Let’s create digital experiences your people will actually enjoy
It takes seven clicks to find your schedule. The training video won’t load on mobile. Your last question to HR? Still sitting in an unread inbox. Welcome to your Monday.
Now flip that:
You open one app. Your schedule’s there. So is your manager’s announcement. You give quick feedback on your shift — and get a response before lunch.
That’s the difference good digital design makes.
In 2025, the user experience employees have with workplace tech is the employee experience.
We use communication tools to message teammates, take training, request time off, and recognize each other. When those tools work well, they reduce friction and boost morale. When they don’t, it shows — in employee engagement, retention, and productivity.
This is why digital design deserves a seat at the employee experience strategy table.
What is employee experience design, anyway?
Employee experience (EX) design means applying a thoughtful, human-first design approach to every moment that shapes someone’s experience at work — physical, digital, and cultural.
That includes onboarding and learning, the work environment, feedback loops, employee recognition, collaboration tools and technologies, and even how values show up day to day.
Think of it like UX — but for your people.
At each moment in the employee journey, ask:
- Who’s the end user here? A new hire? A frontline shift worker? An overwhelmed manager?
- Where does this moment fit in the bigger picture? Is it part of onboarding, communication, or recognition?
- What are they feeling — and what do they need right now? Confidence? Clarity? Connection?
- How can we make this interaction seamless and satisfying? Whether it’s tech, a conversation, or a checklist.
- And how will we know it’s working? What data or feedback loops will tell us?
The goal isn’t just to “optimize” moments — it’s to make them feel intuitive, personal, and friction-free.
By carefully crafting experiences, both big and small, you help your people feel valued and give employee satisfaction a boost.
And because tech tools are a huge part of today’s workplace experience, digital employee experience (DEX) design forms a big part of the picture.
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What good EX feels like: 5 signs you’re doing it right
When we’re talking about tech tools, good EX looks something like this.
Effortless
People find what they need fast. There’s no need to dig through resources or ping the IT team for help. Systems are designed to be intuitive and free from points of friction.
Example: A restaurant worker views their upcoming shift schedule via a dashboard on the employee app. They don’t have to message their line managers or co-workers to get the latest info.
Personal
Content and tools are personalized to each employee. Employees enjoy experiences that are tailored to their roles, locations, and interests.
Example: Your HR department lead sees a dashboard built for their role, with shortcuts to key tools, relevant company news, and the latest workforce insights.
Connected
Everyone feels part of the same conversation and nobody feels left out. All employees have equitable access to company tech tools.
Example: A warehouse employee doesn’t need to use a communal computer in the break room. Thanks to a mobile-first platform, they can access resources and catch up on company news using their smartphone.
Dependable
Resources are always relevant and up-to-date. Messages are consistent. Tech tools have all the functionality employees need.
Example: Employees use a streamlined selection of tech tools — so messages and experiences are consistent across every touchpoint.
Empowering
Employees can take action, voice opinions through easy feedback channels, or get support in just a couple of clicks.
Example: A retail worker submits feedback via their smartphone, then views updates on workplace improvements over on the company news feed.
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Barriers to good EX — where it breaks down
So now we know what good EX looks like, time to find out why many organizations struggle to turn their EX ambitions into a reality as part of their digital transformation. Here’s a roundup of the usual suspects.
A fragmented tech stack
“Which tool do we use for that, again?”
A cluttered and disconnected tech stack is overwhelming for employees. They spend their time switching between tabs. They struggle to remember which app performs which task. And that’s before we even get started on all those login details.
If your tech tools aren’t working together, smoothly and efficiently, you’re creating a scattered (and suboptimal) experience for employees.
Over-reliance on email or manager cascade
Email isn’t the best communication channel for every employee. Frontline workers, for example, are unlikely to check their inbox during the work day.
Putting managers in charge of relaying key messages is no better. It’s a sure fire route to an overstretched management team — and inconsistent messaging.
These methods of workplace communication don’t fit the world of fast-paced, modern work we now operate in. And they do nothing for EX.
Top-down comms that don’t invite feedback or interaction
If employees can’t respond, react, chat, or ask questions, you’re not communicating — you’re broadcasting. And this kills employee engagement.
You need tools that allow employee communications to move in all directions, with an interactive news feed, surveys, digital forms, and instant messaging functions.
Intranets that miss the mark
The company intranet is still the backbone of digital employee experience in many organizations. But legacy intranets are often clunky and outdated — and a real drain on EX.
Unless your intranet platform meets the needs of a tech-savvy and highly connected workforce, it’s falling short. You need a modern social intranet that provides an engaging, consumer-grade experience for employees.
Frontline employees excluded at key moments
Are your frontline workers always the last to know company news? And the least likely to use workplace tech?
You can’t make big improvements to EX unless you take the whole organization with you. That includes those hard-to-reach employees working on the frontline of your business.
For that, you need mobile-first tools that provide the same features and functionality across both mobile and desktop versions.
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Designing digital experiences your workforce will love
Digital employee experience in need of a reboot? Then here are a couple of guiding principles to bear in mind.
Build with empathy
Of course, the best tech tools support operational efficiency and productivity. But to achieve good EX, you need to move beyond business goals to really empathize with your end users.
That starts with an EX audit. Learn how employees are feeling at each digital and in-person interaction and find out how you can make their journey as smooth and stress-free as possible.
To get reliable data, speak to employees — run focus groups, conduct interviews, and embark on listening tours. Seek employee feedback on touchpoints throughout the working day and the employee life cycle.
Design together
When it comes to employee experience management, a cross-functional team works best. To create a joined up employee experience — and an integrated selection of tech tools — you need stakeholders working together.
The C-suite, HR, internal communications, IT, operations, frontline, and office-based employees should all get a say in what the digital employee experience will look like.
Map user journeys
Frontline employees vs. office-based staff. Hourly vs. salaried workers. New hires vs. long-time leaders.
Each employee persona has different needs — and your tools should reflect that. Aim to provide personalized experiences for employees in different roles, departments, and locations.
With an employee experience tool like Blink, you can create personalized user journeys, segmenting your workforce so they get a tailored experience across the whole platform. This can lead to a massive uptick in employee engagement — as well as employee retention.
Prioritize mobile-first design
Don’t shrink a desktop tool to fit a smartphone screen. Instead, opt for software that’s been designed with the mobile experience front of mind.
An employee app like Blink makes it easy for you to reach your workforce — who, let’s be honest, already live on their phones. It’s also an excellent way to reach frontline employees.
By taking your tech tools mobile, you create an equitable experience for all employees, no matter where or how they access your software.
Make feedback loops part of the design, not an afterthought
The best experiences evolve with employees. So treat EX as an ongoing exercise in empathy.
Use data and employee feedback to iterate and improve systems. Continually reassess how employees use your tech tools — and how you can make experiences even better.
To make this process as easy as possible, embed feedback loops into your tech tools. Ask for employee feedback, right within your software. And ensure leaders have access to the data and analytics they need to make meaningful EX improvements.
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Upgrade EX to get more from your digital tools — and your workforce
The right tech tools don’t just support EX — they help shape it.
They determine whether employees spend their days in a state of friction-free flow. Or whether frustration and stress color the workplace experience.
A modern intranet. An employee app. An internal comms platform. A dedicated employee experience tool. Whichever platforms you’re using, look at them from the employee perspective.
Tailor tools to their needs. Personalize experiences for each employee. Prioritize interaction, feedback, and mobile-first design to elevate and streamline EX.
In doing so, you’ll delight employees, earning their trust and driving engagement, so you get the very best from your workforce.
Blink. And design an employee experience that works for everyone.
