8 Must-Have Features in a Modern Intranet Platform

What makes him awesome?

Mike is always willing to help out where needed. He has run the loader on days when we are very busy and does a great job of training new employees in processes and the culture here at Holcim.

He recently received a new 12-yard mixer that he works diligently to keep as clean as possible throughout the week — so much so that his truck was recently used at an NRMCA event!

His great attitude and friendly demeanor makes him a joy to work with every day and he embodies what Holcim is all about.

How has Blink helped in his role?

Blink has helped Michael get new employees set up with the things that are most important to them and helped show the culture that makes Holcim great.

What does he want to do next?

Mike would love to become a Master Driver Trainer in the near future, so he can continue teaching new employees in the future.

Nominated by: Joseph Bockenfeld, Plant Manager Sandcreek RMX

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How do you rate your workplace communication? And would your employees agree?

According to the IC Index 2026, just 56% of employees feel the communication they receive from their employer is open and honest.

That leaves nearly half the workforce feeling uncertain about what’s really going on. And this is a missed opportunity for organizations — because open communication is good for employees and good for business. 

Open communication keeps everyone on the same page. It supports a strong and engaging company culture. It empowers employees to do their best work — and also inspires their loyalty.

For frontline and remote employees, open communication is even more important.

These teams often get less face time with leadership and receive fewer informal updates — so clear, transparent communication is what keeps them connected to the organization and up to speed with what’s happening.  

Want to improve comms at your organization? Start by learning what open communication is, why it matters, and how to build it into your internal communication strategy.

What is open communication?

Open communication is a style of communication in which people share ideas, information, and concerns honestly and transparently — without fear of judgment or negative consequences.

In the workplace, that means no one is kept in the dark. Leaders share company updates regularly. Managers maintain an open-door policy. Employees feel comfortable sharing feedback and contributing ideas.

Open communication stands in contrast to closed communication, where information is restricted, decisions are made without consultation, and employees are left to fill in the gaps — often with assumption and rumor.

This approach to internal communication creates ambiguity and uncertainty. It erodes trust and makes it harder for people to do their jobs well.

Why open communication in the workplace matters

Ineffective internal communication is expensive. According to Grammarly’s State of Business Communication report, it’s costing US businesses $1.2 trillion every year.

Developing a culture of open communication is a powerful way to improve your comms — and boost your bottom line. Here’s what it could mean for your organization.

Open communication boosts productivity and efficiency

Teams lose an average of 7.47 hours per week to poor communication. That’s almost one full working day per week.

When employees don’t have access to clear, timely information, you get duplicated work and misaligned priorities. Your teams also waste time untangling the misunderstandings that clearer communication could have prevented.

Open communication removes that friction. It gives employees a clear understanding of roles, expectations, organizational goals, and deadlines — so they can complete tasks faster and use resources more effectively.

That means a big boost to employee productivity and operational efficiency.  

Open communication improves employee engagement and retention

Employees who get enough information to do their job well are 2.8 times more likely to be engaged. And employee engagement has a measurable impact.

Gallup research shows that organizations with highly engaged workforces experience  

• 17% increase in productivity
• 51% decrease in staff turnover
• 23% increase in profitability

Open communication is a really effective employee engagement tactic. It drives engagement by building workplace trust, creating clarity around goals, and giving employees a voice.

Open communication enhances workplace culture

Open communication is the foundation of psychological safety — the belief that it’s safe to ask questions, admit mistakes, and suggest new ideas. Without this belief, problems stay hidden.

Imagine a frontline worker notices a process that’s creating a safety risk, but they don’t feel comfortable raising the issue. In a culture of closed communication, that concern is never voiced and the risk persists.

In an organization where open communication is the norm, the worker raises the issue quickly through easy-access communication channels. The safety issue gets addressed. Everyone is safer as a result.

Psychological safety enables employees to speak up — whether they’re raising concerns or sharing a bright idea. It strengthens trust, improves employee well-being, and contributes to a workplace culture where people feel heard and respected. 

Open communication strengthens team relationships

Open communication doesn’t just bring benefits at an organizational level. It filters down to every team in the company. 

Embed open communication in your culture, and employees communicate openly and honestly with one another.

They get to know their teammates’ working styles, intentions, and perspectives. They’re able to share ideas, ask questions, and provide feedback sensitively. Conflict and misunderstandings are avoided — or resolved quickly.

Open communication makes teamwork much easier. Employees are better able to collaborate, which improves business outcomes as well as the employee experience.

Open communication drives problem-solving and innovation

Frontline workers have daily contact with the customers your company serves. They see operational inefficiencies up close. They know what’s working and what isn’t.

In organizations with closed communication, that knowledge stays stuck on the floor. Insights remain untapped and inefficiencies continue to drain profits.

But if your company communicates openly — if your frontline staff have access to two-way messaging tools, employee surveys, communities where ideas can be shared and built on — the story is very different.

With a direct line to your stores and a culture that encourages employee input, you surface knowledge from across the organization. Wherever that insight comes from, you can use it to identify and solve problems, make decisions, and come up with new ideas more effectively.

Open communication supports change

Change is one of the biggest stress tests of workplace communication.

When change communication seems to hide more than it reveals, employees fill in the gaps themselves. That can lead to confusion, resistance, and mistrust.

Open communication changes that dynamic. By communicating openly, employees understand what’s changing, why it’s changing, and how it will affect their day-to-day work. This approach also creates space for questions and feedback.

The result? Change feels less disruptive and adoption of new policies is faster because employees have all the information they need to get behind the organization.

Open communication improves retention

70% of employees who rate their company’s internal comms as ‘excellent’ intend to stay with that company for the long term. This drops to just 24% of people who rate communication as ‘good’.

The way you communicate with your workforce has a huge impact on employee satisfaction and retention.

When employees understand what’s expected of them, enjoy collaborative relationships with teammates, trust in leadership, and feel like they have a voice, they’re much more likely to stay working for you.

The 5 pillars of open communication

There are lots of benefits to open, honest communication. To foster this type of communication in your workplace, it helps to understand the five pillars that make it possible.

1. A lack of ego

Big egos get in the way of open communication.

They lead people to dominate conversations and discount views that challenge their own. To respond to feedback defensively, rather than constructively, and to avoid admitting mistakes.

Leaders set the tone here. When managers model the behaviors they want to see — admitting mistakes, listening actively, welcoming feedback, speaking authentically, and including everyone in the conversation — a culture of open communication is more likely to develop.

2. Trust

Trust is both a precondition for open communication and a consequence of it. When employees trust their organization, they communicate more openly. And that openness deepens organizational trust.

Building this kind of trust takes time and consistency. It requires leaders who follow through on what they say, managers who take employee concerns seriously, and a visible track record of acting on feedback.

Get this right, and employees will feel comfortable sharing their honest thoughts, feelings, and ideas. You create an environment where everyone feels respected and valued — which is great for employee communication and the employee experience.

