National support service provider, Kingdom, has rolled out a new custom designed smartphone app that will change the way that Kingdom employees are able to communicate with each other. The core ethos behind the app has a focus on employee wellbeing and the desire for them to feel involved and informed.
Most of Kingdom’s colleagues are field-based and they are therefore not always at their desk or able to access a physical computer. Rob Barton, Kingdom’s shared services director, said the company had relied on web-based solutions in the past, but recognised the need to innovate. “We wanted something as a better way of communicating with everyone across the group,” he said. “We’ve had web portals and they’ve always been quite basic, so we wanted our own bespoke app, so we had more seamless communication.” Kingdom partnered with a Manchester-based specialist to design and develop the app.
The app provides colleagues with all key information in one place including payslips, company news, information on benefits, welfare, training and development, awards and recognition and access to the Employee Assistance Program.
Push notifications are another feature and allow senior business leaders to alert all users of the app of important information and news.
Rob Barton says Kingdom having the app has been a “business game-changer” and used the recent railway strikes as a prime example where Kingdom communicated advice with travel notifications. He said: “It’s about being proactive. We’re not waiting for emails or telephone calls.”
He added: “The feedback from colleagues has been nothing but positive. They say it’s easy to use, great to have everything they need in one place, and to feel part of the wider Kingdom Group. All you need is a phone. That’s the beautiful thing about it.”