Toolstation

“Prior to Oneteam, we could only connect with 20% of our employees, as the rest lacked a business email address. Now, we’re reaching over 90% of our workforce, which is truly remarkable.”
– Annabeth van den Berg, Internal Communication Officer at Toolstation

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About Toolstation

Toolstation is a global company that sells building materials and tools to professionals and serious DIYers. In the Benelux region, Toolstation employs more than 800 people across 100+ locations, supported by their website and app.

We spoke with Saskia Oosterhuis (Marketing Director Europe), Annabeth van den Berg (Internal Communication Officer), and Marco Declemy (Shop Manager) about how Oneteam helps them connect with all colleagues and improve employee engagement.

The challenge

Reaching frontline colleagues in the stores and warehouses had always been a challenge for Toolstation. Many of these employees did not have a business email address, which meant that important updates from HQ often never reached them directly. Instead, the information relied on line managers to pass on messages, or circulated in informal ways.

Saskia recalls: “We saw that many WhatsApp groups were created as an alternative. But that blurred the line between work and private life, and it didn’t feel right. More importantly, it meant communication was inconsistent. Some colleagues were informed quickly, while others missed out.”

This patchwork of communication created frustration. Toolstation prides itself on a culture of open and transparent communication, but colleagues didn’t always feel included. “Our colleagues want to stay updated,” Saskia says. “But with the tools we had, we couldn’t make that happen in a reliable way.”

It became clear that Toolstation needed one central platform, built for non-desk employees, that could reach everyone at the same time without depending on line managers or private apps.

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The solution

When Toolstation started searching for a solution, they focused on three main criteria: it had to be user-friendly, available on both desktop and mobile, and designed specifically for deskless workers.

After the first demo of Oneteam, the choice was easy. “We were enthusiastic right away,” Saskia says. “The platform felt intuitive and easy to use. Even more importantly, it was tailored to the colleagues we most wanted to reach, the ones working in stores and warehouses.”

With the support of the Oneteam Customer Success team, implementation went smoothly. Within just a few weeks, the platform was live and ready to use. Annabeth explains: “The rollout was quick and well supported. Everyone could get started immediately.”

The approach

Toolstation rolled out Oneteam as the single, central communication channel for the entire organisation. Today, all colleagues use the platform, across all departments and branches. More than 800 employees are active in Oneteam every day.

The platform is used for a wide range of purposes: from sharing company news and updates to chatting with colleagues, planning events, running surveys, and onboarding new employees. “It has really become the place where everything comes together,” Annabeth says.

For Marco, a Shop Manager, the benefits are very tangible. “I can now inform my store team about current affairs and important updates right away. If someone is absent, I can request extra staff directly in the app. And the best part is that Oneteam makes a clear separation between private and professional communication.”

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The results

Since introducing Oneteam, Toolstation has seen a complete transformation in the way they communicate.

Before, only 20% of employees were directly reachable, because most did not have a business email address. Today, over 90% of colleagues are connected and engaged in Oneteam. Adoption is exceptionally high: 91% of employees actively use the app.

This shift has had a big impact:

• Internal communication is now centralised and consistent.
• Colleagues feel more informed and engaged.
• The organisation is able to share updates instantly across all locations.
• The balance between work and private life has improved, with WhatsApp no longer used for company updates.

Saskia: “It’s great to finally be able to connect with everyone in the organisation. Oneteam really makes our internal communication more effective and fun.”

Annabeth adds: “It has also helped us with employer branding. We can share stories, successes, and updates instantly across the whole organisation. That makes people feel part of the bigger picture.”

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Looking ahead

Toolstation has ambitious plans to expand their use of Oneteam even further. The next step is to grow their onboarding and eLearning programs, working together with suppliers to create tailored training modules.

Annabeth concludes: “All our internal communication is now centralised, and every colleague receives the essential information they need for their role in Oneteam. That makes our workforce not only better informed, but also more engaged.”