3. Training

Even in organizations with strong cultures and good intentions, communication skills vary significantly between individuals.

Luckily, the principles of open communication can be taught. Active listening, constructive feedback, conflict resolution, and the ability to have difficult conversations respectfully are all learnable skills.

Investing in communication skills training at every level — not just for managers — helps you build an organization of effective, open communicators.  

4. Two-way interaction

Open communication with employees isn’t just about sharing information. It’s about engaging in conversation and answering employee questions, without always relying on a pre-prepared script.

By shifting from top-down broadcast to two-way dialogue, allowing employees to ask questions, and giving them answers they trust, organizations can dramatically improve the openness of their communications.

5. Tools

Once you move beyond a handful of employees, open communication requires infrastructure. Channels and tools that every employee can access easily — regardless of their role, location, or whether they have a corporate email address.

That means internal communication tools that support company updates, employee feedback, and day-to-day collaboration. And it means tools that work on a smartphone as well as a desktop computer.

How Blink supports open communication in organizations with a frontline workforce 

For organizations with deskless workers, the tools issue is where open communication most commonly breaks down.

Traditional communication infrastructure — email, desktop intranets — simply doesn’t reach employees who work on the floor, on the road, or across multiple sites and shifts.

Blink is a mobile-first employee platform built to bring open communication to your entire workforce, no matter where they work.

Here’s how the platform supports open communication.

A personalized news feed. Company updates, leadership messages, team news, and recognition all appear in a single news feed — accessible from every employee’s smartphone. And it’s not a one-way broadcast. Employees can comment, react, and respond to updates so everyone has a voice.

Direct and group messaging. Employees can chat with managers and co-workers over a secure, searchable, real-time messaging tool. Across a social-media-style user experience, they can add attachments, add emotion with emojis, and even launch a video call from within the chat.

Surveys and polls. In-app surveys and quick-fire polls give every employee an easy way to share feedback, straight from their smartphones. Analytics help leaders make sense of responses — and track platform usage rates. So it’s easy to see where internal communications can be improved.

A centralized knowledge hub. Policies, procedures, FAQs, operational guidance — every essential document lives in the content hub. Employees can access up-to-date resources from any device, without relying on their managers for vital information.

Events and live streaming. Every employee can join company-wide events, regardless of their location or shift schedule, thanks to broadcast-quality live streaming. You can host a town hall or an executive Q&A to share updates and answer employee questions.

Open communication starts here

To embed open communication in your company culture, you need leaders who act as role models, managers who really listen, and a fundamental belief that employee voice is an asset, not a risk.

Creating a culture of open and honest communication requires effort at every level of the organization. It also requires the right tools — tools that make open communication possible across a large, dispersed workforce.

A mobile-first communication tool ensures that every employee — not just those at a desk — gets to hear company news and take part in an open, supportive, and inclusive company conversation.

Blink. And bring open communication to every corner of your organization.

Why look for a Staffbase alternative?

Staffbase has become a popular internal communications platform, particularly for large organizations looking to modernize their intranet. It offers personalization, branded employee apps, and strong publishing tools. But many companies — especially those with distributed or deskless workforces — are starting to feel the platform’s limitations.

If your goal is to engage every employee, not just those behind a desk, you may need more than what Staffbase can offer. Common reasons teams start exploring Staffbase alternatives include:

• Low adoption among frontline workers or non-desk employees
  
• Limited functionality beyond comms and content publishing
  
• Slow rollout times and high implementation costs
  
• Dependence on corporate emails or M365 environments
  
• Lack of integrated workflows, like scheduling, surveys, or task management
  

In short, if you're looking for more than just a modern intranet — if you need a platform that drives action, not just communication — it’s worth exploring alternatives built for today’s workforces.

What to look for in a Staffbase alternative

Not every internal comms platform is built the same. When searching for a Staffbase alternative, it’s important to evaluate tools that prioritize ease of use, adoption, and flexibility — not just content publishing.

Here are the key features and traits to look for:

#1. Mobile-first design

Choose a platform designed for mobile from the ground up — not just one that adapts desktop intranets into an app. This ensures frontline, field, and shift-based workers are truly included.

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#2. No email required

Many of today’s employees don’t have a company email. Platforms like Blink eliminate this barrier, allowing you to onboard and engage your entire workforce seamlessly.

#3. Unified employee experience

Look for more than just comms. The best platforms integrate communication with operational tools like schedules, task lists, surveys, HR links, and document access — all in one place.

#4. High adoption & engagement rates

Adoption is everything. A Staffbase alternative should show real-world data that proves high usage — not just licenses sold.

#5. Quick implementation

Complex rollouts kill momentum. Favor platforms that offer plug-and-play setups, pre-built templates, and fast deployment (especially for time-sensitive initiatives).

#6. Integrations with key systems

Ensure the platform integrates easily with your HRIS, payroll, scheduling tools, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, and other core systems to avoid silos and duplicated work.

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#7. Analytics, insights & feedback loops

It’s not enough to send messages — you need to know who saw them, how they responded, and what’s working. Built-in analytics and pulse survey tools help you improve continuously.

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Top 10 Staffbase alternatives (ranked)

#1. Blink – Best overall alternative to Staffbase

Best for: Companies prioritizing adoption and utility.

Blink is the most comprehensive Staffbase alternative, designed to connect every employee — whether they work behind a desk, behind a counter, or out in the field. Unlike Staffbase, which often centers around publishing and personalization for office workers, Blink unifies communication, engagement, and productivity into one mobile-first app.

For organizations seeking a comprehensive and intuitive employee platform, Blink delivers. It offers rich features like content sharing, forms, chat, and analytics, all within an easy-to-use mobile and desktop experience that scales across departments.

Why organizations switch from Staffbase to Blink:

• No company email required — reach 100% of your people
• Combines communication and action: from news to tasks and HR tools
• Market-leading usage and adoption rates
• Quick rollout and self-serve administration
• Loved by global brands like McDonald’s, Shake Shack, Elara Caring, and Stagecoach

Pricing: Custom pricing
Gartner Rating: 4.8/5

Blink goes beyond engagement — it delivers true connection, across every role and region.

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#2. LumApps – Best for Google Workspace & Microsoft 365 integration

LumApps offers a personalized digital workplace experience and integrates well with Google and Microsoft ecosystems. It's strong in content delivery and social sharing, but its frontline functionality is limited.

Pros: Deep Google/Microsoft integrations, personalization
Cons: Less effective for non-desk workers
Pricing: Custom pricing
Gartner Rating: 4.3/5

#3. Connecteam – Best for operational frontline use cases

Connecteam is a mobile-first app that includes scheduling, time tracking, and forms — making it ideal for operations-heavy teams. However, it lacks richer communication or storytelling tools found in Blink or Staffbase.

Pros: Operations tools like checklists and timesheets
Cons: Basic internal comms capabilities
Pricing: Starts at $29/month for 30 users
Gartner Rating: 4.4/5

#4. Workvivo – Best for culture sharing

Workvivo focuses on building community and culture through its social intranet experience. With features like activity feeds and shout-outs, it helps employees stay connected and recognized.

