7 ways to use digital screens you might not have thought of

Summary:

Digital screens have the potential to do much more than just display information. They can create a sense of belonging in the organization through transparent communication, improve accessibility for visitors, and make content relevant to each local unit. Use the screens to build engagement around internal events, dare to be more playful in your communication, and test touch functions in meetings. There are no fixed rules for how screens should be used. Think about what challenges you have in your organization, and chances are digital signage can be part of the solution.

What I’ve learned from our customers

As Customer Success Manager at PLAYipp, I often talk with customers about how they use their digital screens. Sure, we all know the obvious use cases like internal communication and marketing. But it’s when customers think outside the box that things get really interesting.

Here are seven ways to use digital screens that I’ve seen work really well, and that you might not have thought of.

1. Create belonging & transparency in the organization

This is something I hear about time and time again from satisfied customers. In larger organizations where people are spread out, screens can become an important link between management and staff.

Use the screens to share major company decisions as they’re being communicated. Show the results from the latest board meeting, explain why you’re making certain investments, or share a short video where the CEO talks about the quarter. When everyone gets the same information at the same time, regardless of where they sit, it creates a sense that we’re all on the same journey.

2. Improve accessibility

With new accessibility laws, more and more organizations need to start thinking about accessibility, and this is an area where digital screens can really make a difference. Unlike paper on the wall, you can easily adjust text size and contrast so that more people can read the information.

Is your target audience visually impaired? Then you can optimize the content to make it easier to read. Some screens even have audio, which means you can add voice support for those who need it. Simple adjustments that make a big difference.

3. Work more locally and relevantly

Often, those responsible for communication sit at headquarters, while the screens are located at different offices, stores, or on the factory floor. With PLAYipp’s ability to work both centrally and locally, you can give each unit the chance to share what’s important specifically to them. See how DB Schenker works with local & cenral information!

Maybe the store in Gothenburg wants to showcase employee of the month, while the department in Stockholm highlights their sustainability project. When the content feels close and relevant to the specific group seeing it, it creates a completely different level of engagement.

4. Use the screens for internal events

Christmas parties, Cinnamon Bun Day, countdown to vacation. With PLAYipp’s scheduling function, you can plan content in advance and use widgets like countdown timers to create buzz around events. Create attractive designs and let the screens help you build anticipation. The screens don’t have to be just for must-have information, they can also be for what’s fun.

5. Dare to be more playful with information

I wish more people dared to use the screens more as a way to create interest and engagement.

Take Tre as an example. They make short videos where colleagues remind people to fill out the employee survey or take an internal course. No advanced production, just a simple video with text that makes the message more fun and personal. It could also be a meme, a quiz, or something else that stands out from the usual information flow.

When people from the company appear on the screens, it creates recognition. You don’t need a large team to do this either, a mobile camera and a bit of creativity are enough.

6. Build morning meetings around the screens

One of my favorite examples comes from manufacturing. There, they’ve started using touch screens in their startup meetings, where the team gathers and scrolls through Power BI reports directly on the screen.

Instead of the screens just displaying information in the background, they become an active part of the meeting routine. Everyone can see the same numbers at the same time and discuss directly around what’s being shown.

7. Test completely new use cases

Some customers really surprise me with how creatively they think. I’ve seen everything from horse simulators and digital paddock schedules to large LED walls for a stage.

So think about what you specifically need to solve, chances are digital signage can help.

Want to learn more? Check out this article by Emil Lindblad