Bankwest streams ahead with Australian first

Bankwest has become Australia’s first financial services organisation to employ live events in Microsoft 365, reinforcing its reputation as a leader in using digital innovation to increase colleague engagement.

Bankwest operates live events through Yammer, providing users of the enterprise social network with real-time event streams, audio and conversation broadcasts housed within Microsoft's secure Office 365 environment.

The achievement follows Bankwest's recognition last year as a global leader in the use of Yammer (inaugural SWOOP Analytics 2018 Benchmarking of Yammer Networks), while its pioneering efforts had it invited to present at Microsoft's 2017 Ignite Conference in Orlando.

The live events in Yammer rollout began last week with a pilot presentation to about 100 Bankwest leaders, before an organisation-wide event for its 3500 colleagues across Australia.

Bankwest identified live events in Yammer as a key component in its Digital Workplace Strategy to support a flexible working culture for colleagues and help ensure a connected workforce.

Bankwest Senior Manager Digital Channels Matt Dodd said: "We're proud to again be a leader in this area, but it also simply reflects our desire to drive a culture of strong colleague engagement.

"Our aim is to provide great digital experiences for customers and we understand that in also doing that for colleagues, we enable, encourage and support them in delivering on that goal.

"We've been well-supported by Microsoft in creating a leading-edge digital workplace that supports our Agile way of working through new technologies, such as live events in Yammer.

"This achievement was a milestone for us with Yammer, but it also reflects our culture and drive for a collaborative, fully engaged – leaders included – open and transparent workforce."

Microsoft's Angus Florance, Senior Product Marketing Manager – Yammer, said: "Organisations are changing the way they work and it's important we develop tools to support them in that.

"Microsoft's mission is to empower organisations to achieve more and working with forward-thinking companies such as Bankwest around new technologies is an important part of that."