Pros: Social feed, culture-first messaging
Cons: Limited in tasks, shift planning, or document handling
Pricing: Starts at $20k/year
Gartner Rating: 4.7/5

#5. Interact – Best for traditional intranet buyers

Interact enables top-down and bottom-up communication with its mix of content publishing, document management, and collaboration tools. It is designed to adapt to a wide range of industries and team structures.

Pros: Policy management, advanced intranet architecture
Cons: Less dynamic for mobile teams
Pricing: Contact for quote
Gartner Rating: 4.3/5

#6. Simpplr – Best for modern intranets

Simpplr offers an elegant, personalized intranet experience. It’s visually engaging and great for corporate comms, but may fall short on engaging field teams.

Pros: Sleek UX, solid integrations
Cons: Limited frontline experience
Pricing: Custom
Gartner Rating: 4.6/5

#7. Haiilo – Best for content planning & analytics

Haiilo excels in structured comms workflows — ideal for campaign-based content teams. It performs well in content scheduling and measurement, but lacks deeper interaction features.

Pros: Editorial planning, analytics, targeting
Cons: Feels like a CMS, not a people-first app
Pricing: Custom
Gartner Rating: 4.1/5

#8. Unily – Best for enterprise customization

Unily is a feature-rich platform best suited for global organizations needing tailored experiences. It comes with powerful multilingual support and personalization but requires more setup and resources.

Pros: Deep customization, localization
Cons: Slower implementation, high complexity
Pricing: Custom
Gartner Rating: 4.3/5

#9. Beekeeper – Best for shift-based comms

Beekeeper focuses on messaging, forms, and workflows for shift-based teams. While great for ops, it may lack strategic communication depth.

Pros: Real-time ops tools
Cons: Limited comms campaigns or culture-building tools
Pricing: Custom
Gartner Rating: 4.6/5

#10. MangoApps – Best for tool consolidation

MangoApps offers everything from messaging to LMS to file storage. It’s ideal for companies looking to replace several internal tools at once — but may require significant configuration.

Pros: Versatile, broad feature set
Cons: Can feel cluttered or complex
Pricing: Custom
Gartner Rating: 4.4/5

Final thoughts: Move beyond the intranet

The internal communications landscape is shifting — and fast. Traditional intranet-style platforms like Staffbase, while once a step forward, are struggling to meet the needs of today’s increasingly mobile, distributed, and deskless workforces. If your platform only reaches office-based employees or requires complex setup to stay relevant, it may be time to move on.

The best Staffbase alternatives go beyond publishing news and announcements. They connect your people to what matters — whether that’s critical updates, shift schedules, HR tools, or each other. They simplify access, streamline workflows, and actually get used every day.

Blink leads the way as the all-in-one employee experience platform built for real-world teams — from the breakroom to the boardroom. It delivers unmatched adoption, mobile-first utility, and a unified experience your entire workforce can rely on.

If you’re ready to:

• Replace your intranet with something employees actually use
• Reach 100% of your workforce — not just the ones with email
• Bring communication, tasks, schedules, and engagement into one platform

…then Blink is the best place to start.

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Why teams choose Blink over Staffbase

Staffbase is a capable intranet platform, but it comes at a high price point, with added costs once you need the full module set. Blink is mobile-first, requires no corporate email, and is used daily by teams at McDonald's, Domino's, and Chick-fil-A — without the same layered pricing. See our full head-to-head comparison.

A practical guide to cutting through the noise and making your messages matter

#1. Navigating modern internal comms

Writing internal comms can feel a lot like packing for vacation. At first, it’s tempting to bring everything — just in case.

That extra pair of shoes? Might need them.

A backup raincoat? Better safe than sorry.

Before you know it, your suitcase is way too heavy, can barely zip up, and becomes a disorganized mess the moment you arrive at your destination.

The same thing happens with internal communications. Overwriting is like overpacking — it makes everything more stressful and less effective. When we overload messages with too much information, jargon, or unnecessary details, they become cluttered, overwhelming, and easy to ignore. Employees don’t have time to sift through paragraphs of content to find what’s important.

The ultimate goal of any internal comms strategy is to foster genuine open communication in the workplace. However, bombarding your frontline teams with long, text-heavy, and jargon-filled broadcasts actually achieves the exact opposite, it causes them to tune out.

The power of “less is more”

Great communicators know that less is more. Just like an experienced traveler packs only the essentials — choosing versatile outfits and rolling clothes for maximum efficiency — strong internal comms should be:

1. Focused: Stick to the essentials. What does the reader really need to know?
2. Compact: Cut the fluff. Every word should earn its place.
3. Easy to navigate: Use structure, formatting, and clear takeaways to help employees skim and understand instantly.

By applying the “pack light” mindset to your internal communications, you ensure that your message is clear, effective, and memorable — without the baggage.

Now, let’s unpack the key principles of writing internal comms that actually stick.

What you’ll learn in this guide:

1. Techniques to write concise, high-impact messages
2. Examples of great internal comms writing
3. Visual tips to make content more digestible

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#2. The science behind shorter messages

Our attention span is shrinking. If your key message isn’t immediate, it’s lost.

You’re competing with overflowing inboxes, endless notifications, and workplace distractions — so if your message isn’t short, structured, and engaging, it’s simply ignored. The way we consume information has changed, and your internal comms need to adapt.

The psychology of information retention

• Cognitive overload: Employees process over 120 emails a day, plus chats, notifications, and meetings. Too much information leads to decision fatigue, stress, and disengagement.

• The rule of processing fluency: Our brains prefer simple, easy-to-digest information. When content is clear and structured well, it feels more credible, persuasive, and memorable.

• The serial position effect: People remember the first and last things they read — but forget the middle. If your key message is buried, it won’t stick.

If your message takes more than a few seconds to process, employees will move on.

Over 90% of people read their text messages within 3 minutes of receiving them — while it takes 90 minutes for emails to get read.

Flimp

Why concise, well-structured messages increase engagement

• Less text = more readership: When messages are brief and scannable, employees are more likely to engage and act. We see this in our personal lives, too: Over 30,000 field experiments with The Washington Post and Upworthy showed that readers prefer simpler headlines over more complex ones.

• More clarity = more trust: Research shows that simpler language increases credibility. Employees trust and engage with messages that get to the point.

• Skimmable = actionable: Well-structured messages increase retention because they mirror how the brain processes information. Using features like headings, bolding, and bullet points improves readability.

TLDR: Welcome to the era of Insta-grade comms

Shorter, well-structured internal comms don’t just respect employees’ time — they actually drive higher engagement and action. If your message can be read and understood in under 10 seconds, you’re doing it right.

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#3. The 8-second rule of internal comms

Picture this: Your employees are glancing at their phone between tasks, skimming their inbox, or checking messages on the go. In those few seconds, they see a new email or internal feed post alert pop up, and they have to decide whether to engage with your message — or ignore it.

