"In addition to the communication component, it is also possible to offer onboarding or eLearning modules via Oneteam. This helps us to train our employees and make them successful in their work."
Introduction
Dudok Horeca Group has been a household name in Rotterdam for 31 years and has since grown into a leading national company in the catering, banqueting & events, and pastry industry. The approximately 350 employees are spread over 12 locations in Rotterdam, The Hague, Arnhem, Amsterdam, and their bakery in Barendrecht. In addition, their famous cakes are available in several supermarkets.
We spoke with Erwin de Bruin (Financial and Operational Director), Cyrelle Rutten (Online Marketeer), and Bas Oorschot (Assistant Floor Manager at Dudok Rotterdam) to hear how Oneteam helps them to make employees successful and engaged.
The challenge
Which employee experience challenges did you face before using Oneteam?
Erwin: Previously, we sent an internal newsletter by email to inform and engage our employees. The engagement with these newsletters was poor, as we saw that, on average, only 30% of employees read the newsletter. In addition, a newsletter is a form of one-way communication, so there is little or no interaction with the employees. Furthermore, communication took place via Whatsapp groups, and internal communication was fragmented and differed per location.
Bas: We had a Whatsapp group for our location where we discussed practical matters, but there is always so much noise in such groups that people miss important information that gets shared. Furthermore, as assistant floor managers, we wrote shift handovers on pieces of paper, which also frequently got lost before the next shift started.
What impact did this have on your business?
Erwin: The fragmented internal communication had a negative impact on the business, whereby half of the organization was aware of new campaigns, business updates, etc., and the other half was not. It was also not possible for us at the service office to control certain communications, so there was a chance that important information wouldn’t reach the right employee at the right time.
Cyrelle: We noticed that it was particularly difficult to engage with locations outside of Rotterdam. However, we believe that transparent and interactive communication are essential to make all employees engaged and successful.
Erwin: Reason enough to look for a modern way of communicating. As everyone has their phone with them all day, we decided an employee app would be the most suitable solution.
The solution
Which solutions did you investigate, and why did you choose Oneteam?
Cyrelle: We looked into several employee apps, but what particularly appealed to us about Oneteam is that it is a very functional app that looks modern and is comparable to Facebook in terms of ease of use.
Erwin: The possibility to communicate at different levels also appealed to us. We can easily share company-wide messages and also communicate per location or function, such as with everyone on the kitchen team or all assistant floor managers. In addition, the app is constantly being developed with valuable features.
How was the implementation process?
Cyrelle: The implementation was quick and straightforward. If things were unclear, we could always contact our dedicated customer success manager.
Erwin: There is also a tailor-made integration with our HR system Nostradamus. As soon as someone is hired, they are automatically added to Oneteam, and the same applies to departing employees, who are automatically removed from Oneteam. This works seamlessly, which saves us a lot of time.
Who uses Oneteam within the organization?
Cyrelle: All our employees use Oneteam, both at all branches and at the office, spread over 12 different locations.
"With Oneteam, we have everything for work gathered in one app instead of using 6 different apps for all parts of the employee experience. People are already overloaded with apps these days, so you simply won’t install 6 apps for work. Nobody does that."
The results
What impact does Oneteam have on your organization?
Erwin: Where previously only 30% of employees read a newsletter, we now see that, on average more than 80% of all employees view the messages in Oneteam. This results from a centralized approach to internal communication and increased interaction in all communications throughout the organization. We are super excited about these insights. Employees are now always aware of what is going on, regardless of their location or function. If we have a temporary promotion, we directly share this in the app. If there is a staff party, we use the Oneteam event module and keep track of all registrations in the app.
Bas: I think the most valuable thing is that we now receive all communication in a structured way, whether it is through organization groups, sub-communities, or directly from the management team. Now we use Oneteam, important information or shift handovers no longer get lost in unstructured Whatsapp groups or on pieces of paper that don’t make it to the next shift.
How does Oneteam help to make your employees successful?
Erwin: In addition to the communication component, it is also possible to offer onboarding or eLearning modules via Oneteam. This helps us to train our employees and make them successful in their work. Through digital training modules, they can enhance their skills at their own pace and wherever they want.
What are the advantages of the all-in-one aspect of Oneteam?
Cyrelle: With Oneteam, we have everything for work gathered in one app instead of using 6 different apps for all parts of the employee experience. People are already overloaded with apps these days, so you simply won’t install 6 apps for work. Nobody does that.
What are your plans regarding employee experience?
Erwin: At the moment, especially in the hospitality industry, it is a difficult market for recruiting and retaining staff. That is why we must do everything we can to attract and retain employees in a way that appeals to them. Using Oneteam as a central app helps us to create and ensure a fun and engaging work environment. In addition, we can also use it as a channel to, for example, share great employee discounts or inspiration with the entire organization.
“Now we use Oneteam, important information or shift handovers no longer get lost in unstructured Whatsapp groups or on pieces of paper that don’t make it to the next shift.”
