The process begins with nanoprobes inserted into the blood of a victim. The nanoprobes are sub microscopic self-replicating robots. To insert the nanoprobes the drones use their tubules . These tubules are thin tubes that comes out from the hand of the drone and penetrates the skin of the victim. Once the tubules have penetrated the skin they insert the nanoprobes into the blood stream. The nanoprobes they bring Borg technology into the whole body. They attack the victim’s blood cells by latching on to them and taking over their functions. They alter the victims DNA in a matter of seconds. When the nanoprobes have taken control over the body, the victim’s skin and veins turns grey and shows a mottled pattern. The nanoprobes creates new electronic pathways, process and data storage nodes and causes some implants to grow from within the body.

When the first stage is complete and the nanoprobes are active, the victim turns passive. The second stage is much more brutal than the first. When the victim is passive the drone in charge of the assimilation surgically implants pieces of technology. They take out one eye and replaces it with an Ocular implant. Sometimes they amputate one arm and replaces it with a cybernetic arm. The entire body is affected by the assimilation. A neuro transceiver is installed and it purges the brain from individual thoughts. It links the victim to the Hive mind. The only thoughts that the victim can think is those that benefits the collective, everything else is purged. It is no longer aware of its individuality and is unable to think of escape. And it would do anything for the collective; even sacrifice its own life. The procedure is somewhat different when applied on children. Children are put in maternity chambers that makes them to develop into full grown drones in a matter of months. Even infants are injected with nanoprobes and set to grow in these chambers. The children have implants but not as many as an adult drone. Whether these implants are surgically installed or grow by them selves is not known.

The Borg does not only assimilate organic creatures, they also assimilates technology. The tubules can penetrate any known alloy and can insert nanoprobes into any technology. The nanoprobes will take over the technology. New features and enhancements grows out from within and becomes visible in a few seconds. In this way the Borg can for example take control of a star ship.

The assimilation process is a very important practice for the Borg since they have no ability to have offspring. The Borg are always at war and they need to create more drones than they loose in battle. The drones are important since their attributes and knowledge is added to the collective's. They are also crucial for attaining new technology and conquering more civilizations.