Why a great frontline worker experience boosts productivity

The success of digital transformation in manufacturing isn’t just about technology – it’s about people. When frontline workers genuinely embrace digital tools, productivity soars. At Workerbase, we’ve seen customers achieve 20-50% improvements in operational outcomes when frontline workers are properly engaged in the digital transformation process.

The Cost of Ignoring the Human Element

Too often, digital transformation projects focus solely on management objectives: better KPIs, more data, increased control. But here’s the hard truth: without worker buy-in, these initiatives are doomed to join the graveyard of failed digital projects.

Common pitfalls include:

• Focusing on management reporting instead of worker enablement
• Implementing systems that increase worker stress with constant micro-tasks
• Removing worker autonomy in favor of rigid digital workflows

The power of worker-centric digital solutions

When workers feel heard and empowered, everything changes. At Workerbase, we’ve seen this transformation firsthand. When frontline staff can influence how digital tools work, they become more than users – they become innovators and advocates.

Here’s what makes the difference:

1. Ownership Over Solutions Instead of having digital tools forced upon them, workers help shape them. This creates a sense of ownership and pride in the solution.
2. Rapid Implementation of Ideas When workers suggest improvements, they see results within hours or days, not months. This immediate feedback loop creates enthusiasm and encourages more suggestions.
3. Focus on Daily Value Solutions must make workers’ lives easier immediately. Whether it’s simplifying documentation, streamlining communications, or reducing repetitive tasks – the benefit must be clear and immediate.
4. Autonomy and Recognition Digital tools should enhance worker autonomy, not restrict it. When workers can make decisions and improvements independently, engagement and productivity naturally follow.

“As the Production Director at ThyssenKrupp Rasselstein, I am particularly proud of how well Workerbase has been embraced by my employees. After the first project was successfully implemented, word spread so quickly that within a short time, we had 20 ideas from all areas—from maintenance, machine operators, quality, to logistics—everyone wanted to implement use cases. We’ve now created a roadmap to fully digitalize the plant in the coming weeks and months.”

– Ralph Christ, VP Production, thyssenkrupp Rasselstein. 

Concrete Steps for Successful Worker Engagement

Pre-Implementation Phase

• Conduct worker interviews to understand pain points
• Form a pilot team including frontline workers
• Let workers test and provide feedback on initial solutions
• Identify natural champions among the workforce

Implementation Phase

• Start with simple, high-impact use cases that provide real value to the frontline workers
• Train workers in small groups with hands-on practice
• Enable immediate feedback channels
• Celebrate early wins and share success stories

Scaling Phase

• Let successful users train their peers
• Regularly collect and act on improvement suggestions
• Share productivity gains with the team
• Continue adapting based on worker feedback

Features That Drive Worker Adoption

The most powerful tool you have at hand when implementing digital processes is to make your frontline workforce your main innovation driver. This only works when they are truly enabled in their daily activities and have easy access to what is critical in their work.

Workerbase offers specific tools that empower workers:

Intuitive Mobile Interface

• Works on any device: Smartwatch, Smartphone, Tablet, PC, Webbrowser
• Easy to use interface with no learning curve
• Personalized dashboards
• Step by Step work instructions using audio, video or text and pictures.
• Real-time notifications for incidents and process updates

Two-Way Communication

• Easy to access support calling functions
• Issue reporting with photos and videos
• Real-time collaboration on tasks

Autonomous Problem-Solving

• Access to relevant documentation and real-time machine data
• AI supported Diagnosis and Decision-support systems
• Fast escalation and calling for help from co-workers

Real Results Through Worker Empowerment

When workers embrace digital solutions, you not only have a workforce becoming your innovation driver, but you also see impressive operational results. Hence a strategy of putting the management KPIs second typically produces the best results. Our customers typically see:

• 30-40% reduction in documentation time
• 20-50% improvement in productivity
• 35-60% increase in worker satisfaction
• 20-35% reduction in training time for new employees

When workers embrace digital solutions, we typically see sustained long-term usage that continuously produces new improvements.

The “Finally, Something That Works” Moment

There’s a magical moment when workers realize a digital solution truly makes their job better. We hear it often: “Finally, something that actually works!” This moment marks the transition from reluctant user to enthusiastic advocate.

This enthusiasm is contagious. When workers see their colleagues benefiting from and influencing the digital solution, they want to participate too. Soon, you have a workforce actively driving digital transformation from the bottom up.

“I rarely experience digital solutions with such a strong pull from the shopfloor, our teams are actively asking to implement Workerbase beacuse they see that it works. Issues that have been fustrating for a long time are resolved rapidly. This is an outstanding feature of workerbase.”

– Oliver Hoffmann, CTO, thyssenkrupp Rasselstein

Making It Work in Your Organization

To create this positive cycle:

1. Start with worker needs, not management reports
2. Enable rapid implementation of worker suggestions
3. Give workers influence over their digital tools
4. Focus on making daily work easier
5. Celebrate and reward worker-driven improvements

The key is understanding that productivity gains don’t come from forcing digital tools onto workers – they come from workers embracing tools that genuinely help them succeed.

Remember: Your frontline workers are closest to the actual work. They know what works and what doesn’t. When you give them the right tools and the power to influence how those tools work, you unlock not just productivity gains but a continuous cycle of improvement driven by the people who matter most.

Would you like to learn more about how Workerbase can help create a worker-centric digital transformation in your organization? Let’s talk.