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Client Feature: Hippo CMMS

by Staff Author in HR Trends , Uncategorized 0 comments

Winnipeg Tech Company, Hippo CMMS Uses Acuity HR Solutions to Help with Growing Pains

Written By: Reena Sommer, PhD, Hippo CMMS

November 27, 2017

One of the challenges facing companies experiencing rapid growth is finding a balance between product development and service, and staff management concerns. Too often, business owners’ primary focus is on growing their business and as such, issues relating to staff management are left to fall by the wayside. Businesses that once coasted along on a shoe string staff and budget suddenly find themselves with a need to hire more employees, restructure management and expand their operations on several fronts. While success is welcomed, the challenge of company expansion is also accompanied by its own set of growing pains and problems.  Such has been the experience for Hippo CMMS.

Launched in 2002 and located in Winnipeg, Canada, Hippo CMMS is a growing SaaS (Software as a Service) company. Today, Hippo has become a leader in computerized maintenance management software servicing businesses across a broad spectrum of industries. Their software helps businesses manage and track work orders, preventive maintenance, facilities and more. With only four staffers at its start, today, Hippo employs just over 20 people in a variety of positions including programming, marketing, product development as well as administration and management. In its first year of operation, the company attracted 40 customers; now Hippo has over 800 businesses that utilize its cloud based CMMS system. Hippo CMMS client list includes: Prada, MTS Centre, Cablevision, Mountain Equipment Coop, The Bay Centre and Hard Rock Cafe, to name a few.

Given its rapid growth, Hippo soon realized it could no longer manage the staffing process on its own. While the company still maintains a small, lean and agile composition, the expansion process presented challenges for the company culture as well as management in general. It became apparent that these challenges required the assistance of a human resource specialist. After considerable research, Hippo CMMS chose Acuity HR Solutions as its HR consulting partner because of its focus on company culture as well as its commitment to addressing Hippo’s specific operational needs.

Acuity’s objective is to assist companies in building intentional solutions that strengthen their organizations and improve workplace cultures. The company sets out to meet this objective by offering services in the following four focus areas:

  • consulting – HR external review (check-up); employee handbooks, policies and best practices; interim on-site and out-sourced HR support; investigations and HR emergencies
  • training and development – leadership training (IPL); respectful workplace training; great teams training; client communication training; recruitment training, leadership coaching
  • recruitment – sourcing, attracting and placing high quality individuals at all levels
  • engagement services – Engagement Indicator Survey, Engagement Action Plans, and Leadership Development Coaching

At the time that Hippo CMMS contracted Acuity HR Solution, Hippo was experiencing some attrition due to the restructuring of its management and implementing new processes. As a result, Hippo was challenged by these simultaneously occurring changes and sought assistance from Acuity on how to function more effectively. Acuity HR Solutions began by conducting an Engagement Indicator survey for Hippo to assist them in better understanding its employees and the things that were important to them in the work setting.  Next, the HR firm drafted an employee handbook that was customized to Hippo’s operations and company culture. At the time of this writing, Hippo CMMS is looking forward to Acuity delivering customized leadership training to its team. With Acuity HR Solutions’ assistance, Hippo is back on track and functioning in a more cohesive way.

When discussing what makes Acuity HR Solutions so appealing to Hippo CMMS, Daniel Golub, Hippo GM stated,

“Hippo has seen rapid growth over the past five years. With three consecutive years with 50% customer growth, we had to do a lot of hiring. Change was something we could manage easily with a small group, but once we passed 20 staff and departments solidified, we faced some challenges. Hippo is small enough to not warrant an HR department. We are a strong believer in operating lean, so managers and staff wear a lot of hats. Acuity was the right choice for us to strengthen our culture, develop policies and procedures and advise us on HR matters.”