From Insight to Impact: AutoStore’s Learning Culture Revolution with CoachHub

How can a small, local business infuse its unique culture into a rapidly expanding international enterprise? What is the best way to equip emerging managers across various countries with vital leadership skills? For Norwegian tech company AutoStore, the answer lay in a coaching programme by CoachHub. The initiative saw immediate success, with coaching slots filling up almost instantly. Continue reading to uncover how they accomplished this remarkable achievement.

From Norway with game-changing technology

A journey to their international success started in the small Norwegian village of Vast. In 1996, a local tech player, Hatteland, wanted to boost its warehouse size but hit a financial roadblock. But problems are opportunities in disguise. So, they developed an automated solution where robots pick items from tightly packed cubes. The pioneering idea unlocked the potential to maximise the use of their existing warehouse space.

After a series of refinements, Norwegian customers were introduced to this product as AutoStore. Their business experienced steady growth and surged in 2016, propelling the company to become the world’s most space-efficient automated warehousing solution.

Challenge number one: From home-town hero to a global network

People who visit Vats often try to figure out the local magic of this place. There has to be a magic ingredient that can explain the phenomenon of AutoStore’s cutting-edge technology. But the power of their warehouse engineering is one thing. The other comes down to their vibrant atmosphere and company culture that has been their trademark since their humble beginnings. As AutoStore scaled into a global enterprise, preserving that unique culture and values has become critical.

Challenge number two: policies and systems built from scratch

Establishing their culture in other branches wasn’t the only aspect to manage. AutoStore has grown from a David to a Goliath almost overnight. That meant no established HR systems and processes to recruit, onboard, and develop new talent in multiple locations. New branches, locations, departments, and a growing headcount also translated into another challenge — hiring numerous new managers with diverse leadership skills.

Hence, AutoStore’s guiding principle became equipping managers, regardless of their experience levels, with the essential skills required to lead their teams to excellence. In pursuit of this goal, their HR department sought an exceptional partner to provide top-notch training and development opportunities for their managerial team.

The Solution: CoachHub’s coaching programme

Recognising the need naturally led to a solution. HR managers understood the necessity for a robust, ongoing training program. It needed to span all branches while sustaining consistent, high-quality training irrespective of location. The answer was clear — a digital coaching platform with global reach that could be easily scaled.

From a Pilot Project to Fully-Fledged Coaching Programs

AutoStore’s initial foray into coaching commenced with CoachHub as a pilot project aimed at assessing the effectiveness of coaching services for managers. Building upon the success of the pilot project, AutoStore ramped up its coaching initiatives. From that moment onwards, CoachHub ran ongoing coaching programs tailored to nurture leaders and high-talent individuals, maintaining momentum throughout the year.

CoachHub is not just about good coaches but also an excellent matching system. Managers were given a chance to personally choose their coaches, guided by preferences and obstacles outlined through questionnaires. These participants did so because they believed it had immediate gains, external support and valuable angles as expressed in their feedback.

A German AutoStore Manager, Moritz Pfeifer, confirmed this:

“CoachHub has been a great experience for me so far, and I’m glad that AutoStore has decided to run the programme.”

There was great enthusiasm from the employees, which confirmed the project’s success. Participants thanked their coaches for giving them fresh insights, asking them thought-provoking questions, helping with goal setting and being there for them every step of the way. Thanks to CoachHub’s flexible licensing model, transitioning from pilot to fully-fledged programs was seamless.

Expanding Impact: A Vision for People Development at AutoStore

AutoStore’s commitment to developing its employees has moved beyond pilot programmes and now takes on a dynamic, multifaceted approach. Coaching became the foundation of a learning culture in AutoStore after 79 individuals were coached in over 660 sessions.

This aligns very well with the coaching programs. Coaching, as highlighted by Hege Øvrebø, enables flexibility and effectiveness. Therefore, the scalability capability of the coaching programme is not at odds with focusing on individual requirements (a higher number of employees can be reached by coaching). The figures speak for themselves: an average of 1.79 sessions per coachee per month and an impressive session satisfaction rate at 4.9/5 out of over 400 rated sessions. This success demonstrates how influential and resounding the coaching initiative was for AutoStore.

Hege Øvrebø is certain the coaching program perfectly aligns with their company’s North Star regarding employee development:

“It’s both effective and flexible, tailored to individual needs while easily scalable to reach a broader audience. Employee testimonials play a crucial role in spreading awareness, showcasing the tangible benefits of coaching.”

Mike Dickson, CRO of AutoStore, echoes the sentiment, affirming the program’s unique value:

“The advice I received was thoughtful, experienced, and framed in a supportive and helpful way. The Coach I selected was deeply experienced, having already ‘walked our walk’ as a former leader and a professional mentor.”

As AutoStore expands its range of programs and services, coaching remains a pivotal element in supporting individuals navigating career paths, overcoming challenges, and fostering curiosity for various development avenues. Hege Øvrebø emphasises the importance of internal mobility, making it a vital component of AutoStore’s comprehensive approach to people development.