Day & Zimmermann Boosts Employee Engagement and Communications Efficiency

ABOUT

Get to know About Day & Zimmermann

Day & Zimmermann is an almost 125-year-old, third-generation family-owned business specializing in engineering, security, and staffing services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the company operates across a wide range of industries with a workforce of more than 3,000 staff employees and thousands of field employees in North America and beyond. Known for its commitment to innovation and operational excellence, Day & Zimmermann works to keep its employees and clients connected, engaged, and aligned with the company’s values.

CHALLENGE

Day & Zimmermann struggled to keep its dispersed workforce connected and informed due to outdated communication tools and overused and inconsistent email distributions, resulting in inefficiencies and disengagement.

SOLUTION

Day & Zimmermann selected Simpplr’s modern intranet platform, centralizing communication, enabling fast, accessible updates and fostering a stronger connection across teams.

RESULTS

The company achieved a 70% reduction in newsletter creation time and improved in 8 out of 9 critical areas of employee engagement and experience.

At-a-glance

More than a century of service

Day & Zimmermann, an almost 125-year-old family-owned business, specializes in a diverse range of services including engineering, construction, security, and staffing. With thousands of employees distributed across multiple locations, including office-based staff and field workers, internal communication was a challenge. Prior to adopting Simpplr, Day & Zimmermann relied on SharePoint, an outdated communications tool which made it difficult to manage content and keep employees connected to the company’s larger mission. Without a better solution, Day & Zimmermann risked employee disengagement, operational inefficiency, and inconsistent access to critical information — all of which could have undermined retention and agility. 

With a workforce spread across North America and internationally, Day & Zimmermann needed a modern solution to address several key challenges:

• Dispersed Workforce: Many employees work remotely or in the field, making consistent communication difficult.
• Outdated Communication Systems: Previous reliance on SharePoint and email created silos of information, making it hard for employees to find important documents and updates.
• Employee Engagement: Many employees felt disconnected from the larger organization, only aware of their own department’s work.
• Content Management: Maintaining up-to-date content was a challenge, with old forms, documents, and policies lingering on outdated platforms.
• Efficiency: Corporate communications staff spent up to 30 hours per week assembling newsletters and managing communication updates.

Why Day & Zimmermann chose Simpplr

Day & Zimmermann chose Simpplr to streamline internal communication and foster a more engaged, connected workforce. The platform’s intuitive interface and mobile accessibility were key selling points, allowing the company to:

• Centralize Communications: Simpplr provided a single, easy-to-navigate platform where all employees including remote could find updates, policies, and news across the organization.
• Ease of Content Creation: The communications team can now create, collaborate on and update content within minutes, significantly reducing the time spent on tasks like assembling newsletters.
• Promote Employee Recognition: The platform supports employee recognition programs, where employees are celebrated for milestones and accomplishments, fostering a stronger sense of community.
• Branded Mobile Application: Simpplr’s mobile application was essential for Day & Zimmermann because it provided on-the-go access to critical updates for their dispersed workforce, including field employees and those without regular computer access. The branded, user-friendly mobile app ensured all employees could stay connected, access information quickly, and feel included, significantly improving engagement and fostering a sense of unity across the organization.
• Use for Campaigns: Simpplr has also been instrumental in launching internal campaigns such as open enrollment and innovation initiatives, allowing Day & Zimmermann to keep employees informed and engaged with key company programs.

Breaking new ground in communications leadership

Since implementing Simpplr, Day & Zimmermann has seen a significant improvement in communication efficiency, employee engagement, and overall organizational alignment. The company now has an agile, user-friendly platform that allows them to connect employees, share timely updates, and promote a sense of belonging within the organization.

• 70% Reduction in Newsletter Creation Time: Simpplr’s streamlined content management capabilities allowed the corporate communications team to reduce the time spent on newsletters from 30 hours to less than 6 hours per week.
• Increased Employee Engagement: By making communications more accessible and engaging, Simpplr helped Day & Zimmermann enhance employee connection to the larger organization. In a comprehensive third-party employee survey completed in 2023, (two years after implementation), Day & Zimmermann’s engagement and enablement scores improved in 8 out of 9 critical areas. The scores exceeded industry benchmarks. 
• Employee Retention: The Simpplr platform helped Day & Zimmermann create a stronger sense of connection and alignment across the company, directly impacting employee satisfaction and loyalty. In the same employee engagement survey, there was a significant increase in employees responding positively that they would recommend Day & Zimmermann as a place to work, and they intended to stay working at the company.
• Better Content Management: Simpplr’s automated review system ensures that all policies and documents are up-to-date, addressing the previous issue of outdated information being circulated.
• Greater Efficiency in Internal Events: Day & Zimmermann has used Simpplr to manage internal events, saving time and resources on logistics and making event information more accessible to employees.

Looking Forward

Day & Zimmermann plans to further integrate Simpplr into their operations, continuing to use the platform for campaign management, employee recognition, and real-time updates. As they prepare to celebrate their 125th anniversary, the company remains committed to fostering a strong internal culture and keeping all employees connected to their mission and values.