While the idea that humans have an actual 8-second attention span has been debunked, the reality is that attention is fleeting, and distractions are everywhere. If your key message isn’t clear immediately, it gets lost in the noise.

So, how do you write like every second counts?

Write a snack rather than a meal

Employees don’t sit down to consume internal messages like a three-course meal — they graze. They snack on bits of information throughout the day, picking up what interests them and moving on.

Employees only read 28% of words on a screen, and 55% of emails are skimmed for under 10 seconds.

Nielsen Norman Group

Assume employees will only glance at your message. If they can’t understand the point in a few seconds, they’ll move on.

Craft strong subject lines and headlines

Your subject line or headline is the first thing employees see — and often, the only thing they read. It needs to grab attention and deliver instant value.

• Be specific: Instead of “Important update,” say "New PTO policy: What you need to know.”
• Use action words: “Action required: Complete your training by Friday!”
• Keep it short: 6-8 words is the sweet spot.

Use plain language & action-oriented writing

To drive engagement and action, make your messages effortless to read. Aim for an 8th-grade reading level or below — this ensures clarity and accessibility for everyone, including non-native English speakers.

Keep it simple and direct:

• Choose familiar words: Say “use” instead of “utilize,” “help” instead of “assist,” or “fix” instead of “rectify.”
• Make actions clear: Swap “We hope you take advantage of this opportunity” for “Sign up now!”

When employees can quickly read, understand, and act, your communications become more effective — and more inclusive.

TLDR: What can you say in 8 seconds?

Next time you write an internal message, set a timer for 8 seconds and read it out loud. If you can’t get to the main point in that time, revise.

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#4. When in doubt, keep it BRIEF

You’ve probably heard the old saying KISS: Keep It Simple, Stupid.

While it’s memorable, internal comms teams deserve a smarter, more practical approach — one that reflects the fast-paced, message-saturated reality of today’s workplace.

When employees are flooded with messages, clarity isn’t just nice to have — it’s necessary. That’s where the BRIEF method comes in: A simple, effective framework to ensure your internal communications are concise, engaging, and actionable.

Bottom-line first

Remove fluff

Include essentials

Embrace formatting

Feature one action

If you can apply these five steps, your messages will cut through the noise and actually stick.

B: Bottom-line first

Employees don’t have time to hunt for the key message. Lead with what matters most:

• Start with the “so what?” If they read only the first sentence, they should know the takeaway.
• Use BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Instead of building up to the key point, start with it.

R: Remove fluff

Every extra word makes your message weaker, not stronger:

• Cut jargon, filler words, and redundant phrases (“at this point in time” → “now”).
• Write for clarity, not formality (“utilize” → “use,” “commence” → “start”).
• Stick to one key idea per message — if you’re cramming in multiple topics, break it up.

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Quick tip: Before you send it, read your message out loud. If you wouldn’t say it that way in conversation, change it.

I: Include essentials

Employees will only remember one or two things from your message — make them count:

• Stick to the who, what, when, and why — cut the rest.
• If details are necessary, link to a resource instead of cramming everything in.
• Use bullet points to highlight the must-know facts.

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Quick tip: If you can remove a sentence and the message still makes sense, delete it.

E: Embrace formatting

Employees skim before they read — help them find key info fast:

• Use bolding, bullet points, and spacing for readability.
• Avoid long paragraphs — stick to 1-2 sentences per block.
• Use emojis or icons (sparingly!) to draw attention in digital comms.

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Quick tip: Design your message like a social media post — scannable, engaging, and to the point.

F: Feature one action

If you ask employees to do multiple things, they’ll do none:

• Every message should drive one clear action.
• Place the call to action (CTA) at the end — make it specific and easy to follow.
• Lead action verbs: For example, “Update your profile by Friday” is a lot more compelling than “If you could update your profile before the end of the week, that would be great.”

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Quick tip: If your message has more than one action, split it into separate comms.

TLDR: BRIEF is better

Employees don’t need more communication — they need better communication. Applying the BRIEF method will help your internal comms stand out, be remembered, and most importantly — be acted upon.

Now, try this: Take a recent internal email or message and apply the BRIEF method. Can you make it 50% shorter without losing meaning?

#5. The evolving role of visuals

A well-placed image, GIF, or micro-video can convey information faster and more effectively than a wall of text. Employees are bombarded with messages daily — so making your comms visually engaging isn’t just nice to have, it’s a must.

Images, icons, emojis

• To simplify complex information… Incorporate charts or infographics.
• To add personality and emotion… Throw in a GIF or emoji — especially for executive communications, these can make a message feel more human.
• To direct attention… Use a well-placed arrows highlight, or icon
• To reinforce brand and culture… Include team photos, event snapshots, and user-generated content

Try this: Instead of sending a long email about a new policy, post a 30-second video from leadership or an animated explainer — it’s faster, more engaging, and easier to remember.

75% of employees prefer visual aids, like videos or infographics, over text-based internal communications.

Ragan Communications

Micro-videos & interactive elements

Employees are used to short-form content — think TikTok videos and Instagram stories and reels. Wherever possible, internal comms should embrace this quick, visual format to create an engaging employee experience that rivals social media platforms.

Good use cases for micro-videos include:

• Leadership updates: A quick 1-minute message from the CEO beats a long email.
• Policy changes: An animated explainer and visual aids can make complex information much easier to digest.
• Employee recognition: A fun, shareable shoutout video is more engaging than a text announcement.

TLDR: Show, don’t tell

If a picture’s worth 1,000 words, then a well-placed image, GIF, or video can save your employees a whole lot of reading.

Next time you craft a message, ask yourself: Could this be a visual instead? If so, make the switch — your employees will thank you.

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#6. Right message, right place

You wouldn’t send a virtual meeting invite via a printed flyer. So why would you rely on a one-size-fits-all approach to your internal comms strategy?

Different messages belong in different places — and using the right channel can mean the difference between being seen and being ignored.

Match the message to the medium

Consider the best-fit channel for the message or content you’re planning to share. What channels do you have at your disposal — and where do you think employees are most likely to engage with you?

• Short-form, high-impact updates? Post them in your internal news feed or Stories.
• Team-specific reminders? Drop them in a group message.
• Company-wide announcements? Send via a scannable email — or, even better, a video or recorded live stream!
• Need engagement or feedback? Use interactive polls or quick emoji reactions.

As a general rule of thumb, the shorter the message, the more dynamic the format should be.

80% of the global workforce does not sit behind a desk to do their jobs.

O.C. Tanner

Why multi-channel comms matter

• Employees consume content differently: Some prefer mobile updates, others check email. And beyond preferences, content engagement will likely vary based on where, when, and how they work. Your workers on the frontline will see your messages in a much different way than your remote employees or office-based staff.

• Repetition increases retention: Seeing a message in multiple places boosts awareness. Dismiss a “one and done” mindset — get creative sharing the same update or information in different ways across multiple channels!

