Empowering the next generation at Nadias with Ziik

Um fyrirtækið

Nadias is a well-known chain of salad and sandwich bars in and around Aalborg, Denmark. Their unwavering commitment to fresh, homemade food (a healthy take-way alternative, as they call it) great service and positive customer experiences has seen the chain’s popularity steadily increase over the past 30 years. Today, they run five restaurants and a catering business. Behind the counter is a workforce made up largely of young people, many in their very first job.

“A lot of our employees come to us straight out of gymnasium,” says Joakim Nielsen, daily manager at Nadias. “They’re 18, 19 years old, and for many of them, this is the first time they’ve ever gone to work.”

To the management team at Nadias this is not just a challenge. It gives them a responsibility they both take very seriously and take great pride in.

Challenges before Ziik?

Providing structure and support for a young workforce

At Nadias, training new employees isn’t just about hygiene routines or how to build the perfect sandwich. It’s also about teaching life skills: showing up on time, taking responsibility, working as a team, and handling stressful situations. And with such a young staff, structure and clarity are absolutely essential.

“They want to do well, but they need to know what’s expected. Where do I find the info? Who do I ask? What happens if something goes wrong?” explains Joakim Nielsen

Kröfur um nýja lausn

From paper based to mobile first

Joakim Nielsen and Nadias owners had big ambitions for getting this structure right. For years they kept everything meticulously structured in handbooks and binders. To get even closer to their employees, they then decided on building their own internal communication app.

“We actually started developing our own app,” says Joakim Nielsen. “We had everything mapped out, organised and written down on paper. But it quickly became clear that building an app ourselves would take more time and resources than we had.”

Then along came Ziik: already built, and already doing what they’d been dreaming of.

“Now it’s all finally digital,” Joakim Nielsen says. “And Ziik does everything we needed, plus a good deal more.”

Niðurstöður

A single platform, purpose-built for clarity

Nadias chose Ziik to bring all communication, documents, and internal resources together in one place, available in everyone’s pocket. “What’s great is that it’s really just an app,” Joakim Nielsen says. “And it works like the other apps they already use. So they don’t need training, they just log in and get started.”

From hygiene procedures to dress code and job descriptions, everything new hires need is now easy to find on Ziik. And that means fewer questions for managers and more confidence for employees. “They know they can always find the answer in one or two clicks themselves. And that makes a difference, especially when you’re new.”

Today, all of Nadias onboarding is also handled in Ziik. And the shift to a digital-first onboarding process has already had an impact. The most recent group of new hires are the first onboarded entirely through Ziik. And all 10 came in better prepared than ever on their first day. “They’ve read all the books and files before they even start,” Joakim says. “You can tell they’re more ready for the job.”

Smooth onboarding and better first impressions

New employees are onboarded through Ziik from before their first day. No more paper binders or last-minute explanations. They’re welcomed into a clear structure that helps them feel safe and confident.

‍“You can tell the difference. They get up to speed quicker. And they’re more comfortable because they’re not guessing.”

A foundation for development and responsibility

Ziik also supports Nadias’ internal talent programme, or Nadias Academy, where selected employees are trained in leadership, conflict resolution, and more.

“We teach them how to handle pressure, take initiative, resolve conflict, and so on. Real skills that matter in any job.” And Nadias’ attention to employee development is working. Joakim sees the difference not just within the business, but in how the outside world views Nadias.

‍“People who've worked at Nadias are attractive to other companies. A job with us looks good on your CV. People know we take employee development seriously at Nadias.”

Clear communication across five stores and a catering business

Ziik’s role- and location-based messaging means each employee only sees what’s relevant to them, whether they’re working in the shop, in the kitchen, or delivering catering.

‍“You don’t need to know what’s happening at the other end of town. Ziik gives you what you need, nothing more.”

Fewer interruptions gives managers more time for people

Before Ziik, Joakim Nielsen and the other managers had to field a constant stream of small questions all through Nadias opening hours. Now, most of that information is self-service. ‍

“It frees up time. I can focus more on people, on culture, instead of chasing down answers,” says Joakim Nielsen, and adds: “Ziik simply makes it easier to run a business like ours.”

More engagement than on social media

To the team at Nadias, using a dedicated app for work just makes more sense than mixing it into their social media. “Social media is for fun. It doesn’t feel right to get work updates there. Ziik is more serious, but still friendly.” And the difference in engagement is dramatic: “I made a post about a Red Bull promotion this morning. Two hours later, 85% had responded. That wouldn’t happen in a Facebook group.”

Favorite Features

Familiar interface
Young employees feel at home with Ziik’s app-based interface.

Handbooks
Everything employees need to know, stored in one place, always updated. ”It’s a brilliant tool!”

Group chat
Great for fostering community feeling and company spirit.

Checklists
Everything from opening and closing procedures to hygiene self-monitoring or changing the frying oil has a checklist now.  ‍

High engagement & read receipts
Employees respond faster on Ziik than on social media, and read receipts make it clear who’s seen important messages.