The challenge
Gene Ivey is the director of Pet Supplies Plus’ distribution center in Seymour, IN, which has a workforce of 500 employees. Under his leadership, the center has welcomed a diverse team, which has led to a pressing need for effective communication and language services.
When Gene first joined, the distribution center’s workforce was predominantly English-speaking, but he recognized there was a large Hispanic population in the area with skilled workers. However, the leadership team lacked Spanish language skills, creating a barrier to hiring and integrating these employees effectively into the workforce. Gene understood that to harness the talent of this demographic, it was crucial to facilitate communication between the English and Spanish speakers.
Why Babbel?
Initially, Gene and his team made attempts to use free local resources for language training, but they proved inadequate, prompting the search for a more effective solution. After spending time evaluating several language learning options, he chose Babbel for Business due to its superior user experience and value.
Unlike the other competitors Gene evaluated, Babbel for Business provides an engaging learning platform combined with supplemental material like podcasts, magazine articles, and games. He recognized that Babbel’s learning method allows for flexibility, enabling employees to learn at their own pace, whenever and wherever they are able.
To help motivate employees, Gene partners closely with his Babbel Customer Success Manager to provide effective tools and incentives to employees, such as implementing recognition programs that highlight the top users, which have resonated particularly well with the team.
“We have information boards throughout the distribution center. We put the top three users out there on the board, and people really like that…they want to see their name on there.”
Gene Ivey, Director of Pet Supplies Plus’ Distribution Center
He continued, “We also do a quick interview with them: ‘What do you like about this? What would you tell other learners?’ That goes up on the screen as well, so people get touched by that.”
This initiative encourages participation and creates a sense of community and friendly competition among learners. “I have a backlog of people who want those seats. So what I do is monitor usage. If somebody is not using their seat, I put somebody else in.”
Babbel has helped Pet Supplies Plus’ Spanish-speaking employees communicate and express their ideas much more clearly, leading to more leadership opportunities and fostering a culture of bilingualism within the workplace. “We have also seen our English speakers be much more effective,” Gene said.
He also emphasized how easy it is to learn a new language on Babbel. “The successful ones participate beyond the lessons. They’ll go listen to the podcasts, or they’ll watch videos, or they’ll try to read the magazine articles.”
Having a safe work environment is essential for Pet Supplies Plus. With the addition of Babbel for Business, there has been a noticeable difference in how the team communicates about safety measures.
“The first road was to hire translators,” he began. “We did that, and they translated a lot of our documents, which helped. But now, Babbel has added another layer. When we have our safety meetings, we can have them with true interaction. It’s not just, ‘Here’s your piece of paper that tells you what to do.’ Now, we’re talking about real issues, like, ‘There’s a problem with the forklifts, guys. What do you think we should do?’ There’s interaction. It’s not just pushing information—it’s a dialogue.”
Gene continued, “People were really happy with being able to give instructions and make sure people are safe.”
Summary
Since implementing Babbel for Business, Gene has observed significant improvements in communication and integration within the workforce. Employees have reported personal and professional successes, including enhanced fluency and increased job prospects.
“We’ve got personal success stories, we’ve got professional success stories. Babbel has been good for us.”
The program has not only bridged language gaps, but has also fostered a more inclusive and collaborative work environment. “It really is easy,” he said. “If you apply yourself, if you just spend time doing it, if you read and participate.”
Gene’s proactive approach in leveraging Babbel has proven to be a valuable asset for Pet Supplies Plus, demonstrating the importance of effective communication in a diverse workplace.
