Colao and CNY Group VP People & Culture, Katie Urtnowski, had a challenge: How could they use technology to foster better, faster, and deeper employee communication within their 160-person construction company? In a nutshell, how could they improve workplace productivity?
The answer was the mobile app platform, enCappture, which CNY used to launch its branded app in 2018.
How a mobile app increased employee morale
By having a mobile app, the CNY team discovered improved company-wide communication and increased employee morale and camaraderie.
The company has experienced an increase in productivity as a result.
“In certain situations we’re doing things in real time with less reliance on emails and phone calls” said Colao, adding, “the app supports collaboration between employees and management and helps us get things done faster.”
Having a family-oriented culture, CNY’s management are always open for ways to further reinforce and foster a “family” vibe.
After incorporating their new mobile app, management was able to organize and promote CNY’s social events and regular town hall sessions more easily.
Using the countdown clock feature before each event was key in building anticipation before events and holiday parties. Afterwards, employees used the media gallery to create a “CNY family photo album”.
Everyone was able to share event photos and comments. They also used enCappture’s photo feature to organize and share themed photo contests and throwback baby picture days.
“Having a mobile app breaks down corporate barriers and allows for organic human connectivity and greater collaboration,” says CNY Group President, Ken Colao.
Employee engagement is just one outcome of using a mobile app
Like it did for all businesses, the COVID-19 quarantine presented unique communications challenges for the team at CNY.
They collaborated on new employee engagement ideas to use their app in new creative ways to connect employees working from home. The app hosted contests and content about everything from best quarantine exercise photo to most creative work from home environment.
“Having an app helped to bind us together while we were sheltering in place apart. The app made our remote happy hours fun and engaging,” said Urtnowski.
According to Colao, “After two years of using our mobile app, we’ve really seen a difference in the overall work environment, improved employee/management relationships and increased morale and productivity.” Colao sees more uses for his app, too.
“We plan on expanding the app outside the firm to engage field workforce in areas of safety and resolution of construction and field-oriented problems. We’re also exploring new ways to utilize the app’s analytics to guide marketing activities and help us create more targeted communications, polls and surveys,” says Colao.
