Internal Communication with the Plusco App at Kofola

In June 2024, our Plusco family grew to include Kofola – a leading producer and distributor of non-alcoholic beverages, including the iconic Kofola drink. Before introducing the Plusco app, company news and updates were shared through a wide range of channels – the corporate web intranet, notice boards, LCD screens, the company magazine, printed flyers, and face-to-face meetings with management.
How has internal communication changed after more than half a year of using the app, and has the new system met expectations? We spoke with Jana Ptačinská Jirátová, Communications Manager, and Denisa Vlachopulosová, Communication Specialist at Kofola.

About Kofola

Kofola ČeskoSlovensko a.s. is one of the leading producers and distributors of non-alcoholic beverages in Central and Eastern Europe.
The company’s key brands include Kofola, Vinea, Rajec, Ondrášovka, Korunní, Jupí, Jupík, Semtex, and UGO.
Kofola operates mainly in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, and Poland.
It has production plants in the Czech Republic (Krnov, Mnichovo Hradiště, Ondrášov, Stráž nad Ohří), Slovakia (Rajecká Lesná), Slovenia (Radenci), and Croatia (Lipik).
In total, Kofola employs around 2,800 people, roughly 2,000 of them in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

What were the main reasons for introducing the app, and what were your expectations?

The main goal was to give employees in the Czech Republic and Slovakia easy, anytime access to company content – whenever they need it. A key factor for us was having both a web interface and a mobile app.

“Our goal was to make sure employees always have company content at their fingertips.”

We expected the app to increase employee engagement, encourage participation in company topics, and improve internal communication by making information sharing between employees and departments easier.

How did you perceive the preparation phase of the project?

The preparation phase was crucial for successful implementation.
We saw it as a challenge but also as an opportunity to streamline company processes. It was important to carefully plan every step to make sure the transition to the new system went smoothly and without unnecessary complications.

“The preparation phase was not just a challenge, but also an opportunity for improvement.”

It also helped us realize the importance of involving employees early on, providing quality training, and having a flexible plan to handle unexpected challenges.

How did you introduce the app to employees? What do you do to ensure they actually use it?

We promoted the app intensively through our existing internal communication channels.
We also involved employees directly – for example, by organizing an internal contest to come up with the app’s name. The winning name, KofoAppka, was chosen from employee suggestions, and the author received a prize.

“We organized an internal contest to find the best name for our new app.”

We continue to motivate employees by adding new features based on user feedback – the app is constantly evolving according to their needs.
We also regularly publish new content: on average one article per day, a new contest every three weeks, and monthly polls.

“We regularly add new content to the app – on average, we publish one article every day.”

What feedback have you received from employees?

Employees provide feedback on KofoAppka regularly and aren’t afraid to ask questions about anything they’re curious about.
They appreciate being able to easily find information about the company and employee benefits, as well as quick access to colleagues’ contact details – all just a few clicks away, even from home. This has been especially valuable for production staff, who previously could only access the intranet from company computers.

It’s been half a year since the app’s launch. What statistics do you track about its use?

We track statistics on a monthly basis.
Over 1,800 employees have installed the app so far. The app is most frequently used on weekday mornings. Currently, the ratio of desktop to mobile use is 70% to 30%, but mobile usage continues to rise. On average, an employee spends nearly 12 minutes in the app.
The most frequently used modules are News, Contacts, and Benefits.

“Nine months after launch, over 1,800 employees had installed the app, and each user spends an average of 12 minutes in it.”

Has the app met your expectations?

Yes, it has. KofoAppka has allowed all our employees to access company content with a single click, anytime and anywhere – not only from their computers or tablets (as they were used to before), but now also from their mobile phones. We’re now looking forward to further development – particularly to launching our own notice board and refining the organizational structure within the app to better reflect the size and needs of our company.

What are your plans for the future?

This year, we’re planning to launch new modules – the exact selection is still being developed based on employee feedback and user needs.
Currently, we’re preparing to roll out “PivoAppka,” a dedicated app for our colleagues in the brewery division.

“This year, we’re launching new modules and introducing the PivoAppka app.”

Thank you for the interview, and we wish you continued success in strengthening internal communication!