• Urgency varies: A chat notification or message marked as a Mandatory Read may get an instant response, while an email detailing a policy update or new benefit might sit unread.

TLDR: Even the best message will be ignored if it’s in the wrong place

Your workforce isn’t sitting at a desk refreshing email all day. The more you adapt your message to the right channel, the more likely it is to be seen, understood, and acted on.

Next time you send an update, ask yourself: Am I using the right channel for this message?

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#7. Measuring your success

Writing concise, scannable internal comms is only half the battle — the real test is whether employees read, understand, and act on your messages. Here’s how to track the impact of a “less is more” approach and continuously refine your strategy.

(Keep in mind: Not all internal comms platforms are made the same. Take a close look at which insights you’re able to glean from your tool of choice. If your platform can’t capture helpful internal comms insights, it may be time to make a change!)

#1. Open rates: Are employees clicking?

What to measure:

• Email open rates: Are employees even opening your messages?
• Push notification click-through rates: Do mobile alerts drive engagement?
• Intranet post views: Are employees interested in your intranet content?

Try this: Compare open rates for long-winded subject lines vs. punchy, action-driven ones (e.g., “All-staff meeting agenda” vs. “🚀 Big updates: Here’s what’s next”). Track whether shorter, clearer emails lead to higher engagement.

9 in 10 employees want weekly communication from their company — and 1 in 3 want daily communication.

Harvard Business Review

#2. Engagement: Are employees interacting?

What to measure:

• Read time: Are employees skimming or fully reading?
• Likes, comments, shares: Do they engage with the content?
• Survey completion rates: Are they responding to quick polls or feedback requests

Try this: Post two versions of the same message — one long, one short — to see how it impacts engagement. And be sure to keep all other factors (such as publishing time, day, and channel) the same in order to compare your messages in a true A/B test format.

#3. Feedback loops: Are messages hitting the mark?

What to measure:

• Employee feedback surveys: Do employees feel well-informed?
• Pulse checks: Send a one-question poll (e.g., “Was this message clear?” 👍👎)
• Manager check-ins: Are teams receiving and acting on important updates?

Try this: Make it interactive by adding a quick emoji reaction option to messages to gauge sentiment. Or create a “Too long? Too short? Just right?” poll to see what format employees prefer.

TLDR: If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it

The best internal comms strategies evolve. Keep testing, measuring, and refining. If engagement improves, double down on what works — if it doesn’t, adjust and experiment.

Remember: The goal isn’t just to send messages — it’s to make sure they’re read, understood, and acted on.

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#8. Final thought: Less is more, every time

TLDR: It’s time to TLDR your own content

You’ve learned that less really is more when it comes to internal comms. Whether it’s writing scannable messages, using visuals to replace dense paragraphs, or crafting bite-sized, memorable updates, the goal remains the same: Make it easy for employees to read, understand, and act.

Great internal comms aren’t about saying more — they’re about saying the right things, in the right way. The next time you write a message, ask yourself:

• Would I actually read this?
• Is this eye-catching enough?
• What can I cut without losing meaning?

Now, it’s your turn to put these strategies into action.

Your challenge: Try this in your next message

The next time you write an internal communication, challenge yourself to:

1. Give it a headline of 6 words or less
2. Include a relevant image, GIF, or video
3. Try shortening the message by 30%

Mastering concise, high-impact internal comms won’t just make your messages better — it’ll make your workplace more connected, engaged, and informed.

Employee appreciation ideas aren’t just a nice thing to do. They’re common business sense.

71% of highly engaged organizations recognize employees for a job well done, but only 41% of less engaged organizations do the same. Meanwhile, Gartner suggests that a well-designed employee recognition program can lead to an increase in average employee performance.

The numbers don’t lie – employee recognition is vital, now more than ever. You don’t need to spend a lot on employee appreciation ideas for them to be effective either, and some of the best employee recognition strategies are completely free. 

Here’s how to start showing your employees how much you appreciate them, and some staff appreciation ideas to get you started. 

Why are employee appreciation ideas so important? 

Everyone likes to be recognized for the work they put in. For staff appreciation, ‘thank you’ is everything.

In fact, feeling underappreciated at work is one of the most common reasons why employees leave a role. A recent study of UK and US workers by Workhuman found that employees who had been thanked for their work in the last month are: 

• Half as likely to look for a new job (24% vs 48%)
• More than twice as likely to be engaged in their work (48% vs 21%)
• More than three times as likely to see a path to grow in the organization (59% vs 19%) 

All that, just from two short but meaningful words! Imagine the boost more developed employee appreciation ideas could achieve. 

And, with the Great Resignation in full swing, the power of ‘thank you’ has never been more apparent, or commercially essential. Around 4.5 million Americans quit their job in March 2022, enticed by rising wages and more flexible working options. 

Appreciating your employees for all the hard work they put in is vital in encouraging them to stay put. The great news is that this isn’t a difficult task at all! All it takes is the willingness to listen and some creative thinking on your part. 

How to start recognizing your employees’ achievements 

Employee recognition isn’t just a top-down thing. 

Sure, your senior execs can and should take the lead in calling out great performance – it makes it much easier for everyone else to follow. The issue is that senior managers can only be in so many places at once. They can’t recognize everything worthy of being recognized. 

Instead, it’s all about building a culture of continuous recognition from the ground upwards, encompassing both informal and formal recognition methods. This could include: 

• An employee app that lets managers share great performance with the wider organization
• A quarterly awards ceremony to recognize employees who have gone above and beyond
• Peer to peer recognition apps to encourage colleagues to support each other
• Training all of your employees in how to recognize their peers

That last point is important. In a recent survey, two thirds of businesses said that they trained their managers in employee recognition but only one third offered employees training in colleague recognition. To build a positive culture, it’s important that everyone knows how to offer praise, and its impact on creating an engaged workplace. Don’t leave it to chance.

It’s also essential to build employee preferences into this process. Some people might love receiving an award in front of all their colleagues; for others, this might seem more like a punishment! Ask your teams (or ensure your line managers do) what their ideal way of being thanked looks like. It's an employee engagement best practice worth following.

6 great staff appreciation ideas

1. Salary rise

Almost two-thirds of U.S. private sector payroll workers work in industries where the average weekly wage in the second quarter of 2021 was at least 5% higher than it was in the second quarter of 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

If your rates of pay haven’t budged since pre-pandemic, they’re likely no longer competitive. Show your staff you're serious about your long-term relationship by bringing them up to market rate – or higher! Costs of living are rising rapidly right now, and your team will appreciate it. 

2. Public shoutouts

Use your employee app or intranet to shout about individual and team successes. As well as the warmth of public recognition, this helps your employees build their networks in your organization and get noticed by those who could help them progress. . 

3. Fun benefits and perks

There’s nothing wrong with offering your employees a little treat every now and then. It won’t make or break employee engagement (a decent salary and day-to-day appreciation are far more important considerations), but it’s definitely a great addition. 

