Successfully engaging employees in safety messaging can be a challenge in business. While safety is for everyone’s benefit, it can sometimes be tricky to find forms of communication that inspire and excite the workforce.
Gamification is helping to transform the way businesses communicate driver safety and sustainability messages. And plenty of research shows that it works. Here are five ways that gamification can help your company engage drivers in your safety and eco mission.
A safe driving program that collects driver data and turns it into a simple, easy-to-understand score forms the basis of a gamified approach. Gamers are familiar with scores and leader boards and utilizing these tools in driver safety can help to engage drivers in your program.
Drivers can easily see the object of the “game” – to improve their score through safer, more eco-friendly driving. And being able to see how they perform after every trip helps encourage drivers to keep coming back for more.
Adding an element of friendly competition into a safety program is a sure-fire way of sparking interest. In the same style as a computer game, scoring in driver safety encourages drivers to strive for better scores than their peers.
Some programs include additional gamification features for added engagement. For example, FIA Smart Driving Challenge (FIA SDC) allows companies to set up their own challenges. These can be specific to a whole company, a team, a division, or even to customers. FIA SDC also enables head-to-head challenges between two users.
In-app driver feedback is a great way to communicate driver safety messages informally. In FIA SDC, drivers receive feedback based on their actual driving performance, so communication is timely and relevant.
Research confirms the benefits of shorter sessions of learning delivered over longer periods of time. And if the user can see immediate benefits (evident in their score), they’re more likely to remain inspired and motivated.
A driver safety program such as FIA SDC provides plenty of opportunity for informal engagement. Company challenges, for example, can encourage different teams and departments to share tips between themselves.
Having access to company-wide insights and at-a-glance driver scores also provides managers with conversation starters for informal discussions with team members. A decline in score provides a good reason for a “just checking in” conversation with an employee. On the other hand, an improvement in score is an opportune moment for a “pat on the back”.
On that note, a driver safety program that incorporates gamification is an excellent facilitator for rewards and incentives. In addition to the bragging rights of achieving leader board recognition, companies can offer additional rewards and incentives based on their program. Examples include a monthly shout-out in the company newsletter, a voucher for highest scorer at the end of the month, or an annual company award ceremony recognizing achievements such as top scorer, most improved, most fuel saved etc.
The FIA SDC is a global challenge that rewards smart, safe and eco-friendly driving.
The challenge was created by the FIA in collaboration with Greater Than, to encourage everyday motorists to adopt smarter, cleaner, and safer driving behaviour.
Read more about the challenge here.
