Our virtual world… is it human?

Published: June 2022

Human touch

The nature of injecting human touch into the digital world is complex. There was an initial assumption that the way we previously engaged offline could be replicated with minimal tweaks in an online space. Businesses tried things like renaming the company chat ‘watercooler’ in an attempt to make people feel like they had a space to chat freely in. Some even put daily video chats in just for a social catch up over a morning coffee. It’s unfortunately not as easy as that and our social constructs were being stressed as a result. It’s becoming more and more important in the virtual business world to make an effort, to humanise content and encourage employee-to-employee networking to ensure a happy workforce.

Feel connected at virtual experiences

To add the personal feel of the human touch into brand experiences, we have been forced to think outside the box and facilitate attendees’ experiences in different ways. These days, networking isn’t just as simple as allocating a half an hour slot during a conference, now it spans small virtual breakout sessions or 1:1 networking video calls, live networking in bookable VIP spaces, 1:1 virtual lunches, and pod rooms for guests.

To humanise a virtual experience and get people to make meaningful connections with each other and the content, we’ve learned that the most important steps are to…

> Think and re-think every stage of the user experience

> Make it as personal as possible

> Differentiate yourself. Everyone can offer a networking opportunity, but why is yours different?

You might be wondering what these points actually look like in practice. Well, whilst the digital elements are of course necessary for your digital experience, this doesn’t mean that all physical elements are prohibited. Send gift boxes, meals, coupons, incentives, QR codes, stationery, personalised content, or anything relevant and fun that will appeal to your audience. Think about leaving personal notes in each box, and think about who your audience is. Do they have kids? Will a sticker book be appropriate? Are they between the ages of 18-25 or much older? Will a QR code linked to a hidden webpage of information help drive engagement or hinder it?

Yes, it can be a faff, but it’s worth it. This kind of human touch will make sure you’re remembered. We transformed one of Deloitte's in-person B2E induction events, into an entirely virtual programme. We used all of the tricks above to make the experience for new recruits memorable. We distributed 380 care packages to the Analysts before the event, including stationery kits, session materials, and even wellness products including face masks and little plants.

This virtual induction event is now a benchmark for future induction programs and is leading the way for future briefs within Deloitte. By implementing human touch points at every part of the induction, we were able to bridge the gap between pixelated faces and create real, human connections.

Virtual experiences may never feel 100% human, but authenticity, thinking outside the box, innovative networking, incentives, and physical gifts are all methods that work. They not only help your audience feel connected but help your business be frontrunners in the race to remain genuine and people-driven.