Spa days, vouchers for department stores, team days out, gym memberships and personal development funds are all great ways to do this – you might have some ideas of your own. 

4. Identify and celebrate key milestones

What we don’t mean: only celebrating 10-year milestones and giving your employees a watch on retirement. Things have moved on since the 1950s.

What we do mean: finding milestones that are meaningful to your business and celebrating little and often. Passing probation, completing advanced training, promotions and getting that first landmark sale are all worthy of celebration. Identify some that are meaningful to your workforce. 

5. Individual and team specific 

On some level, you’ll have to rely on your line managers to ensure employees feel appreciated on a day-to-day basis. Train them to express their appreciation frequently, and give them a budget for treats like team socials and post-project meals out. It’ll make all the difference.

6. Employee Appreciation Day

Dedicate a day to saying thank you to your employees! In the US, the official Employee Appreciation Day is celebrated on the first Friday of March, but you could hold your own staff appreciation day whenever suits you best. 

Employee Appreciation Day ideas include running an awards ceremony to recognize all the effort your employees have put in over the year, followed by a few hours of fun to celebrate these achievements. Fire up the grill (or hire a food truck), plan some fun activities and let everyone have a great time. 

On a budget? 

It’s not all about the fancy extras. Some of the most effective employee appreciation ideas are free: 

• Creating a ‘wall of fame’ for great achievements 
• Celebrating employees’ birthdays, marriages and other life events
• Putting effort into feedback, so that employees can develop their skills 
• Providing opportunities that will help build experience, such as shadowing other roles

Working remotely? 

This doesn’t need to stop you! Try using an employee app that will allow you to share your appreciation virtually. You could also try the following employee appreciation ideas:

• Early finish Fridays, especially in summer
• Celebrations and awards ceremonies via Zoom or similar
• Constant engagement and feedback via Slack or your other messaging channels
• Treats (food, vouchers, care packages) via post. Everyone loves surprise mail!

Staff appreciation quotes 

What you say and how you say it matters! Use these ideas as templates so that you really get the message across. 

Every day: “Thank you”

Often, it doesn’t have to get much more complicated than this. 

“Thank you for getting that report to me so promptly.”

“Thank you for stepping in last minute – we were really short.”

“Thank you for all your hard work this week – it’s been a long one.”

For small, day-to-day actions that have made everyone’s working lives a little easier, there’s no better alternative. 

Recognizing consistently good performance: “I’ve noticed that…”

All too often, it’s large, one-off actions that get noticed rather than consistently good performance that keeps the organization running. Avoid this trap with the “I’ve noticed…” approach. 

“I’ve noticed that you always make sure the shop’s tidy before locking up, even though that’s not your role.”

“I’ve noticed that you always hit deadlines without fuss, and it makes it so much easier for everyone else.”

“I’ve noticed that you always take the early shift to make life easier for colleagues with kids.” 

Follow up with thanks, by passing on this info to higher ups in the business and potentially with a token of your appreciation – lunch on the company, an early finish this weekend or a large box of baked goods can all work, depending on the situation. 

One-off actions: “That really made a difference”

For those times where an employee knocks it out the park, it’s always worth emphasizing the impact of their actions. Employees want their work to be meaningful, and this lets them know 

“That report gave senior management a real insight into some of the issues we’re facing, and really made a difference in how we’re going to approach them.”

“That big deal you landed made a huge difference in us meeting our quarterlies. You should be very proud.”

“The new processes you suggested save us so much time. They’ve really made a difference to employee wellbeing.”

Again, follow up with an appropriate reward for maximum impact, whether that’s an award, a bonus or something similar. 

Employee appreciation ideas: final thoughts

People like to feel appreciated, so a quick ‘thank you’ here and there works wonders for employee retention.

And, now that your employees can walk out of the job and be reasonably certain of finding another one pretty quickly, ‘thank you’ is a must. If your employees don’t feel appreciated, they will leave. 

It’s all about the basics here. A fair wage, regular appreciation and long-term support will go further than doling out a few Amazon Prime vouchers once every quarter. Employee recognition should be a constant process that’s built into the heart of your business. 

That’s not to say additional treats aren’t motivating. Rewards and bonuses of all kinds can be fantastic tactics as part of an employee engagement strategy, and they will make your staff feel appreciated. They are, essentially, the cherry on the top of your rewards program. Get the foundations right first for best results.  

Blink helps you show employees the appreciation they deserve. Get your free demo today.

In 2020, digital transformation in the manufacturing industry was valued at $263.9 billion USD. This figure is anticipated to reach $767.8 billion USD by 2026. As business leaders in manufacturing, you probably already know all about how DX on your production line can improve your machinery, drive your production rates and refine your overall output.

But what about your day-to-day, run-the-biz systems? How can digital transformation in manufacturing also benefit your wider company operations and employee performance? How can you utilize DX in manufacturing to craft a more meaningful and engaging employee experience, and what other bonuses may you discover along the way?

At Blink, we know a thing or two about transforming the employee experience through the right digital tools and technologies. So with this guide, we are providing you with a comprehensive introduction to the key benefits of digital transformation in manufacturing and why it's essential for your organization right now, with a core focus on the digital employee experience and how you can transform it in your business.

What is digital transformation (DX) in manufacturing?

Digital transformation (DX) in manufacturing is the process of implementing new digital technologies to improve and refine processes in a manufacturing organization. This typically involves a range of procedures, from improving communication and collaboration to adopting new manufacturing methods, or automating tasks.

A digital transformation strategy works to improve the overall efficiency, productivity and profitability of a manufacturing organization by integrating new digital technologies – such as employee engagement tools, Industry 4.0, big data analytics, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) – into company processes.

And while we all know that production machinery and tech makes up a huge part of your company processes, it’s important to see the wider picture, too. DX can actually have a significant impact on the behind the scenes operations of your business, including how you communicate and engage with employees, distribute knowledge and connect teams, recruit new talent, and even support the wider community.

By undergoing DX in all areas of your business and integrating stronger digital employee experience strategies for your workforce, you can in fact unlock a range of surprising benefits for your organization.

Main goals of manufacturing digital transformation

"It's not possible to pick just a short list of technologies and declare them to be the next big thing. Any innovation project is always a combination of different technologies and thoroughly designed processes aiming to achieve business goals."

Max Ivannikov

But what are some of the main goals that manufacturers are focusing on for their digital transformation initiatives? As this industry whitepaper discusses, the main goals of manufacturing digital transformation can be segregated into four broader areas:

• Cost reduction: Leveraging digital technologies to reduce costs in areas such as supply chain management, employee performance, production planning and inventory control.
• Competitive advantage: Utilizing digital technologies to gain a competitive edge in the market, such as through improved customer/employee experience, product customization and data-driven decision making.
• Agility: Increasing flexibility and adaptability in the face of changing market demands, such as through improved supply chain visibility, predictive maintenance and agile business processes.
• New business models: This could include refreshing manufacturing processes, investing in digital technology to improve processes company-wide, and otherwise finding new revenue streams through digital transformation initiatives.

