How Retail Brand Schoenen Torfs Modernized Internal Communication Across 75+ Stores With Speakap

Company: Schoenen Torfs

Industry: Retail (Shoes and Fashion

Locations: 75 stores in Belgium (primarily Flanders)

Number of employees: Approximately 650 permanent employees + flex workers and students

Challenge: how to ensure efficient communication in a retail environment

Torfs, one of the most beloved shoe and fashion chains in Belgium, faced a significant challenge: how do you ensure that all employees—from store staff to distribution center and headquarters—are informed timely and correctly? Before the implementation of Speakap, Torfs utilized:

• WhatsApp groups and Facebook to facilitate informal communication, but without control over content and engagement.
• Paper newsletters and bulletin boards, which led to delays in critical announcements.
• Email and SharePoint, which were not regularly consulted by all store employees. This fragmented approach made internal communication inefficient, and the company sought a solution to keep all employees more quickly, interactively, and easily informed.

Due to this fragmented approach, internal communication was not efficient, and the company sought a solution that would allow all employees to stay informed more quickly, interactively, and easily.

The solution: a centralized internal comms platform built for retail teams, TorfsKontakt

After thorough analysis, Torfs chose Speakap as the central employee internal communication app. The app was fully integrated into Torfs' branding and named TorfsKontakt. 

What were the requirements for the communication app?

• User-friendly and accessible to everyone, without the need for a company email address.
• Capability for real-time communication, essential for store teams and logistics staff.
• Separation of work and private communication, eliminating the need for WhatsApp and Facebook.
• A central hub for news, updates, and processes, such as leave requests and onboarding of new employees.
• Single Sign-On and automatic user management, linked to the existing HR system.

The implementation: Phased rollout for maximum adoption

The implementation of TorfsKontakt was carefully planned and executed to ensure a smooth transition. After signing the contract on June 16, the network was launched, and a pilot phase began. During the months of August and September, weekly evaluations took place, where the app was tested and improved based on user feedback.

In October and November, the second test phase followed, after which a full rollout occurred on January 5. This rollout focused on clear announcements, extensive training, and continuous support. This led to rapid acceptance and a high adoption rate among employees.

Results: more than 85% of staff members are actively using the platform

The launch of TorfsKontakt resulted in rapid and measurable improvements:

• More than 85% activation rate among employees.
• Faster and more effective communication, with real-time push notifications and interactive posts.
• Stronger engagement – employees can respond, like, and post messages themselves.
• More efficient internal processes, such as HR requests and work schedule updates.
  
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Top 5 highlights of TorfsKontakt

The app is now used daily for a wide range of communication and operational purposes:

1. Staff Announcements and Company Updates: All employees receive the latest news in a timely manner.
2. Interaction and Teambuilding: Employees celebrate each other's birthdays and milestones.
3. Store Campaigns and Promotions: Immediate insight into ongoing actions and customer-focused communication.
4. HR and Onboarding: New employees instantly access training materials through the app.
5. Digital Forms and Procedures: From damage reports to leave requests, everything is handled digitally.

A notable success story is the digital introduction campaign, where Torfs used a contest and incentives to encourage employees to download the app. This led to rapid acceptance and active engagement.

Additionally, TorfsKontakt has improved communication lines between stores and the headquarters. Instead of cascading information through various intermediaries, messages are now shared directly and uniformly with all employees.

What do the employees think so far?

Employee Reactions The employees of Torfs responded enthusiastically to the new communication app. The average score for TorfsKontakt was 8.23, and its user-friendliness was rated at 8.30. Here are some reactions from the users:

• "Everything in one place! No more hassle with Facebook and WhatsApp!"
• "Super fun app, couldn't be better. It's organized and easy."
• "It's a versatile app: TorfsKontakt, pay slips, all in one."
• "The communication is transparent and clear, and everything is self-explanatory."

Thanks to its intuitive design and wide range of functionalities, employees experience the app as a significant improvement in their daily operations.

Conclusion: A future-proof communication solution

Thanks to TorfsKontakt, Torfs has made its internal communication stronger, more efficient, and more interactive. Employees are more engaged with the company, gain faster access to important information, and experience a more modern and streamlined work environment. 

With Speakap, we've found a solution that perfectly fits our company culture. Our employees feel more connected and better informed than ever before. Kim De Bock Responsible for Training and Development at Torfs

Interested in discovering how Speakap can also help your organization?

Contact us for a demo.

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