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The automotive sector is one of the most innovative industries in the world – and yet it is facing massive upheaval. Digitalisation, a shortage of skilled workers, networked production and new mobility concepts are not only changing products, but also the way companies work. One key challenge often goes unnoticed: internal communication.
How can you reach all employees – from the assembly line to management? How can information be distributed efficiently, feedback obtained and the corporate culture strengthened? This is exactly where a modern employee app comes in. It offers the automotive industry a digital solution for rethinking communication, organisation and employee loyalty – flexible, mobile and scalable.
1. Communication gaps in the plant: the typical challenges
The automotive industry is highly complex: production, logistics, development, quality assurance and administration work hand in hand – and yet often in silos. As a result, important information reaches employees too late or not at all.
Typical challenges
Added to this is the linguistic and cultural diversity in production. Without multilingual and visually supported communication, many employees are left out.
The all-in-one app for the automotive industry
The digital solution for car manufacturers & suppliers: Polario optimizes communication & events – efficient, interactive & easy to use.
The digital solution for car manufacturers & suppliers: Polario optimizes communication & events – efficient, interactive & easy to use.
2. What is an employee app?
An employee app is a mobile application that has been specially developed for internal use in companies. It serves as a central platform for communication, information, interaction and self-service functions – anytime, anywhere and independent of the workplace.
In contrast to traditional intranets or emails, the app is available directly on employees’ smartphones. Push notifications, intuitive navigation and customised content ensure that information is not only received, but also read and understood. This means that communication is no longer a one-way street, but an active dialogue.
Whitepaper: Employee app provider comparison
In our white paper, we have analyzed the 8 top providers of employee apps and presented them clearly for you.
In our white paper, we have analyzed the 8 top providers of employee apps and presented them clearly for you.
3. How an employee app can specifically help
An employee app offers precisely the tools needed to overcome the challenges of the automotive industry in a targeted manner. It is the digital hub of internal communication and reaches all employees equally – regardless of department, location or end device.
Possible features of an automotive industry employee app
4. Economic benefit and refinancing
The employee app thus becomes an information hub – especially for non-desk workers, who were previously often excluded from digital exchange.
An automotive industry employee app is not just a communication aid – it is also an economic factor. Companies benefit in several ways:
The use of an automotive industry employee app clearly shows that digital solutions for internal communication are not a ‘nice to have’, but real efficiency drivers with measurable added value.
How can this success be proven in concrete terms? Through measurable key figures: Usage rates, response rates to surveys, participation in training courses or the number of digitally submitted forms provide clear indications of added value. If you know the figures, you can make targeted adjustments – and continuously develop the app further.
How to effectively calculate the ROI of an employee app
Utilise the full potential of an employee app: Find out how you can measure and increase the ROI for an employee app.
Utilise the full potential of an employee app: Find out how you can measure and increase the ROI for an employee app.
5. IT security & data protection in the automotive industry
Data protection plays a central role, especially in the automotive industry with its complex processes and sensitive operating data. An employee app must therefore meet the high requirements of the GDPR. These include encrypted data transmission, role-based access control and hosting on European servers. Employees must be able to trust that their data will be processed securely – this is the basic prerequisite for a high level of acceptance of digital tools.
plazz AG is ISO/IEC 27001 certified, which guarantees the highest standards of information security. We also have TISAX certification (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange), which is specially tailored to the requirements of the automotive industry. This ensures that data protection, information security and compliance are not a minor matter at Polario, but a lived practice.
plazz AG receives ISO 27001 certification
With the ISO 27001 certification, plazz AG sets a strong example for the information security of its customers and partners.
plazz AG again TISAX certified
We have once again passed the TISAX certification and thus guarantee the highest standards of data protection and information security.
plazz AG receives ISO 27001 certification
With the ISO 27001 certification, plazz AG sets a strong example for the information security of its customers and partners.
plazz AG again TISAX certified
We have once again passed the TISAX certification and thus guarantee the highest standards of data protection and information security.
6. Change management as the key to success
The introduction of an employee app is not just a technical project, but a far-reaching cultural change – and this is precisely why change management is a key success factor. In the automotive industry, where many processes have been based on analogue structures for decades, it is essential to take employees with you on this journey. Change needs acceptance – and this can only be achieved through early communication, involvement and visible added value.
Especially in production environments with long-established processes, the following applies: training, clear information and communication at eye level create trust. Anyone who recognises the benefits of the app, feels heard and can actively help shape it will also use it in the long term.
7. Utilisation concepts for all employees: BYOD, shared devices & more
An important aspect for success is device availability – especially for non-desk workers. Many companies rely on BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), i.e. the use of private smartphones. For this to work, it must be ensured that the app runs technically flawlessly and is protected by data protection laws. Alternatively, shared devices are available, such as mobile devices in the team or information terminals in break rooms and factory halls. For frontline workers in particular, it is crucial that access to the app is as simple as possible – mobile, intuitive and low-threshold.
Wearables such as smartwatches or scanner devices with an app function are also increasingly being used in industry. They enable quick access to information without having to interrupt the workflow – a real advantage in production or logistics.
8. Integration into existing systems
It is also essential that the app integrates smoothly into existing systems. Whether SAP, Microsoft Teams, time recording or MES: a good employee app is not an isolated solution, but part of the digital ecosystem. Information from the app can automatically flow into other systems – and vice versa. This saves time, reduces media disruptions and ensures consistent data flows.
API integrations are standard with Polario. The platform offers flexible interfaces that can be used to seamlessly expand existing IT infrastructures – regardless of whether HR systems, production control or communication tools are involved. This allows companies to customise the app precisely to their needs and use synergies with existing tools.
When change management, flexible utilisation concepts and system integration work together, the employee app becomes a real game changer – especially in the complex structure of the automotive industry.
API & Integration
Polario API & Integration Use the Polario API for integration and automation of specific data, embedding external toolsor a plethora of other application possibilities. What is an API? API stands for Application Programming Interface. Roughly speaking, an API regulates the flow of information between different databases, users and providers. Without APIs, the Internet as we
Polario API & Integration Use the Polario API for integration and automation of specific data, embedding external toolsor a plethora of other application possibilities. What
9. From practice: The OTLG employee app from Polario
A real-life example shows how successfully an employee app can be used in the automotive industry: OTLG, a Volkswagen Group company, uses Polario to connect around 2,400 employees across eight locations. The aim was to improve internal communication, make information available more quickly and create a stronger sense of community. The app provides access to news, location-specific information, feedback tools and more – tailored to the needs of the workforce. The result: a modern, standardised communication solution that works both in the warehouse and in the office.
OTLG Employee App – the digital success story
Learn more about contemporary employee communication for manufacturing-related companies, using the OTLG employee App as an example.
Learn more about contemporary employee communication for manufacturing-related companies, using the OTLG employee App as an example.
10. Employee app as a strategic communication tool for companies in the automotive industry
The automotive industry is on the move – technologically, culturally and organisationally. A communication solution that can keep up with this dynamic is needed to successfully bring all employees along with you. An employee app for the automotive industry is exactly that: mobile, flexible, targeted.
It improves information flows, avoids line stoppages, strengthens collaboration and turns isolated information into a shared knowledge base. In short, it connects people with processes – in real time.
