Background
Canada Life, a leading provider of financial services, values its strong company culture and commitment to high-quality customer care. Traditionally, its annual employee briefings were held in-person, engaging 1,500 employees across the UK. However, the pandemic prompted a shift to virtual formats. As hybrid work became the norm, Canada Life introduced the Canada Life Connect events, blending in-person and virtual participation. To ensure success, they partnered with CrowdComms, leveraging their expertise in hybrid event technology.
Event Goals
- Provide a platform for strategic communication from senior leadership to employees
- Foster connection and engagement across a dispersed workforce in a hybrid work environment
- Demonstrate flexibility and innovation in adapting to employees’ evolving needs
- Reduce logistical complexities and the environmental footprint of traditional in-person events
Challenges
- Transitioning to a hybrid model: moving from traditional in-person events to a hybrid format introduced logistical and technical complexities, requiring expertise beyond the in-house team’s capabilities.
- Adverse conditions during the December event: severe weather and train strikes disrupted logistics, posing significant challenges to the event’s execution.
- Ensuring consistent quality for all attendees: delivering an equally engaging experience for both in-person and remote attendees was a critical yet complex objective.
Solution
Leveraging expert support: partnering with CrowdComms allowed Canada Life to seamlessly manage the complexities of hybrid event production, ensuring professional-quality execution.
Flexibility and responsiveness: CrowdComms adapted quickly to logistical disruptions caused by adverse weather and strikes, maintaining the event schedule without compromising quality.
Innovative technology for engagement: the CrowdComms platform provided robust tools for live streaming, interactive sessions, and on-demand content, ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience for all attendees.
Outcome
The Canada Life Connect events exemplified how traditional employee gatherings can evolve into innovative hybrid experiences. By collaborating with CrowdComms, Canada Life not only overcame the challenges of hybrid event delivery but also enhanced its ability to connect with its workforce across diverse channels. The events reinforced Canada Life’s commitment to adaptability, inclusivity, and excellence in employee engagement, setting a benchmark for future hybrid events in the financial services sector.