Boston Consulting Group achieves 100% satisfaction rate for its VR onboarding experience
Improving onboarding while reducing costs
Since launching BCG Universe in June 2024, new joiners now hit the ground running on their first day. On-site onboarding is significantly streamlined, reducing time and costs. The metaverse experience has earned acclaim from BCG employees, management and even industry peers – including Two Gold Awards at the 2024 Brandon Hall Group Technology Excellence Awards.
The challenge
With the traditional onboarding process, new joiners are usually overloaded with information on paper on the first days. This can lead to overwhelming new joiners, creating a sense of disconnect – rather than belonging.
Furthermore, new joiners might begin employment months after initially signing contracts. When they finally start their role, weeks can pass without meaningful touchpoints, which can affect their initial excitement and motivation.
Boston Consulting Group Central Europe saw there was an opportunity to create a more immersive, streamlined experience to quickly bring 500 new joiners a year up to speed – one they could enjoy at home, even before their first day at work.
About the company
Industry
WHY MR
Why Meta
BCG chose Meta Quest 3S and Meta Quest and managed solutions for four reasons:
- Performance: Meta Quest 3S's high-quality visuals deepen immersion, presence and engagement.
- Simplicity: With up to 80% of BCG new joiners having never tried VR before, BCG needed an easy-to-use headset.
- Management: Through Shared Mode and Meta Horizon managed solutions, BCG is always in control of the end-user experience, as well as security and data protection. The platform also provides a broad ecosystem of content providers. "Meta has led the way here, meaning that so many developers have already built apps on that platform", says Minh.
- Price point: Meta Quest 3S was the "perfect balance between performance and affordability", says Minh.
Minh Ngo,
Learning Design Manager,
Boston Consulting Group Central Europe
The solution
Rather than tell new joiners about its company culture, or even show them, BCG built a VR onboarding environment that allowed new joiners to experience it themselves.
Before their official start dates, new joiners are now sent Meta Quest 3S headsets, where they step into the BCG Universe: a week-long metaverse experience that transforms the onboarding experience.
During live VR onboarding sessions, new joiners meet a facilitator from BCG's learning and development team at a virtual reception. They then chat and network with fellow new joiners over virtual coffee, before going on tours and trying interactive quizzes and games. New starters can personalise avatars with pictures, custom clothing and hairstyles – creating natural interactions.
They're encouraged to join the BCG Universe out of live sessions too – and meet together virtually before returning their headsets.
"We find that it's a way of showcasing life at BCG", says Minh Ngo, Learning Design Manager, Boston Consulting Group Central Europe. "New joiners get to explore our values and culture in a fun environment, whenever they want. Rather than a top-down experience like with traditional onboarding, it becomes a two-way relationship."
Minh Ngo,
Learning Design Manager,
Boston Consulting Group Central Europe