AGCO Corporation is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of agricultural equipment. With roots stretching back to its founding in 1990, AGCO has grown through strategic acquisitions and organic growth to become one of the world’s largest suppliers of agricultural machinery and infrastructure. AGCO is not just about tractors and harvesters; it’s about intelligent, green farming solutions that empower the global farming community.
When AGCO sought to enhance their onboarding process, they turned to us, drawn by our reputation for creating engaging, digital experiences. This case study explores the journey of transforming AGCO’s onboarding into an interactive, gamified adventure that not only educates but also integrates new hires into the AGCO culture.
The Challenge
AGCO’s ambition was clear: to revolutionise the onboarding experience for their new hires. They envisioned an onboarding journey enriched with gamification elements — badges, and interactive learning modules that delve into AGCO’s core areas, including their flagship products and sustainable farming practices. The goal was twofold: to educate and to make every new employee feel welcomed and valued from day one.
Our main contacts at AGCO, Byron and his supervisor Zachary, were deeply invested in this project. Byron, straddling IT and HR, was the linchpin in bringing this vision to life. The mission was personal, driven by a desire to not just inform, but to inspire and foster a sense of belonging among the newcomers.
The Solution
Our approach was not to create an onboarding platform from scratch but to enhance AGCO’s existing system, “OurField,” by bringing a visual and interactive dimension to the onboarding journey. Leveraging Microsoft 365 and Power Apps, we developed a solution that showcases the badges new hires have earned through their engagement with various onboarding activities within “OurField.”
This visualisation acts as a dynamic roadmap, guiding new employees through their introduction to AGCO. A key innovation of our solution is the integration of these badges into the profile pictures within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This feature serves a dual purpose: it recognises and celebrates the achievements of new hires, and it also signals to the rest of the organisation who the new members are. This visibility fosters a welcoming environment, encouraging existing employees to reach out, offer support, or simply share a coffee, thereby knitting new hires into AGCO’s community fabric right from their first day.
By enhancing the visibility and impact of AGCO’s onboarding process, our solution not only aids in the educational aspect of onboarding but also plays a crucial role in building a sense of belonging and camaraderie among employees. This approach underscores our commitment to creating solutions that are not just functional but also meaningful, facilitating connections and enriching the onboarding experience at AGCO.
Impact and Future
While the project has not yet gone live, the feedback from AGCO has been overwhelmingly positive. Byron and his team are thrilled with the results, anticipating a significant uplift in new hire engagement and retention. This project has laid a solid foundation for a long-term partnership with AGCO, who now sees us as key players in their IT transformation journey.
Looking ahead, AGCO’s roadmap is ambitious. They are on a path to rebrand and innovate across all facets of their operations, with our onboarding solution being just the start. The success of this project has opened doors to further collaborations, aiming to streamline processes, enhance automation, and embrace smart farming solutions on a global scale.
Conclusion
AGCO’s venture into gamified onboarding is a testament to their forward-thinking approach, recognising that the way to a productive, engaged workforce is through meaningful, interactive experiences. This case study not only highlights the transformative power of gamification in HR processes but also underscores our capability to deliver innovative solutions that meet and exceed our clients’ expectations.
As AGCO continues to grow and evolve, we are excited to be by their side, crafting the digital solutions that will define the future of agriculture and corporate culture. Together, we are planting the seeds for a greener, more connected world.