Common roadblocks to DX in manufacturing

Some common challenges organizations see when undertaking DX in manufacturing include:

• Competitive market: In a highly competitive market, your current digital capabilities and processes may not be enough to stay ahead. And with the swift upturn in DX investments in the market, it can be difficult to keep up with competitors who are already rapidly integrating new digital technologies. While you might feel on the back foot, it's important to remember that digital transformation is a long-term investment, and there are always opportunities for growth and sustainable improvement.
• Distributed workforce: It can be difficult to know where to begin with digital transformation, especially for manufacturers who have a distributed workforce and may not have a clear understanding of the specific needs and pain points of their frontline employees. This can make implementing new processes, rolling out communications and combating employee attrition particularly challenging. We'll dive deeper into how to enable DX by empowering your frontline workers later in this post.
• Costs and fees: Adopting new digital technologies and processes can be a costly investment, and there may also be additional fees for training and implementing these changes company-wide. It's important to conduct thorough ROI analysis and carefully weigh the potential long-term benefits against the initial costs.
• Resistance to change: Change can be difficult, especially for employees who have been working in a certain way for many years. This is why it's important to have clear communication and a strong employee engagement system in place to help employees transition and adapt to the new digital technologies and processes.

  Enabling DX by empowering the frontline

As we mentioned, a distributed workforce and lack of visibility into the specific pain points and needs on the frontline can make DX a challenge for manufacturing organizations. But by focusing on empowering your frontline workers, you can not only improve their experience and enable better communication, but also gather valuable insights to inform your digital transformation efforts.

One way to do this is through a mobile-first approach, providing frontline employees with devices and applications that allow them to easily access the information and communication they need, wherever they are on the factory floor. This not only improves productivity, but also allows for better data collection and analysis to inform DX initiatives.

Another key aspect is giving your frontline employees a voice in the digital transformation process, through tactics like regular check-ins and surveys, as well as dedicated onboarding and training programs. By actively seeking their input and understanding their specific needs, they will feel more engaged and empowered in the DX journey.

Frontline specific tech like Blink's employee app allows for better communication, feedback and overall engagement with your frontline workers. This helps to address common DX challenges such as unclear frontline needs and resistance to change, while also improving productivity and efficiency on the manufacturing floor.

With real-time employee engagement analytics, manufacturers can also track the impact, employee satisfaction and ROI of their digital transformation initiatives, supporting cost reduction efforts and decision making.

 One great example to illustrate this is our work with JFE. When Canadian manufacturing company JFE approached us, their frontline workforce was disconnected due to outdated technology and communications, and they were facing large shortages in the labor market.

We overhauled their current technology and communications processes with a real-time communication solution by offering channels to funnel information, the ability to communicate with their operating teams through chats and a central hub to give employees access to company information in one place. 

As a result, JFE was able to improve their recruitment processes, employee engagement, satisfaction and, crucially, its workers’ safety. With our help, they took the company from 300 to over 450 employees, and were able to promote initiatives in both recruiting and retaining staff to make them a more attractive employer to staff and new recruits.

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Interested in seeing how Blink's employee app can support your manufacturing digital transformation efforts? Schedule a free demo today.

6 unforeseen benefits of DX in manufacturing

So, you already know the production benefits of implementing DX in your business, but what about the benefits of DX solutions for the back of house? Here are 6 key benefits of DX in manufacturing that you just might have overlooked in the past.

1. Reduce staff turnover & recruit the right talent

More than 90% of manufacturing leaders believe that DX is important for their success, IDC states. They go on to predict that global DX spend among companies in discrete or process manufacturing industries will total more than $816 billion in 2025.

Hiring and retaining the right people in a competitive market can be a challenge for manufacturers, but DX can help. And with the IDC statistics above, it's more important than ever for manufacturers to keep up with digital transformation efforts in order to stay competitive in the recruitment market and attract top talent.

Adopting new technologies can make a company more attractive to potential employees and improve employee satisfaction and retention. It allows you to modernize, stay competitive and attract the right employees even when competitors are vying for the same pool of skilled workers with high DX spend.

In addition, frontline-specific tech can boost your employer value proposition as a manufacturer. You listen to how the frontline thinks and feels, allowing you to build trust with the entire workforce and reduce churn.

2. Improve worker health & safety

According to the Workplace Safety Index 2020, workplace injuries are a key driver of loss for U.S. businesses, costing more than $1 billion per week and $59 billion annually.

As we mentioned before, the rise of Industry 4.0 in the manufacturing industry has seen various manufacturers investing in new digital technologies to automate, modernize and enhance the entire process.

And with losses like these reported in the WSI, the key aspect of this modernization in the manufacturing industry is safety. By improving traditional manufacturing processes, boosting direct communication and implementing predictive maintenance, manufacturers can improve worker health and safety at the workplace.

With a frontline app like Blink, manufacturers can also gather direct employee feedback on safety concerns and act on them quickly, as well as offer training materials, policies, procedures and updates to ensure a safe work environment. 

Additionally, with research showing that engaged workers are more aware of their surroundings and best practices around safety and are more likely to take steps to protect their co-workers, by investing in and driving employee engagement throughout your company, you can improve worker health and safety as a whole.

By promoting a culture where employees feel comfortable to speak up about concerns or risks, actively participate in risk management and adhere to policies and procedures, manufacturers can see a decrease in injury rates and overall improvement in the health and safety of their workforce.

3. Increase your bottom line

The latest data suggests that digital transformation investment for manufacturing companies increases business value. Gartner reports that 36% of manufacturing enterprises realize above-average business value from IT spending in digitalization at a reasonable cost when compared with peers.

Opportunities for driving profit and increasing your bottom line don’t only come from your production line. Keeping the wider picture of DX in mind, you can utilize digital tools to drive business value through improving your run-the-business functions (like finance or human resources)

DX in an organization’s HR function, in particular, have shown increased employee engagement and statistics show that highly engaged organizations benefit from:

• 18% higher sales
• 23% difference in profitability
• 43% difference in turnover.

With employee engagement tools that provide streamlined workflows, real-time frontline communication and intelligence, seamless scheduling and product updates in addition to new production tech like IoT and augmented reality, manufacturers can cut down on extra expenses and improve the overall efficiency of all their operations.

This ultimately drives up profits and revenue and increases business value, with your teams performing at their best by using the latest and greatest technology solutions.

4. Boost Employee Engagement

The digital transformation process can also boost employee engagement. Adopting new, modern technologies can make employees feel more valued and appreciated, improving job satisfaction and retention rates.

Currently, Gallup data notes that industrial manufacturers haven't quite caught up to other industries in terms of adopting digital tools to improve employee engagement, with only 25% of manufacturing employees stating they felt engaged at work.

DX offers new ways for frontline employees to communicate with each other and leadership, improving transparency and overall communication in the workplace – a key component of employee engagement.

