Tech company Logistic Workx has developed a tool to cope with tightness in the logistics labour market. Via Virtual Reality and Gamification, it wants to improve the pre-boarding and onboarding of new employees.
According to the company, a spin-off of the University of Applied Sicence, NHTV in Breda, traditional recruitment and selection techniques are no longer enough to find and retain good people. Shippers and logistics service providers will have to distinguish themselves with a surprising, innovative approach. New technologies such as Gamification, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality play a crucial role in this, says director Wieland Hendriksen of Logistic Workx. "Companies that use these technologies effectively for pre-boarding and onboarding see new employees leaving less quickly and becoming productive faster. This leads to savings of up to several hundred thousand euros a year."
Fewer dropouts
Dropping out of new employees is a growing problem in logistics. Thirty per cent of employees start looking for another job within just a few weeks. As a result, employers have to re-hire people, taking longer to have employees who meet the required productivity standards. "Pre-boarding can prevent many problems. It leads to new employees becoming familiar with the new working environment even before their first day at work. They know what to expect, which makes them less likely to leave," explains Hendriksen.
According to Logistic Workx, the use of modern technologies leads to a 25 per cent reduction in outflow, for a warehouse with 500 temporary workers who stay for an average of 30 weeks. In addition, the familiarisation time is reduced by 10 per cent. "This quickly recoups the necessary investments," it says.
Virtually put away a pallet
Virtual Reality makes it possible to give new employees a glimpse of the warehouse in advance. By adding elements of Gamification, they can virtually put away a pallet or pick an order. Hendriksen: "At the same time, the employer already gets an idea of the competences of the new employee. This enables him to adjust the induction procedures accordingly and immediately place newcomers in the most suitable workplace."
Onboarding new employees
The technology would also improve the onboarding of new employees. In a virtual environment, the employee can become familiar with the culture, norms, values, procedures and rules in the warehouse. "Gamification can also be applied afterwards to maintain productivity, quality and other KPIs. These are technologies that the new generation of employees have grown up with and grown accustomed to. With this, we can trigger them."
