Visual management, and more specifically the practice of Obeya, has become an essential tool for steering performance, tracking action plans, and encouraging team collaboration.
Once primarily used in industrial settings, it’s now applied across all types of organizations: services, projects, support functions, R&D…
With the rise of hybrid work and geographically dispersed teams, one key question often arises: should we digitalize our visual rituals and our Obeya?
When implementing visual management for the first time, it’s often wise to start with a physical Obeya .Paper, post-its, markers, movable boards… these simple tools make it easy to experiment, adjust, and iterate quickly without added complexity.
A physical Obeya offers a
It’s an excellent learning environment, fully aligned with the Kaizen mindset: test, adapt, improve.
After a few weeks, the team naturally develops its own standards, evolves the panels, and builds more fluid exchanges.
But soon, some limitations of paper-based tools start to emerge…
As the Obeya system grows and covers more topics, several challenges become apparent:
These limitations don’t diminish the value of the physical Obeya, but they naturally create momentum toward digitalization , to go further while staying true to the original intent.
Moving to a digital Obeya directly addresses the limitations listed above:
Digitalization enables organizations to scale visual management while preserving Lean fundamentals.
Let’s emphasize a key element for operational excellence:collaboration across levels.
One key advantage of a digital Obeya is the ability to create multiple rooms, each tailored to a specific management level:
Each room shows only the indicators relevant to its level. Problems can be escalated, actions tracked, and leadership benefits from a clear, structured view of operational data. . .
This tiered structure offers:
Digitalizing doesn’t mean simply “copying paper onto a screen.” It’s a shift in practice that must remain true to the Lean spirit.
Here are some key success factors:
A good digital Obeya isn’t a replica of a physical one—it’s a thoughtfully designed evolution that preserves managerial impact while boosting efficiency.
Digitalizing your visual management can transform how you steer performance and engage your teams.
But it should never come at the expense of the Kaizen mindset : simplicity, visualization, and collective ownership.
With a platform like iObeya , you can deploy a digital Obeya that is structured, connected, and fully aligned with Lean principles.
This is how visual management becomes a true operational system, ready to evolve with your organization.
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