Digital onboarding within an Earthmoving Equipment Maintenance and Repair organisation in South Africa: a blue- collar worker perspective

Abstract

The research is enshrined in the influence of digital onboarding on blue-collar workers within an Earthmoving Equipment Maintenance and Repair (EEMR) organisation in South Africa. The research seeks to understand the role of digital onboarding in shaping the human experience of blue-collar workers and to identify potential barriers to successful onboarding in the digital era. This study adopted a qualitative research design to provide an in-depth understanding of the experiences and perspectives of blue-collar workers regarding digital onboarding. Semi-structured interviews were utilised to gather rich and meaningful data that captured the nuances of the 16 participants' experiences through thematic analysis. The findings reveal that while some blue-collar workers embrace digital onboarding, others face challenges related to digital literacy, access to technology, and concerns about job security. Recommendations are provided to address these challenges and leverage the benefits of digital onboarding to enhance employee integration, efficiency, and safety within the organisation.