10 Actionable Ways to Drive More Engagement & Productivity With Digital Signage

You don’t need statistics and reports to tell you that when your team is better engaged, they’re more productive and motivated to contribute.

The logic is simple: people want to know what their job is, how to do it right, where their work fits into the bigger picture, and what impact they’re driving.

Digital signage can play a very important role here (along with AI-powered task management and automation).

When your team is publicly recognized, can see how the company’s growing, can view training content without sitting in an HR session, is introduced to new team members and colleagues in other departments, and is up to date on everything that’s going on in the company, they can do their jobs better and happily.

To bring about this digital workplace transformation, you need the right signage content, at the right place, at the right time.

1. Highlight Individual and Team Wins

Displaying individual and team wins, such as "Top Salesperson of the Month" or "Project X Completed Successfully" can boost morale and motivation. 

For example, you could show a picture of the team with a brief description of their accomplishment, making everyone feel appreciated and inspired to achieve more.

2. Share Wellness Resources and Tips

Use digital signage to share wellness tips and resources. 

Display practical advice like "Take a 5-minute stretch break every hour" or "Healthy Snack of the Week: Almonds." You could also feature a short video on desk exercises or mindfulness techniques. This keeps wellness top of mind and encourages employees to take small steps towards better health.

3. Gamify Learning Content

Make learning fun by turning it into a game with digital signage. Create a leaderboard for a company-wide quiz on industry knowledge or essential skills.

For example, you could display "Top 5 Performers in the Safety Training Challenge" along with their scores. This adds a fun, competitive element to learning, encouraging everyone to participate and improve.

4. Showcase Company Growth

Keep everyone informed about the company’s progress by showcasing growth metrics and milestones on digital signage. 

For instance, display a live counter of total sales for the month, or highlight "New Clients This Quarter" with logos and short descriptions. Sharing these updates helps employees understand the impact of their work and feel connected to the company’s success.

Also read: How CEOs can take a data-first approach to greater productivity

5. Welcome New Team Members

Digital signage can make new employees feel welcome from day one. Display a "Welcome to the Team" message with their name, photo, and a fun fact about them. 

For example, "Meet Jane, our new Marketing Specialist. She loves hiking and has climbed five different mountains." This helps new hires feel valued and encourages existing employees to introduce themselves and build connections.

6. Communicate Important Updates Quickly

Digital signage lets you instantly communicate important updates. Whether it's a change in company policy, upcoming deadlines, or emergency information, digital displays ensure that everyone gets the message in real-time.

For example, you could use signage to announce, "Reminder: Annual Performance Reviews Due Next Week" or "New Health Guidelines in Effect Starting Monday." This keeps everyone informed and aligned without the
clutter of emails.

7. Display Real-Time Performance Metrics

Keeping employees aware of key performance indicators (KPIs) can drive greater workplace efficiency and productivity. Digital signage can display real-time metrics like sales figures, project progress, or customer satisfaction scores.

For example, show a live feed of "Current Sales: $100,000" or "Project Y Progress: 75% Complete." This transparency helps employees see how their efforts contribute to the company’s goals and encourages them to stay focused and motivated.

8. Promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiatives

Highlighting the company’s CSR efforts can increase employee engagement. Use digital signage to showcase ongoing or upcoming initiatives like charity drives, volunteer opportunities, or sustainability projects.

For example, display a message like "Join Us This Saturday for a Beach Cleanup!" or "We’ve Reduced Our Carbon Footprint by 20% This Year." This not only promotes participation but also fosters a sense of pride and connection to the company’s values.

9. Create Interdepartmental Connect

Digital signage can break down silos by sharing information across departments, highlight cross-departmental projects or introduce teams to each other.

For example, you could display a message like "Meet the IT Team Behind Our New Software Upgrade" with photos and brief bios. This helps employees understand each other’s roles and contributions.

10. Celebrate Cultural and Seasonal Events

Recognize and celebrate various cultural and seasonal events to create an inclusive workplace. Use digital signage to display messages for holidays, awareness months, and company-wide celebrations. 

For example, "Happy Diwali to All Who Celebrate!" or "Don't Miss Our Annual Holiday Party Next Friday!" These messages can help build a sense of community and make everyone feel included and appreciated.

Where AI Workplace Automation Can Help

Artificial intelligence is transforming digital signage, making it an even more powerful tool for boosting productivity and engagement. Here’s how AI workplace automation via digital signage can be instrumental, for both desk and non-desk workers.

1. Personalized Content for Desk Workers

AI can analyze employee data to deliver personalized content directly to digital signage screens. 

For example, an AI-led automation system can display personalized training modules, task reminders, or motivational messages based on an employee’s role, preferences, and performance metrics.

Imagine walking past a screen that says, "Great job on closing the Johnson deal, Sarah! Here’s a quick tip to help with your next client meeting." This personalized touch keeps desk workers engaged and focused on their individual goals.

2. Real-Time Analytics and Feedback

Digital signage can be one of the most effective AI-driven business tools for productivity. Screens can display live data on KPIs, project statuses, or customer feedback, allowing workers to see the immediate results of their efforts. 

For instance, a sales team can see live updates on their sales figures, encouraging them to push harder to meet targets. This instant feedback loop keeps everyone motivated and aligned with the company’s objectives.

3. Adaptive Learning and Development

AI-powered digital signage can adapt learning and development content to meet individual needs. 

For desk workers, this means customized training programs that evolve based on their progress and feedback. Non-desk workers, such as those in manufacturing or retail, can benefit from tailored safety tips or procedural reminders displayed at their workstations. 

For example, AI productivity software built into digital signage can display specific safety reminders to a factory worker based on recent incidents or common errors, making the training highly relevant and effective.

Also read: How digital signage can help with just-in-time manufacturing

4. Enhanced Communication for Non-Desk Workers

Non-desk workers may miss out on important updates that are usually shared through email or internal networks. AI in digital signage ensures that these workers stay informed.

For example, AI can schedule and display relevant updates, shift changes, or company announcements in common areas like break rooms or near workstations. This ensures that everyone, regardless of their location, receives critical information promptly.

5. Interactive and Voice-Activated Displays

AI can make digital signage interactive and voice-activated, which is useful for non-desk workers who may not have easy access to computers. Employees can interact with digital to get information, training, or support.

For example, a warehouse worker could ask a voice-activated screen for instructions on operating a new piece of equipment or for the latest inventory status. This interactive capability enhances engagement and provides immediate, hands-free access to necessary information.

6. Predictive Maintenance and Alerts

AI can predict maintenance needs and send alerts via digital signage, ensuring that equipment and systems remain in optimal condition. 

For non-desk workers, this AI workplace automation could mean displaying alerts about upcoming maintenance checks or potential equipment issues, helping to prevent downtime and ensuring a safe working environment.

Retention is hard — signage makes it easier

Like you, we’re employers ourselves, and we know that a hiring strategy is far more expensive than a retention strategy.

We also know that retention is easier said than done, especially when you’re running large scale operations. Your HR and L&D teams can be at the very top of their game, but there’s only so much they can do to keep every single employee engaged and ready to give their best.

The right (and maybe only) way to preserve team strength is to put an en masse engagement strategy in place, with automation at the heart of it.

Digital signage is the best technology integration here, especially when it has powerful AI-powered productivity tools working in the background to deliver better, more personalized content and updates. Pair it with your HRMS, and you’re looking at better engagement and, consequently, lower employee churn.

Read next: Mastering digital workplace strategies for seamless operations