Apple Ditched Box Stickers — Why ITAM Shouldn’t Follow Suit with IT Hardware
…or how slipping a fully set-up IT package into your remote onboarding process can increase employee satisfaction.
TL;DR: Apple’s decision to remove box stickers meant the end of an era for some, and, although it’s a small shift towards sustainability, these details can mean a lot to users. Similarly, a smooth remote onboarding process, where new employees are greeted on (or before) their first day with a box of pre-configured IT hardware, means a lot to remote employees. Keep the “stickers” in the box and the details in the onboarding process. And the sustainability? With device disposition, we’ve got that covered, too.
Apple recently launched the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4, and if you wonder what all the hype was about (and also some of the ‘meh’), it’s all here. However, something X (formerly Twitter) users didn’t fail to notice was that Apple opted to remove the stickers from the box. This gesture, intended to put Apple one step closer to its 2030 goal of carbon neutrality, was met with nostalgia and disenchantment by some users, calling it “the end of an era.”
@Dexerto on X (formerly Twitter)
While we fully agree with the move towards carbon neutrality, for some those details make the difference. It’s a bit like remote onboarding a new employee with fully equipped IT equipment and mobile device management (MDM) from day one. So, here are a few reasons to metaphorically “leave the stickers in the box.”
What a Fully Set-Up IT Package Can Mean to an Employee
While seemingly simple, receiving IT hardware that’s ready to use on day one can mean something significant to a new employee, especially one who has never had the chance to meet another staff member due to their remote onboarding. Think back: when you started your job, were you greeted with fully operational IT equipment, a detailed onboarding procedure, and a virtual coffee with your new team — or was it a quick and luckluster email followed by a morning spent figuring out how to configure your new device?
Even small touches can have an impact. Your evening food delivery often comes with a handwritten note or just a little heart from someone at the restaurant, right? If the poké place down the road can do it, imagine how a fully configured device, ready to go, could make your remote employee’s first day easier.
Sure, a company mug is a nice-to-have, but there’s nothing more welcoming than having your hardware ready, working, with the right charger, all the peripherals, and direct contact with your ITAM provider for any of your worries. The main goal here is making sure the IT hardware is properly set up with all necessary software and tools, so your employee feels supported from day one. And supported they will be.
Why Bother?
Beyond making your employee feel welcome, there are some solid facts behind why you should, metaphorically, put extra “stickers” in the box. A positive onboarding experience, boosted by properly set-up IT equipment, can deliver greater long-term employee retention. According to Devlin Peck, “Around 69% of the employees with an exceptional onboarding experience are likely to stay with the firm for at least 3 years from the date of their joining.”
Gallup cites that “Only 12% of employees agreed that their organization has a good onboarding process,” so these small details could really give you the edge with your onboarding. So, these gestures can bridge the gap, metaphorically speaking, between your remote employees and their employer. Glassdoor’s report, The True Cost of a Bad Hire, states that “Organizations with a strong onboarding process improve new hire retention by 82% and productivity by over 70%.”
What’s more, by providing IT equipment that is fully functional from day one, you show that you care about your employee’s productivity and wellbeing.
A Well-Rounded, Simply Excellent Onboarding Experience
Apple might have strayed from their nostalgic stickers, and, as mentioned, while we fully support the ecological shift —we’re committed to recycling and reconditioning IT equipment to support communities in need — we do believe that the key to a great onboarding experience is in the details, ensuring your employees feel supported and part of the team from day one. At Dots, we streamline your IT asset management (ITAM) processes to make onboarding seamless and efficient, providing transparency and real-time tracking for all your assets.
Whether your “stickers in the box” means going the whole hog with hardware, software, and MDM, or whether it’s just getting the right peripherals to the right people, we’re here to help. Ready to discover how IT onboarding goes when you get Dots on board? Book a call with us and we’ll ensure that your IT hardware is managed smoothly, efficiently, and with the personal touch that makes a difference.
