Connected Across Borders with Activy

For HENNLICH, 2024 was the year of integration. After celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2022, the company was eager to continue building on the momentum of connecting its international workforce. The sports challenge with Activy provided the perfect platform.

The idea came from a HENNLICH employee who had previously used Activy in Poland. The company saw anopportunity to use sports as a vehicle for unity, building on the excitementand success of previous digital events.

The challenge invited employees from different countries to compete in teams, with results divided by the number of participants to ensure fairness. The mission was simple yet profound: do something together, communicate across borders, and strengthen the company’s sense of belonging.

Before the Start: Promoting Participation

To ensure smooth execution, HENNLICH’s coordinator implemented several best practices.

The challenge was promoted using posters in every country, and HENNLICH held meetings with general managers to further emphasize its importance. Marketing teams from across Europe came together to support the initiative. This network of representatives was key to driving engagement, ensuring that employees from different corners of Europe felt included and motivated.

HENNLICH particularly appreciated Activy’s pre-made communication materials, which they could easily integrate with their own. This seamless blend of resources allowed the company to effectively promote the challenge, while technical support from Activy ensured participants had minimal issues with registration or using the app.

Since the company does not have a centralized headquarters, they selected one representative from each country to act as a local ambassador for the challenge. These ambassadors promoted the event, encouraged participation, and reminded their colleagues about the challenge during regular meetings.

During the Challenge: Engaging Employees of All Fitness Levels

The Activy platform allowed all types of employees, from fitness enthusiasts to those less sporty, to participate in their own way. The app supported a variety of sports and activities, ensuring no one felt excluded. 

Employees from across Europe shared photos of their activities, from Russian dance routines to breathtaking bike rides through scenic landscapes, highlighting the cultural diversity within the company.

The results of the HENNLICH sports challenge exceeded all expectations. Within the first two weeks, the company had already completed the company-wide mission—a distance far beyond what they initially thought possible.

Employees embraced the playful competitiveness, engaging in friendly banter during lunch breaks, comparing points, and sharing their achievements on social media.

A truly great, motivating part of the challenge was the mission which involved all participants. The mission - initially planned for 3 months - was completed by the joint efforts of users within just 2 weeks.

They completed it by covering a distance of over 11.000 kilometres on feet and wheels symbolising the journey through all countries where Hennlich is present, so all the way from Sound France to Kazakhstan. By progressing the mission, all participants could discover interesting information about each of the covered countries (like traditions, fun facts and figures) and some information about their local colleagues. This greatly helped to getting to know each other better.

The Results: Integration, Motivation, and an International Connection

The survey results were clear: 89% of participants wanted to take part in the challenge again next year, and 93.3% felt that the Activy challenge motivated them to be more physically active. 

More importantly, the challenge achieved its main goal of bringing employees together. The social board allowed participants to connect, share stories, and cheer each other on. For the first time in years, employees felt connected, not just as colleagues, but as a united team, despite their geographical distance.

A Digital Success for International Integration

HENNLICH’s sports challenge was a triumph of international integration, inclusivity, and physical activity. The company was able to foster deeper connections among employees, breaking down barriers between countries and creating a sense of community that transcended fitness levels and physical locations.

Challenge’s Coordinator remarked: We grew together.This challenge brought us closer and created an amazing energy in the company.

With the overwhelming success of the 2024 challenge, HENNLICH looks forward to making this an annual tradition, continuing to connect itsglobal workforce through the power of sports and teamwork.

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