5 Employee Engagement Trends to Watch out for in Deskless Industries

Companies that have a hard time engaging their workforce should consider prioritizing employee engagement internally to increase the chances of benefiting from key components of an engaged workforce.

Mads Buhl
Mads Buhl
3 min read

Employee engagement is an important aspect that should be considered in every industry. When it is not prioritized, deskless sectors like manufacturing and retail face unique challenges to keep their workforce engaged.

Deskless workers are often the most affected by the situation because they tend to be overlooked. These employees work tirelessly to keep our communities running smoothly, but despite their critical role, they lack the recognition and support they deserve.

Luckily, companies that are aware of the situation have prioritized employee engagement internally, and they are benefiting significantly from some of its outcomes — namely increased productivity, improved retention, and stronger company culture.

Since employee engagement is becoming a hot topic among companies with deskless workers such as machine operators, assemblers, maintenance technicians, stock clerks, cashiers, and drivers, here are some of the employee engagement trends to watch out for to have an engaged workforce.

 

  1. Mobile-first engagement

    Many deskless employees rely on mobile devices to do their jobs, which is why mobile-first engagement strategies are becoming increasingly important. These include using mobile apps for internal communication so that employees can stay informed about company news and engage with each other in groups.

  2. Digital training and development

    Many deskless employees cannot access traditional onboarding, training, and development programs, so turning to digital solutions is trending. Some of the solutions include providing online training courses and creating digital learning platforms that employees can access on their mobile devices.

  3. Recognition and feedback

    Since deskless employees often work in isolated environments, providing regular feedback and recognition is important to keep them engaged. Tools like mobile surveys, feedback forms, and recognition programs are increasingly being implemented to keep employees connected and engaged.

  4. Employee well-being

    Many deskless employees face physical demands and health risks associated with their work, so it is crucial to prioritize their well-being. An increasing number of companies are offering mental health resources and are providing easy access to safety instructions and ergonomic equipment to help prevent injuries.

  5. An inclusive and diverse culture

    We all know that deskless industries have a diverse workforce, so the importance of creating a culture of inclusion and diversity is essential. Nowadays, some companies have started implementing training and education programs to raise awareness of unconscious biases and promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace.


Several employee engagement apps provide complicated solutions that partially improve communication and collaboration, provide access to training and development resources, or recognize and reward employees. However, the easiest and most intuitive SaaS platform on the market is the Empact platform. It makes work-life easy for deskless workers as it offers user-friendly access to information and functionality in other systems such as standard operating procedures, alerts, incident handling, time tracking, and shift planning.

If you wish to learn more about our efforts in strategically designing an employee engagement app that can digitalize your journey toward achieving increased employee engagement, feel free to reach out to us. We will happily assist you in creating a business case and provide a solution that fits your organization.