Sustainability as an employee priority is nothing new. A 2014 study by the Society for Human Resource Management said that 94% of Millennials want to use their skills to benefit a cause. The 2016 Staples Workplace Index showed that 63% of workers said ESG is a priority when considering employment. And a Nielsen study said 86% of new professionals or soon to be college graduates said it was important that a company they work for behaves in a socially responsible way.
This is even more the case today, especially as those Millennials and college graduates now make up most of the workforce. So, to attract (and retain) high-level talent, it’s crucial to have sustainable practices and environmental programs in place.
Once you have the best and the brightest, you want to keep them. Replacing an employee costs the company 70-200% of that employee’s salary (different studies give different figures). A white paper from Ultimate Software shows that 85% of current employees are more likely to stay with an employer that exhibits a high level of social responsibility.
Greening Communications
There is nothing that has a more positive effect on a company than having engaged employees. There’s a lot written elsewhere about that, but digital signage is key to crafting engaging communications that let people know you’re as committed as they are to helping create a better world for them and their children.
You can advertise all your sustainability efforts and goals, show off the new bio-friendly furniture, promote your recycling program, display detailed information on healthy and fresh food available in the cafeteria, and even drive traffic to an online portal devoted to your efforts.
You can also directly affect behavior with energy dashboards that show things like water and power consumption. Showing real-time data on your weekly goals and where you are right now encourages people to save more energy and recycle more. If you add in gamification elements, you can get individuals, teams and departments competing with one another to see who can do the most, in a fun and friendly atmosphere that builds teamwork and integrates employees into the organization as a whole.
And your digital signage is already a green solution. It replaces printed signs, so there’s no outlay for paper, ink or waste removal. Messages automatically go up and retire from screens when outdated, so no one has to spend time going around taking down the signs and recycling them. Modern displays are also very energy-conscious and have power-saving protocols in place to shut down in off hours. This is important for several reasons, not the least of which is that it’s important to your employees.
The more options, opportunities and information you supply your employees, the happier they will be, the more productive they’ll be and the longer they’ll stay.
Sustainability
Digital signage can be a sustainable tool that helps organizations reduce their environmental impact while also improving their communication efforts. By using energy-efficient displays and minimizing the use of paper-based communications, digital signage can help organizations reduce their carbon footprint and promote a more sustainable future.
For example, a restaurant that uses digital signage to promote its products and sales can reduce its reliance on paper menus, which not only cuts down on the amount of waste generated but also saves money on printing costs. Similarly, a corporate office that uses digital signage to communicate with employees can reduce the number of paper-based memos and notices that are circulated, which not only reduces paper and ink waste, but also saves time and resources.
In addition to reducing waste, digital signage can also be used to promote sustainable practices and initiatives. For example, a digital signage display in a student lounge could be used to promote recycling programs or highlight the environmental impact of certain behaviors, such as using single-use plastics.
By raising awareness of these issues and promoting sustainable practices, digital signage can help organizations and communities reach sustainability goals.
Immersion
Digital signage can create immersive experiences for viewers, which greatly increases their engagement. This can give your social responsibility initiatives a big boost. With high-quality displays and dynamic content, you can capture the attention of passersby and draw them into the message being conveyed. By leveraging interactive elements like touchscreens, motion sensors and augmented reality, digital signage can further enhance the immersive experience and create a sense of engagement and fun.
Motion sensors on screens could trigger appeals for volunteers that seem more personalized since they react to the person walking by. Adding QR tags that launch augmented reality experiences on smartphones can appeal to younger audiences. And large-scale video walls in public spaces like convention centers and college dining halls. These displays can create a sense of awe and wonder as viewers are surrounded by larger-than-life images and videos that showcase the beauty and diversity of the world alongside environmentally-friendly messaging.
Even a simple touchscreen kiosk with information about your sustainability efforts can make your messaging seem more immersive, because the person gets to participate in choosing what’s on screen when. If you don’t have touchscreens, adding a QR code to visuals can let people find out more about your programs and how they can participate.
By immersing viewers in these captivating visuals, digital signage can create a memorable and impactful experience that leaves a lasting impression. And the more impact your signage has, the more you can influence attitudes and behaviors.
Collaboration
Digital signage can also be a collaborative tool, providing a platform for multiple stakeholders to come together and contribute to the creation of impactful content. By enabling users to submit and display their own content, digital signage can foster a sense of community and collaboration that empowers individuals and groups to share their stories and messages with a wider audience. Whether it’s a fundraising campaign, electronics recycling drive or volunteer opportunities, letting more people participate can increase participation and improve results.
One example of collaborative digital signage is using social media feeds to display user-generated content in public spaces. By aggregating content from social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, digital signage displays can showcase a wide variety of user-generated content that reflects the diversity of voices and perspectives within a community. This creates a sense of engagement and inclusivity that encourages viewers to participate and contribute their own content.
Another example of collaborative digital signage is the use of employee-generated content in corporate settings. By providing employees with a platform to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences, digital signage can create an inclusive culture within the workplace that fosters innovation and creativity. By displaying this content on digital signs throughout the office, employees can see their contributions in action and feel a sense of pride and ownership in their work.
Maintaining Momentum
On the job, people want to feel engaged and like they’re doing something worthwhile. Maybe that’s something that can be incorporated into their jobs. But if not, supporting employee outlets for these impulses can increase their loyalty to your organization, because you’ve provided them with the opportunity to do something meaningful.
Offer paid time off for volunteer groups to help with tree plantings or community gardens. Consider matching carbon credits or other green donation schemes. And be sure to advertise these efforts on digital signs and other internal communication platforms. Sharing successes is a big part of implementing eco-friendly practices.
As technology continues to evolve and new innovations emerge, it’s likely that we’ll see even more creative and impactful uses of digital signage in the years to come. Whether you’re a retailer looking to engage customers with immersive experiences, a corporate office seeking to foster collaboration among employees or a community organization promoting sustainability, digital signage offers a flexible, dynamic solution that can help you achieve your communication goals.