Wincanton launches engagement app for 17,500 employees

Logistics organisation Wincanton has launched a new benefits and engagement platform for its 17,500 employees, based across more than 200 operating sites in the UK.

The uniquely branded platform, iSmile, is provided by employee services organisation Personal Group, and was originally launched towards the end of 2018. The roll-out is ongoing and will continue until May 2019, with representatives of Personal Group providing face-to-face tutorials on using the application throughout this period.

Previously, Wincanton provided a wide ranging benefits offering to its employees, which involved working with multiple providers. The move to a new platform reflects the decision to consolidate the offering and provide access to all rewards and benefits in one place.

The platform will enable employees to access all existing benefits, internal communications, engagement programmes, health and wellbeing resources, staff surveys and retail and leisure discount schemes.

Laura Mason-Byers, internal communications manager at Wincanton, said: "Our [employees] are initially drawn to the app by the discounts, but the accessibility of the information stored on the platform, and the ease of use, has kept them returning."

The use of push notifications alongside the iSmile app allows the employer to provide targeted communications, aimed at specific teams, contracts or locations, in addition to all-staff messages. With 3,600 vehicles in its fleet, Wincanton has a largely mobile workforce, and this accessibility is an important tool to boost employee engagement.

Mason-Byers added: "For us, iSmile is really about investing and engaging with [employees]. [Staff] working in silos, on the road, or unsociable hours can easily miss key [business] information, but with iSmile we are able to contact and engage the workforce in its entirety."

Wincanton will also be able to track usage of the platform, and to analyse data on which benefits are most popular among employees. The organisation aims to use this to further tailor its reward offering in the future.