Posted at 9:00 a.m.
The pandemic and the formalization of teleworking have given managers new challenges in terms of welcoming and integrating new employees into their teams. Out of a desire to humanize the process, GSoft launches the Softstart platform.
“We have built a product that addresses an issue that has increased with the pandemic,” explains Simon De Baene, CEO and co-founder of GSoft, the company that designed the Officevibe engagement platform. “In tech companies, for example, growth is rapid. It’s easy to meet a lot of new people. »
So how do you present colleagues, specialists and clients to recruits and facilitate relationships? What to do to make them feel at home quickly? “Because of the pandemic, the employee experience had no choice but to change,” says Simon De Baene. We no longer welcome employees as before. We were forced to rethink their on boarding [intégration]. GSoft therefore wanted to build a product that will meet needs in a different way. »
When you join a company, you want to know people, to have allies. We want to create an experience that promotes that. We bet a lot on the ease of gathering and sharing information and videos.
Simon De Baene, CEO of GSoft
Once they have the tool in hand, the human resources department of a company and the managers can put it to their liking, personalize it. “Right now, we are each at home, observes Simon De Baene. The only difference in environment is our screen. I dare to believe that we can integrate the employee very well, that he says “we” and no longer “you” very quickly thanks to this tool. It takes commitment from day one on the part of the employee. To fail [cet objectif] rarely ends well. »
SCREEN CAPTURE PROVIDED BY GSOFT
It is possible to put the Softstart platform to your liking, to personalize the tool.
“Winning formula”
The CEO speaks with knowledge. Since August, GSoft – which previously used the Trello integration platform – has become a remote working company (remote work). And for nearly two years, management has hired 138 people. “The office remains open for those who want to go there,” says Simon De Baene. It’s a way to set an example, because the world of work is moving towards that. We have long had the office as the center of our culture. But working from home brings more flexibility and accountability. Another advantage of operating this way is that we can hire people elsewhere. It’s a winning formula for me. »
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
GSoft offices in Montreal
Unofficially launched last November, the Softstart platform has already found 20 takers in Canada and the United States. It currently costs $600 per year to access the tool. GSoft, which has invested $1 million in this product, intends to review its price soon, as features have been added along the way.
“The world is moving faster than before,” observes Simon De Baene. Leaving a company after two or three years is common. We are therefore destined to face a problem – integration – which has no end. You have to make the most of this step. Already it is difficult to hire someone. You have to create connections for him so that he is part of the team as soon as he arrives. When you succeed in this step, you give yourself leverage. »