The system for employees who do not work in the office can be customized for each company.
(Photo: Flip)
Berlin The Stuttgart start-up Flip wants to bind employees more closely to companies that are not provided with a computer. They can install an app on their private smartphone and often have access to forms, company information and chat options for the first time. This should promote participation and ultimately also help ensure that urgently needed specialists are less likely to leave their companies.
Gartner’s market researchers estimate that there are 2.7 billion workers worldwide who are employed in manufacturing, field service or service businesses. That is more than twice as many as those who work on the PC in the office.
Who is the person you are talking about?
Flip was founded in Stuttgart in 2018 by Benedikt Ilg and Giacomo Kenner. The start-up now employs around 140 people and has raised around 30 million euros from investors such as Cavalry Ventures, HV Capital and Notion Capital.
Well-known business angels have also taken part. These include ex-BASF boss Jürgen Hambrecht, former VW boss Matthias Müller, management consultant Roland Berger and Flixbus founders Daniel Krauss and Jochen Engert. “Because we do Swabian business, our money will last for a long time,” explains Ilg.
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The young company’s first customer in 2019 was a well-known company: Porsche, Ilg’s former employer, who used Flip to set up their own company app. Since then, other well-known clients have been added, such as Rossmann, Edeka and Mahle.
Claude Ritter from Cavalry Ventures has a lot of confidence in Flip: “Apps like WhatsApp, Facebook or Telegram cannot be used in the corporate environment due to data protection and are unsuitable due to their general nature. Flip is explicitly tailored to the needs of the entire workforce.”
There is now also a team in Great Britain. Ilg is already flirting with the USA as a possible next market.
How does Flip work?
Flip founder Ilg sees the app as the operating system for employees who don’t work in the office. “We offer one white label-solution on. That’s why Rossmann has a Rossmann app and McDonald’s has a McDonald’s app,” says Ann Starkel, the manager responsible for growth at Flip. The on-site employee enters their name and employee number or e-mail address and has access to all functions.
The two entrepreneurs founded Flip in Stuttgart in 2018.
Flip’s customers pay a monthly fee per employee to use the app. According to Ilg’s vision, the offer should be much more comprehensive and then include external apps in addition to shift plans, vacation requests, sick notes, company news and other information.
Why is that important?
It is currently almost more challenging for companies to retain employees than to find new specialists. According to studies, almost half of all employees are thinking about looking for a new job. According to market researcher Gartner, the proportion of employees who have direct customer contact or work in production is even larger.
In addition, these employees often feel less connected to their employer, which makes it easier to leave. Gartner also attributes this to inadequate access to company technology. “With the Flip app, employees are connected to their company for the first time,” says Ilg.
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It’s about people who only use Facebook and WhatsApp privately and have never written an email on behalf of their employer. “You have to manage to build an application that gives the end user great added value. Then the app will also be used.”
Who are the competitors?
There are now a lot of companies that are catering to employees who don’t have a computer at work. These include Flip Acuvate, Blink, DaysToHappy, Quiply, Workjam or Workstream. But the Chemnitz Unicorn Staffbase is also one of them. However, it primarily takes care of intranet solutions.
Gartner market researchers listed Flip among the most promising vendors in human resources last year. Gartner analyst Ranadip Chandra describes Flip’s solution as innovative. The app enables management to easily reach employees on site, which was often difficult in the past due to different shift times.
Every week, the Handelsblatt presents young companies that managers, entrepreneurs and those interested in business should now take a look at. The focus is on the innovation potential, which investors also pay particular attention to. The business models and ideas could also provide new impetus for products and solutions in other sectors.
More: You can find more start-up checks here