Diversey | Closing the post-merger communication gap

Diversey produces smart, sustainable solutions for cleaning and hygiene products. Headquartered in North Carolina, USA, Diversey operates internationally, with 9,000 employees worldwide. The organization has been through many phases of transformation, moving through various forms of ownership, with the latest acquisition of its Diversey Care division by Bain Capital Private Equity in 2017.

Diversey had several vendors for language training programs in different regions, which meant a lack of consistency in quality, cost, invoicing, and tracking ROI of the programs. HR managers were unable to identify staff language training needs and often provided training as a benefit vs. a strategic investment.

Diversey needed our support to cost-effectively centralize language training and identify language needs in the business, prioritizing employees in customer-facing roles, followed by those in global roles required to communicate in English. The company urgently needed to define business needs and communicate these to the whole organization.

In this case study, we explore how centralizing language training reduced costs and transformed communication, translating to better local and global relationships.

The case for merging all language training programs under one global training provider enabled Diversey to provide data and insights that the local markets previously did not have.

Running a standard proficiency assessment for the whole organization enabled training managers to select the right students to enrol in the program, and a single reporting center tracked learner progress and measured program ROI on a global scale. This enabled Diversey to see the level employees started at, and where they should be by the end of the program.

Naturally, some employees were initially resistant to online language training. However, the lack of flexibility sometimes found in face-to-face programs resulted in low attendance and completion rates. Switching to online training allowed learners to study anywhere, anytime, without disrupting their personal lives or work schedules.

With more than 350 learners trained and a 70% reduction in costs annually, Diversey reports its employees are engaged and committed to their online training more than ever.