Transforming Employee Wellness Through Technology - AkzoNobel & YuMuuv
Introduction
In 2021, AkzoNobel Estonia/Baltics, guided by customer service leader Ave Murakas, partnered with YuMuuv, an employee wellness app founded by Jakob Remmel. This collaboration was geared towards revitalizing the corporate wellness program by integrating a dynamic and flexible platform to engage employees in diverse health activities.
Goals
- Boost Employee Engagement: Increase participation in wellness activities, fostering a culture of health within the workplace.
- Promote Holistic Wellness: Encourage a healthy lifestyle among employees to enhance both physical and mental well-being.
- Tailor Flexible Wellness Solutions: Adapt the wellness challenges to suit a geographically and culturally diverse workforce.
Implementation Strategy
The implementation strategy centered around leveraging YuMuuv's user-friendly technology to engage a diverse workforce quickly and effectively. The platform was chosen for its flexibility, ease of communication in local languages, and rapid deployment capabilities, which were critical to meeting AkzoNobel's operational tempo.
Phases of Deployment
- Initial Engagement: Initiated with an aim to activate a culture of health and sports, YuMuuv was integrated due to its capability to offer diverse, customizable fitness challenges.
- Rapid Rollout: The platform’s ability to deploy quickly aligned with AkzoNobel’s need for an immediate start, with activation happening just a day after the initial idea was conceived.
- Ongoing Adaptation: Based on employee feedback and changing needs, the platform underwent continuous enhancements to improve user experience and inclusivity.
Challenges and Solutions
- Integration Across Regions: With employees in Estonia, Ukraine, and other Baltic countries, YuMuuv had to ensure the platform supported multiple languages and regional settings effectively.
- Demand for Speed: AkzoNobel’s dynamic environment required YuMuuv to provide solutions that could be implemented swiftly and adapted on the fly.
- Data Management and Automation: The need for a more automated system became evident, as manual tracking and calculations proved inefficient. YuMuuv began developing automated features to track participation and progress transparently.
Impact and Outcomes
- Enhanced Engagement: The introduction of YuMuuv led to significant increases in employee participation in wellness activities.
- Feedback-Driven Improvements: Regular input from users helped tailor the platform to better meet the diverse needs of the workforce, enhancing satisfaction and usability.
- Support for Local Business: Opting for YuMuuv, an Estonian company, resonated well with the staff, fostering a sense of community and local enterprise support.
Future Developments
Plans are underway to expand the platform’s capabilities, including:
- Advanced Administrative Tools: Enhancing backend functionalities to simplify event and challenge management.
- Expansion of Global Features: Adapting the platform for broader global use within AkzoNobel, supporting wellness campaigns worldwide.
- Sophisticated Automation: Further developing automation for real-time tracking and rewards, minimizing administrative burdens and improving user experience.
Conclusion
The partnership between YuMuuv and AkzoNobel Estonia/Baltics exemplifies how digital innovation can drive corporate wellness programs, creating environments that promote health and engagement across a diverse employee base. As YuMuuv continues to evolve in response to user feedback and technological advancements, it stands as a pivotal component in AkzoNobel’s strategy to maintain a healthy, productive workforce.
