At first glance, video games and business don’t seem to have a great deal in common.
After all, video games are perfect for relaxing away from work, not playing at your desk. Or so it would seem. In actual fact, video games can be a useful business tool, helping business owners to build their company, strengthen the bonds within their teams, and connect better with their customers.
What are some of the ways in which you can use video games to help build your business?
Using Games to Help Your Employees Perform Better
As the article “Not Just Fun and Games” points out, gaming can easily cross the borders into other areas of life such as business, and can be a valuable tool for helping your employees get the job done.
For example, designers or architects who have access to quality 3D games and environments can plan out how a room or apartment building will look, making use of the digital environment to move things around and make changes. In other words, mistakes can be spotted at an early stage, helping them iron out wrinkles that could cause problems later.
A plumbing or electrician’s business might use a game as a simulator for training purposes. On the other hand, some companies may simply use games to improve employee morale and foster a healthy sense of competition. Online Spider Solitaire or Sudoku, for example, can make great games to play during breaks and lunch. Using games in this way can help you get the best from your team.
Using Games to Help Your Team Bond Better
It’s not all serious business. Video games can also be used for stress relief and fun. Many companies now offer video game rooms for employees to use during break or off the clock, and may run video game nights to help with team bonding.
Playing video games is good stress relief, which is vital if you want your employees to feel happier and work better. Playing games is a great way to lower stress levels, which means increasing creativity and clear thinking and may also increase company loyalty.
Using video games for team bonding gets everyone together for an activity that generates a healthy level of both competition and camaraderie.
Playing a video game together literally levels the playing field, cutting through the chain of command and giving people the chance to get to know each other.
Using Games to Help You Connect With Your Customers
Video games aren’t just good for your employees – they can be pretty handy when it comes to connecting with your customers, too.
With so many customers being mobile these days, developing a game app is a fun way to connect with them in a mobile-friendly format that keeps you fresh in their minds.
Some businesses are also tapping into video games as a way to measure their customers’ opinions.
Games based on “prediction markets” allow customers to bet virtual money on what they think will be popular. The strategy has been used by brands such as Citigroup and State Farm to get a feel for consumer opinion.
Using Game Strategies to Grow Your Business
Video games can offer real benefits to your business, including gifting you with strategies and fresh approaches that can make a difference to performance and sales, from individual employees upwards. Gamification, the practice of applying game-related concepts in other situations, can increase productivity for your business.
By using tools such as leader boards, prizes, and contest rounds and so on, you can encourage your employees, such as your sales team, to work together and strive for better, which has a positive effect on your business as a whole.
No longer the province of a lazy weekend afternoon, video games can be used to improve performance and team bonding, understand your customers, and increase productivity in your business.
About the Author: Tristan Anwyn writes on a wide variety of topics, including social media, SEO, video games and productivity.
