious time-saver.

The Value of Animated Training Videos

Let’s be honest – a talking-head video of your HR manager might not cut it. Animated explainer videos stand out because they bring life and clarity to training content. Think of them as the best explainer videos in action: a blend of storytelling, visuals, and motion that keeps viewers engaged and informed.

You can customize animated onboarding videos for different roles, departments, or regions. Whether you’re onboarding new employees or improving customer onboarding for your product, animation is flexible enough to deliver.

Hatch Studios has helped countless organizations craft these kinds of animated training tools, using everything from motion graphics to character animation to build videos that are not just informative, but enjoyable to watch.

Key Benefits of Onboarding Videos

1. Save Time for Everyone

One of the biggest advantages? Repetition without redundancy. New hires can watch the video on their own time, freeing up managers and HR staff from having to repeat the same onboarding presentation week after week. That means faster ramp-up and better use of company time.

2. Deliver Consistent Information

With traditional training, the message can vary depending on who’s delivering it. An onboarding video ensures that every employee gets the same high-quality, polished introduction to your brand, culture, and expectations. It standardizes the process, improving the overall employee onboarding experience.

3. Increase Engagement and Retention

No one wants to read a 40-page PDF about company policies. Animated videos are more engaging, which means people are more likely to pay attention and retain the information. And if you use interactive onboarding elements like quizzes or clickable choices you take engagement to another level.

4. Reflect Your Brand Personality

Your onboarding video is also a branding opportunity. The tone, style, and visuals can reflect your brand’s voice and values. Hatch Studios creates animations that are aligned with your company’s personality, reinforcing what makes your organization unique from day one.

5. Scalable and Shareable

As your team grows, your training needs grow too. A well-crafted onboarding video scales easily and you simply share the link. You can also adapt different versions for contractors, remote employees, or even partners.

Best Practices for Creating Onboarding Videos

Focus on the Essentials

Don’t try to cover everything in one video. The best explainer videos are focused and to the point. Prioritize the most critical information: your company’s mission, core values, workplace culture, and what new employees need to do in their first few weeks.

Keep it Short and Sweet

Attention spans are short. Aim for 1.5 to 3 minutes per video. If you have a lot to say, break it into a series think onboarding vs training. The former can be a general welcome, while the latter dives deeper into specific tasks or tools.

Use Clear, Friendly Language

Avoid jargon or corporate speak. Talk like a human. Your goal is to make people feel welcome and empowered, not overwhelmed.

Don’t Skimp on Quality

Your video represents your company. A poorly made video can leave a bad impression. At Hatch Studios, we combine storytelling, professional voiceover, polished animation, and clean design to ensure that your onboarding videos look and sound top-tier.

Make it Interactive (If You Can)

Interactive onboarding videos are gaining traction for a reason. Adding clickable elements, assessments, or choose-your-own-adventure branching helps boost engagement and reinforces learning.

The Hatch Studios Process

With over 25+ years in the animation industry, Hatch Studios knows what makes a training video effective. We don’t believe in cookie-cutter templates. Every onboarding video we create is custom-made to suit your brand, your team, and your goals.

Whether you need a 2D animation explainer or a 3D motion graphics training tool, we handle the entire process in-house. From scripting and storyboarding to voice casting and final render, our team ensures your onboarding content is not only clear but also compelling.

And because onboarding employees is just one part of the journey, we also help companies with follow-up training, internal communications, and customer onboarding experiences, all through engaging, animated storytelling.

If you want to learn more about our production process, be sure to check out our production process page.

Real-World Scenarios

Onboarding New Employees at Scale

A tech startup growing fast doesn’t have time to train each new hire individually. We worked with one such client to develop a modular onboarding video series that could be easily sent to new hires. The result? More confident employees and fewer hours spent on repetitive onboarding sessions.

Improve Customer Onboarding

For SaaS companies, onboarding isn’t just for employees. We created an animated onboarding video to show new users how to navigate their dashboard and make the most of the product. That cut down support tickets and improved user retention which was a double win.

Best Onboarding Practices for New Employees

One client wanted to revamp their entire onboarding system. We helped them outline best onboarding practices for new employees and turned it into a series of explainer videos. From compliance policies to team collaboration tools, everything was covered in a polished, engaging format.

Final Thoughts

An onboarding video is a strategic tool that can improve the employee onboarding experience, save time, and deliver a consistent brand message. Whether you’re bringing on new hires, educating customers, or training remote teams, animated explainer videos are one of the most effective ways to communicate.

At Hatch Studios, we’re proud to have helped companies across industries create some of the best explainer videos in the game. And we’d love to help you do the same.

If you’re ready to upgrade your onboarding process, get in touch. We’ll help you turn your message into a powerful, professional, and engaging video – one that saves time and makes a lasting impact.

Need help creating an onboarding video that actually works?
Reach out to Hatch Studios. Let’s build something your team will thank you for.