Stow Group, a global player in industrial storage systems, faced a clear challenge: how to make employee gifts and recognition initiatives both more efficient and more impactful? Ordering flowers, arranging gifts — it consumed time and effort for the HR team, especially in an international environment. In addition, Stow Group wanted to do more with employer branding: personalized gifts, a single system, and a solution that works seamlessly across all locations. The answer? A streamlined process that makes recognition tangible. CHRO Machteld Leybaert, together with HR Business Partners Nadia Khalid and Karen Vandekerckhove, share their experience.
“The process is not only more personal, but also much faster.”
Machteld Leybaert, CHRO Stow Group
Triple Win with an Integrated & Personalized Reward Platform
To make recognition as simple as it is impactful, Stow Group joined forces with Arteel. The company quickly saw improvements on three fronts:
1. Less Hassle, More Impact Thanks to the Gift App
Arteel developed the so-called Gift App for Stow Group — a digital tool that allows HR to effortlessly arrange gifts for various milestones. From retirements and weddings to births, nothing needed to be handled manually anymore, as had been the case before.
Personalization is perhaps the most important feature of the solution. Recognition now truly feels like recognition. A wedding? Not just a standard gift from the warehouse pioneer — but a personalized bath towel with the company logo and the couple’s names. A baby on the way? A cute onesie featuring the Movu or Stow logo. Retirement, wedding, and anniversary gifts are now more personal than ever.
And in terms of operational efficiency, the results speak for themselves, according to Nadia. “Previously, we spent half an hour on emails and phone calls just to arrange a gift. Now the task is completed in just a few clicks!”
2. Recognition as an Ongoing Process with the Incentive App
To take the program to the next level, Arteel supported the company in launching the Incentive App. With this platform, Stow gives employees the opportunity to earn points through triggers such as anniversaries, year-end events, social initiatives, and holidays like Sinterklaas.
The power of this solution? Employees can redeem their points for personalized gifts. Employee appreciation thus becomes not just a one-time surprise, but a continuous process.
“Everyone gets excited when they receive a package,” beams Karen Vandekerckhove, HR Business Partner.
“It’s not just a gift, but a personal surprise that makes appreciation tangible. Employees even share it with their family and friends. That truly contributes to a positive feeling about our company,” Karen adds.
3. Internationally Consistent, Locally Relevant
The platform’s multilingual capabilities are another key advantage. After a successful launch in Belgium, Stow Group is now rolling out the system to neighboring France and Germany — a uniform approach, yet attentive to local customs and expectations.
“In France, employees used to receive nothing, so they are now extremely enthusiastic,” Karen continues.“In Germany, on the other hand, they especially appreciate the structure and uniformity of the process.”
However, the international rollout is not without challenges. Legislation differs from country to country, meaning implementation sometimes requires customization. Additionally, not all employees have a professional email address, so alternative communication channels are sometimes needed.
“Thanks to Arteel’s smart approach and short communication lines, we are able to overcome these hurdles time and again,” says Nadia Khalid, HR Business Partner.
Greater Engagement, Stronger Company Culture
Recognition that lasts and sticks — that is the true power of the Arteel platform within Stow Group. No more isolated gifts or ad-hoc thank-you gestures, but a thoughtful system that reaches employees at the right moments.
Thanks to the flexible and dynamic collaboration with Arteel, the recognition program continues to evolve. New initiatives, such as the Sinterklaas gift boxes, are particularly well received. “Arteel is a partner that thinks outside the box with us, which is rare in a large, international organization,” confirms Nadia.
According to the duo, the enthusiasm within the teams speaks for itself. Colleagues send photos, express their excitement via chat or email, and share their experiences with family and friends. “The true super-fans even take it a step further and contact Arteel to explore more gift options,” Karen laughs.
“This recognition program thrives both on and off the work floor. Employees who become ambassadors and proudly share how Stow appreciates them — that is the best employer branding you can imagine,” concludes Nadia Khalid, HR Business Partner.
Want a More Efficient and Impactful Recognition Program?
We get it! At Arteel, we help companies like Stow Group make recognition tangible, personal, and impactful. The result: a workplace culture where employees truly feel valued — and a story worth sharing with the world.