With frontline-specific tech designed to engage employees like manufacturers, you can gather key employee feedback and act on it to improve processes and enhance overall employee engagement. 

Further, according to the Chron, employee satisfaction is a reliable predictor of employee retention, meaning you can reduce churn and cut recruitment costs at the same time by improving the engagement your employees have with their digital tools.

Simplified, improved communications and streamlined, intuitive workflows means DX can enhance employee satisfaction levels for frontline workers, in turn, boosting their levels of engagement with their new tech and your employee retention rates.

And with the distinct improvement in profitability, sales and turnover that engaged teams provide as we highlighted above, it’s clear that investing in employee engagement initiatives is worth it from an ROI perspective.

5. Improve employee productivity 

It’s obvious how traditional digital transformation solutions help improve quality on the production line. But did you know that implementing DX to improve your employees’ engagement can also lead to huge productivity boosts? 

In the manufacturing sector, DX is not only about staying competitive or cutting costs – it's also about supporting your current employees; finding innovative ways to drive their motivation and productivity for a better overall business performance.

TechNative tells us that businesses must embrace innovative digital tools to make the employee experience seamless and personalized, creating a stronger emotional connection to the day-to-day experience of work.

Adopting new digital solutions, like frontline intelligence, predictive analytics and real-time communication solutions, allows you to foster connection with your frontline employees and act on their feedback to streamline day-to-day tasks. As such, your employees will feel better supported to be productive and efficient in their roles, and can produce their best work.

These employee technologies also offer product updates that keep everyone aligned with company goals, as well as streamlined workflows and schedules, reducing miscommunications and errors and allowing for maximum productivity.

So, not only does investing in digital transformation for your frontline workforce improve their overall job satisfaction, it also leads to a significant increase in motivation, productivity and output. It’s a win-win!

6. Build a positive brand reputation

In today’s day and age, it’s no secret that a company’s reputation is everything. In fact, the World Economic Forum has stated that a company's reputation can account for a quarter of its market value. Additionally, 87% of executives believe that reputational risks are more pressing than any other strategic risks.

As the digital transformation movement continues to evolve, your reputation as a manufacturing leader hinges on how well you adopt and use technology for success. Investing in new digital solutions for your frontline workforce is not only beneficial for your employees and your bottom line, but also for building a positive brand reputation.

By boosting employee engagement, satisfaction and productivity with technology, you’re not only improving the experience for those within your company, but also for your potential new hires and even your customers. With employees better equipped to provide top-notch service and meet customer demands efficiently, you can create a more positive customer experience and, ultimately, attract new business.

On top of that, adopting digital solutions for your frontline workforce also demonstrates your commitment to innovation and staying ahead of the competition in the manufacturing industry. It shows potential employees, investors, partners and customers that you’re dedicated to improving processes and creating a successful future for your company.

4 DX in manufacturing tips

Create a DX roadmap

According to LTI’s whitepaper: 

"Business leaders must move away from industry stereotypes, understand technologies, and help firms ride this wave with a competitive advantage by developing a successful transformation roadmap."

A DX roadmap, or digital transformation roadmap, is a plan that outlines the specific steps and timeframes for the adoption of new technologies to achieve your DX goals. This roadmap may be long and contain a number of different steps, but this allows you to stagger your digital transformation initiatives over time, prioritizing the areas that align with your current goals and business requirements.

To create your DX roadmap, you first need to understand the current state of your business. Your KPIs from above will come in handy here. Without knowing your starting point, it is impossible to map out a clear path to your goals. Therefore, knowing where you currently are is essential. 

Your DX roadmap should outline key objectives, success metrics, technology investments, roles and responsibilities, and timelines. Begin implementing new technologies, methods, and processes one step at a time, starting with those that will have the biggest impact on your desired goals. And don’t forget to measure and evaluate your progress regularly to ensure you stay on track.

Remember the bigger picture 

Remember, digital transformation is a long-term investment, with long-term value. Digital transformation is changing the way people do business. 

Great digital leaders sift through the latest technologies to identify which ones will have the biggest impact on their business, and then prioritize those implementations. Keep in mind that digital transformation is not just about adopting new technology, but also about changing processes and culture for maximum efficiency and success. 

And even with the relevant new technologies and industry trends to guide your digital transformation, you want to be uniquely positioned from your competitors. So, it's vital that you consider the wider market picture and how your DX transformation fits into it.

Consider your USPs. Can you provide a swift turnaround time based on your unique manufacturing technologies or streamlined business processes? Do you provide a second-to-none customer service journey because your customer-facing employees are always in direct contact with your frontline? You want these to be considered when mapping out your DX journey.

Set, monitor and measure your core transformation goals 

To undergo digital transformation in any industry, you need to know your transformation goals. According to Asana, the best way to understand if your digital transformation strategy worked is by monitoring your business success metrics.

For the manufacturing industry, these success metrics might include employee engagement rates, retention of clients or employees, a reduction in accidents and errors, increased efficiency in production, and sustainable business growth.

Make sure to align these goals with your business key performance indicators (KPIs), as this will ensure that the entire company is on the same page about what constitutes success for the digital transformation. Plus, it's important to regularly track and measure your progress towards these goals, adjusting as needed.

To do this, look for DX solutions that allow you to access Frontline Intelligence, providing you with key metrics, analytics and insights into your employee engagement, satisfaction and even retention rates. With handy tools like this included in your DX roadmap, you are set up for success in achieving your core transformation goals.

Communicate well and often 

As Mckinsey recommends for those undergoing digital transformation in the manufacturing industry:

“Communicate well and often. Establish an effective engagement plan and regular communication with critical senior stakeholders, site leaders, and a cross-functional core team.”

In short, communication is crucial for the success of your digital transformation. Keep all stakeholders, from top executives to frontline employees, in the loop about your DX roadmap and progress towards goals. This will ensure that everyone knows their role in the transformation and can work together towards success.

And don't forget to communicate with your employees! Driving employee engagement and buy-in for the digital transformation is crucial. They will be the ones driving and implementing these changes, so it's important that they understand the benefits and their role in making them happen.

Effective communication can also help with any potential resistance to change from employees. By keeping them informed and involved with easy-to-use, two-way conversations, you can work towards getting them on board with the transformation.

Accelerate your digital transformation today…

It's clear that leaders in the sector must prioritize DX efforts to ensure they're keeping up with competitors and improving overall satisfaction among their workforce. 

From minimizing the time spent switching between apps and logins, to sending real-time communications and vital updates, DX allows manufacturers to improve the employee experience in a modern, digital way, and boost their bottom line in the process.

Engineer a better employee experience for your manufacturing workforce today with our frontline employee engagement app. 

Designed specifically for industries like the manufacturing industry where workforces don’t have 24/7 access to a computer, or even a company email account, our platform is here to transform how you do business. Our app rethinks outdated frontline tech and offers a modern, digital solution for your frontline employee engagement.

Request a free demo today to see how Blink can transform your manufacturing business.

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