Vanheede Environment Group has nearly a thousand employees spread across the country. Its rapid growth brought one major challenge: how do you show consistent appreciation in an organization with so many people, roles, and locations? Thanks to Arteel, the group found the answer — less hassle, more impact, and a culture of appreciation that truly comes to life. HR Business Partner Emmy Vanrobaeys explains how.
Growing Need for Efficiency
Vanheede Environment Group has always enjoyed showing appreciation through small gestures — a bottle of wine here, a small gift there. Vouchers from local shops, presents stored in office cabinets. Well-intentioned, but everything became scattered.
“After a while, we didn’t even know who had received what,” sighs Emmy. “Sometimes we’d find forgotten boxes weeks later. Or a gift would never reach the person it was meant for. We were spending too much time on it, and it felt less genuine than we wanted.”
From LuckyBird to the GiftApp: One Platform, Endless Convenience
The collaboration with Arteel began with LuckyBird vouchers for long-serving employees. The group wanted to thank team members for their loyalty — whether they were celebrating their first milestone or had been part of the company for many years. No more standard gifts collecting dust. With LuckyBird, every employee chooses something that truly fits them — within the set budget, but entirely personal.
“Our team is very diverse,” Emmy continues. “Not everyone drinks alcohol, and some people have allergies. Thanks to that freedom of choice, everyone can find something that really suits them. And that makes all the difference — you can feel it.”
Everything Centralized. Everything Just Works.
Because everything ran so smoothly, Vanheede Environment Group quickly transitioned to the GiftApp. Since then, retirements, births, weddings, and other milestones have all been managed centrally — all in one place, efficiently and clearly organized.
“In the past, we spent days writing cards and organizing gifts,” says Emmy. “Now it’s just a matter of a few clicks. Thanks to Arteel, everything happens through one central system. Gifts are arranged automatically and delivered to employees’ homes — without HR losing any more time on it.”
- Emmy Vanrobaeys, HR Business Partner
Less Hassle, More Heart.
Appreciation may be efficient, but it still needs to feel genuine. “The platform leaves plenty of room for a personal touch,” explains Emmy. “For births, for example, we now send a baby bib with our logo and the baby’s name. Small things, but they really make an impact. Employees notice the care behind it. Everything runs smoothly — and it brings a smile to their face. What more could you want?”
Vanheede Environment Group also connects digital tools with live initiatives. For instance, long-serving employees are invited each year to a festive evening at Kinepolis — including a reception and a movie — together with their colleagues and managers. This way, the moment of recognition remains a shared experience.
“Even though the gift arrives at home, the personal message and the shared moments still matter. And for those who can’t attend, we make sure there’s a thoughtful alternative,” she adds.
From Reactive to Proactive.
For Emmy, the new appreciation system has two clear advantages: efficiency and flexibility. “Thanks to the platform, we can finally think ahead,” she says with a smile. “We used to work too reactively. Now, we’re building a recognition policy with vision.”
The collaboration with Arteel also runs smoothly, Emmy confirms:
“When I call or email, I get a clear answer right away. Everything is transparent and runs smoothly. And we regularly receive data on who has used their voucher — which helps us measure the impact.”
Do you also want to centralize and personalize appreciation?
Arteel helps you set up a scalable, thoughtful, and warm appreciation policy — with measurable impact. Discover our solutions for your organization here.
