Modern intranet connects Gebr. Heinemann's global workforce

Modern intranet connects Gebr. Heinemann's global workforce
Staffbase - Digitalagentur SUNZINET

The project

Overcoming system fragmentation and engagement barriers

As an expert in the field of travel retail, the wholesaler and retailer Gebr. Heinemann employs around 9,000 people in over 100 countries. This strong global presence created special demands for the company's intranet: It was necessary to connect employees across different locations, countries, and business models—a task that the existing solution could no longer meet for the growing company. 

A new, more modern intranet was required, one that met criteria such as providing multilingual content. Additionally, a significant portion of Gebr. Heinemann’s workforce does not have a fixed computer workstation, as they work on shop floors and in logistics warehouses. Therefore, an all-in-one intranet solution was needed, one that works both on desktop and mobile to ensure no one was excluded.

shooting target with an arrow sticking out in the middle. The circle is divided into into four sections, three of them are colorful and represent the following concepts: mobile & desktop, social features, intuitive and secure. The labels are accompanied by small icons | employee experience SUNZINET

The goal

A seamless solution for global communication

Known for its user-friendly interface, mobile accessibility, and ability to unify intranet and app functions, Staffbase was a perfect choice for Gebr. Heinemann. As a trusted technology partner, we were able to successfully implement the platform and help our client achieve their ambitious communication objectives. The new system had to meet the following requirements: 

  • Enable access for all employees, regardless of their location or device
  • Consolidate their intranet and app functionalities into a single system
  • Standardize internal communication globally, fostering consistency and efficiency
  • Streamline the editorial process
  • Increase employee engagement by fostering a stronger sense of unity and inclusion
  • Reduce operational overhead and streamline content management by consolidating redundant systems

Strategy & Implementation

To meet these goals, SUNZINET provided a tailored approach combining strategic expertise, scalable technologies, and user-focused design. 

  • A man works on a laptop while two colleagues collaborate in the background. The workspace is modern, with comfortable seating and plants | employee experience SUNZINET
    • Conducting workshops and work meetings to refine requirements and ensure alignment with the client’s vision. 
    • Creating user personas to understand the diverse needs of 3 key employee groups. 
    • Designing sitemaps for different locations and audience targeting system to enable personalized content delivery. 
  • A woman showing something on her phone to a man sitting next to her on a sofa. All are smiling and engaged in a friendly conversation. The setting is modern with greenery in the background | employee experience SUNZINET

    Designing branded templates for global and regional news channels while accommodating local customizations.

  • A man and a woman collaborating on a computer screen, smiling and engaged in the task. The man is wearing a red and white striped shirt, and the woman has short blonde hair, wearing a white shirt with a necklace | employee experience SUNZINET

    Addressing technical hurdles, including metadata alignment for employee roles, locations, and targeted content.

  • A woman and a man sitting together on a sofa, looking at a laptop screen. The woman is wearing a pink blazer, and the man is dressed in a white shirt. Both are smiling and engaged in a conversation | employee experience SUNZINET
    • Supporting editors with manual content migration. 
    • Global train-the-trainer sessions, written training concepts, and video resources such as screencasts and recorded training sessions facilitated the onboarding process.
    • Conducting several months of walk-in sessions to assist editors and fine-tune content management practices.
     
  • A woman working on a laptop at a table, with a whiteboard and notes in the background. She is focused on her work, wearing a maroon shirt and with long blonde hair | employee experience SUNZINET
    • Setting up the intranet infrastructure, ensuring seamless integration with existing enterprise systems and user directories. 
    • Configuring access permissions, navigation structures, and content governance policies to enhance usability and security.
A man works on a laptop while two colleagues collaborate in the background. The workspace is modern, with comfortable seating and plants | employee experience SUNZINET
A woman showing something on her phone to a man sitting next to her on a sofa. All are smiling and engaged in a friendly conversation. The setting is modern with greenery in the background | employee experience SUNZINET
A man and a woman collaborating on a computer screen, smiling and engaged in the task. The man is wearing a red and white striped shirt, and the woman has short blonde hair, wearing a white shirt with a necklace | employee experience SUNZINET
A woman and a man sitting together on a sofa, looking at a laptop screen. The woman is wearing a pink blazer, and the man is dressed in a white shirt. Both are smiling and engaged in a conversation | employee experience SUNZINET
A woman working on a laptop at a table, with a whiteboard and notes in the background. She is focused on her work, wearing a maroon shirt and with long blonde hair | employee experience SUNZINET
a smiling person wearing a bright green shirt in the center. Surrounding the person are four colored speech bubbles with English text:

Results & Impact

two chat bubbles overlapping, symbolizing conversation or dialogue, featuring a neon green circular highlight behind the smaller bubble | employee experience SUNZINETCentral communication platform

The new platform seamlessly integrates intranet and app functionalities, enabling employees across the globe to connect from any device. 

three people connected in a network, symbolizing collaboration or teamwork, with a neon green circle behind one person | employee experience SUNZINETImproved employee engagement

The solution connected employees worldwide, thereby strengthening the sense of community.
In addition, it provides a consistent and visually appealing user experience.

a computer monitor displaying charts including a pie chart, line graph, and bar graph, with a bright green circular highlight behind the lower right corner | employee experience SUNZINETOperational efficiency

Consolidated systems eliminated redundancies, reducing maintenance efforts for IT, Corporate Communications, and local admins. 

Automated processes (e.g., user onboarding) decreased administrative workload.

a light blue world map in the background with four people connected by dotted lines between various global locations marked with map pins | employee experience SUNZINET

a hand holding a globe, representing global responsibility or sustainability, featuring a neon green circle behind the hand | employee experience SUNZINETGlobal impact

The platform supports many languages, is available across countries, and engages different target audiences.

Decentralized editorial capabilities empowered regional teams to manage content efficiently. 

a speedometer dial, representing fast performance or measurement, featuring a neon green circle behind the bottom right section | employee experience SUNZINETHigher Performance

Boosted interaction rates with news, social walls and communities. 

a hand supporting a clock with a circular arrow, representing time or schedule, featuring a neon green circle behind the hand | employee experience SUNZINETLong-term benefits

The platform now supports the client’s long-term business objectives by improving employee retention, reducing costs, and aligning with their digital workplace strategy.
a smiling woman wearing pink blouse | employee experience SUNZINET

In our customer's words

 

“Working with SUNZINET to implement our new intranet was a positive experience. The efficient rollout at our global locations was optimally driven forward with the help of their comprehensive expertise on Staffbase. Sunzinet was very committed to the success of our project - a choice we would make again at any time.”

- Anika Lütjen, Head of Employee & Partner Communication at Gebr. Heinemann

The customer

Gebr. Heinemann is both a retailer and distributor – and an expert in all sales channels within travel retail. Founded in 1879, the family-owned company is present at airports, on cruise ships, and at border crossings, among other locations. Gebr. Heinemann works directly with world-renowned luxury brands and has an extensive product portfolio.

Looking to transform your internal communication?

Simply fill in the form to arrange an initial, no-obligation meeting and we will get back to you within 24 hours on working days.

In this first meeting, we will talk about your challenges and goals and suggest possible next steps!

Florian-von-Waldthausen-570x570 1

Florian von Waldthausen

Business Development

waldthausen.florian@sunzinet.com

+49 221 / 355 009 0