A staff communication app for 1,400 nursery staff
Childbase Partnership, an employee-owned group of childcare nurseries, needed a faster, simpler way for head office to reach its 1,400 staff. We designed and built a bespoke iOS and Android app, with its own management dashboard, that puts important messages straight onto every team member’s phone. It was delivered in four months and launched in July 2019.
The challenge
At the time, Childbase had no single, simple channel for talking to its staff. Updates from head office went out by email, so staff had to log on to a desktop computer to read them, which isn’t easy when you spend your day looking after children. Messages were missed, and there was no easy way to hear back from staff.
The app was the first project in Childbase’s GetFit for IT programme: a drive to use technology to do more, be more innovative and stay lean.
What we built
- A dashboard for head office. Messages are written, managed and sent from a dedicated dashboard. No technical knowledge needed.
- Group and individual messaging. Send a message to everyone, target a group such as a nursery, managers or a department, or reach one person.
- Instant delivery to every phone. Each message arrives as a push notification on iPhone and Android, so nothing is missed.
- Nothing gets lost. Messages are stored in clear folders and categories, so staff can find an update again later.
- Two-way questions. Head office can ask staff a question and collect their replies. That makes it a useful HR tool for gathering feedback and measuring interest in new initiatives.
Designed with the client
Childbase’s marketing team, who lead the way on using technology in the childcare sector, worked closely with us on the look and feel. Their input shaped the design, so the finished app feels like part of the Childbase brand and staff felt ownership of it from day one.
Behind the scenes
The app runs on a bespoke back end built in CakePHP, which powers both the dashboard and the apps. Push notifications are the main way messages are delivered.
The result
For the first time, Childbase had one clear channel to every member of staff. Head office news now reaches the team within seconds, wherever they are, without anyone needing to log on to a computer. As the first step in GetFit for IT, it showed how the right technology could help the business work smarter while staying lean.
Project facts
- Client: Childbase Partnership
- Platforms: iOS and Android, plus a web dashboard
- Timescale: 4 months
- Launched: July 2019
- Technology: CakePHP back end, push notifications
- Part of: Childbase’s GetFit for IT programme
Planning an app for your own staff? Get in touch with our Milton Keynes team.
