Hansgrohe Group, a global leader in the bathroom and kitchen industry, needed a modern solution to transform its idea and project management processes. By implementing Crowdworx, the company achieved remarkable results, including a 50% increase in idea submissions within the first year and sustained high engagement levels across 5,000 employees. This transformation has significantly boosted innovation, streamlined workflows, and improved operational efficiency throughout its global operations.
About Hansgrohe Group
The Hansgrohe Group is a global leader in bathroom and kitchen innovation with a 123-year legacy of groundbreaking products, including the first hand-held shower with multiple spray types and the first pull-out kitchen faucet. With 16,000 active patents, Hansgrohe is renowned for its commitment to quality. The company continues to set global standards in design, functionality, and sustainability.
The Challenge
For 15 years, Hansgrohe relied on a Lotus Notes-based system to manage ideas. While it had served its purpose in the past, the system had become outdated and difficult to use. New users could no longer be integrated, and essential functions for processing ideas were missing. Blue-collar production staff, who lacked access to PCs, were excluded entirely, and the system could not connect to the company’s employee app. As Hansgrohe expanded internationally, it became clear that a global solution was needed to empower all employees to contribute to the idea management process.
In addition to idea management, the company faced challenges in tracking innovation projects stemming from larger ideas. These projects were managed manually in Excel, leading to inefficiencies and a lack of clarity in reporting and collaboration.
The Solution
Hansgrohe partnered with Crowdworx to implement a user-friendly innovation platform. Through close collaboration and focused workshops, the software was launched for 5,000 employees within just three months.
Using the Crowdworx API, the platform was integrated with Hansgrohe’s employee app, enabling all employees, including blue-collar staff, to submit ideas and contribute.
Hansgrohe adopted two Crowdworx core modules: Idea Management and Project Management, providing a streamlined workflow from idea submission to project execution. Features like real-time transparency allowed employees to track the status of their ideas and easily connect with decision-makers. Automation further simplified processes with guided workflows, similarity searches to avoid duplicate ideas, and automatic notifications to keep everyone informed.
To boost engagement, the platform included gamification elements, awarding badges for milestones like idea submissions. The system’s customizability ensured it could adapt to Hansgrohe’s evolving needs, enabling quick adjustments without additional costs.
Results and Benefits
The introduction of Crowdworx delivered remarkable outcomes:
- Increased Activity: Idea submissions surged by 50% in the first year and maintained high levels of engagement afterwards.
- Enhanced Project Management: Hansgrohe recorded and evaluated projects comprehensively for the first time, leading to clearer insights and better decision-making.
- Improved Accessibility: Blue-collar employees became active contributors through integration with Hansgrohe’s employee app.
The combination of innovative features, streamlined processes, and employee engagement has significantly expanded Hansgrohe’s ability to continuously innovate and maintain its leadership in the industry.
