Carrefour Market Diepenbeek Upgrades to cWatch for Discreet, Efficient In-Store Communication
Facing communication hurdles in their expansive 2,504 m² store, Carrefour Market in Diepenbeek, led by franchisee Steven Willems, transitioned to cWatch.
The move from cumbersome walkie-talkies and uncomfortable headsets to the intuitive cWatch system has revolutionized their team’s connectivity, comfort, and operational efficiency.
Client: Carrefour Market, Diepenbeek
Industry: Retail – Supermarket
Challenge: Ineffective and uncomfortable communication systems in a large retail space, leading to inefficiencies and staff dissatisfaction.
Solution: cWatch smartwatches with targeted messaging, intuitive user interface, and an all-inclusive service model.
Results: Enhanced staff comfort, faster and more discreet communication, improved customer service speed, effective shoplifting deterrence, and simplified break management.
The Challenge: Finding a Communication System That Truly Works
For a large supermarket like Carrefour Market Diepenbeek, seamless team communication is vital. Franchisee Steven Willems explained their journey: “The store is 2,504 m² in size, which makes communication between our people and our coworkers very important.”
Their previous attempts at finding the right solution had significant drawbacks:
- Walkie-Talkies: While “reasonably well for the checkouts,” the wired earpieces were problematic. “In the store, where the cable always got in the way during tasks, it was more difficult.”
- Headsets: This proved to be “a tough experience, especially for the women. With hairstyles, the headset always pressed on their hair, and over time it became painful and annoying.” Furthermore, communication was not targeted: “With the headsets, we always sent general messages, which meant everyone heard everything.”
These systems failed to provide the discreet, comfortable, and efficient communication needed in a dynamic retail environment.
The Solution: cWatch – Intuitive, Comfortable, and Targeted
The switch to cWatch marked a turning point. “That’s why we chose to work with cWatch,” Steven Willems stated, emphasizing the system’s user-friendliness:
“We didn’t need any advanced training to use cWatch. It’s just pressing one button, selecting a person, speaking the message — and you’re off. It’s really a child’s play.”
Carrefour Diepenbeek implemented cWatch with:
Departmental Smartwatches: Starting with 25 watches distributed across different departments, ensuring “each department is reachable” with at least one designated wearer, while all checkout employees wear one by default.
Direct & Discreet Messaging: Unlike previous systems, “With cWatch, we can target specific people and communicate via the watch. This makes communication much more discreet, direct, and faster.”
Practical Staff Features: A “pause button” allows employees to indicate they are on break, with a 30-minute countdown timer helping manage break durations.
All-Inclusive Service: “The pricing is very clear and very fair. One price, one service — everything included,” covering the SIM card for constant connectivity (even outside the store), continuous software updates, and even repairs.
The Results: A Leap Forward in Efficiency and Staff Satisfaction
The adoption of cWatch brought immediate and tangible benefits to Carrefour Market Diepenbeek.
“The transition from headsets to cWatch went smoothly because the device is so easy to use,” noted Willems.
Key improvements include:
Unparalleled Staff Comfort: “A watch can be worn and tolerated by everyone.” This was a significant upgrade from the previous uncomfortable solutions.
Streamlined Communication: “Especially between the checkout and store staff, the communication has become much faster and more discreet.” This directness “saves a lot of time” as store workers no longer need to walk to the register for simple queries.
Enhanced Customer Service: The direct result of faster internal communication is “customer service [that is] much faster, which is crucial.”
Improved Security: For issues like customers using self-scanners, “store staff can alert the cashier, who can then pay closer attention… Monitoring potential shoplifting is now much more discreet and easier to track.”
Predictable Operational Costs: The fixed monthly fee provides clarity and includes all necessary services and support. “If a watch breaks, it gets replaced or remotely fixed so we’re operational again.”
Conclusion: cWatch Delivers Where Others Fell Short
For Carrefour Market Diepenbeek, cWatch has successfully addressed the critical need for an effective, user-friendly, and comfortable communication system in a large retail setting. By enabling targeted, discreet messaging and offering practical features tailored to retail operations, cWatch has not only improved efficiency and customer service but has also significantly enhanced the daily working experience for employees.
Steven Willems’s experience highlights the value of a system designed with the end-user in mind: “It’s simply more discreet and convenient, and for my employees, that’s a huge advantage.” cWatch has proven to be the reliable and fair-priced solution Carrefour Market Diepenbeek was searching for.
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