More Than just work: Wibra’s Transformation from within

Do you know Dasty? Then you know Wibra! The popular cleaning spray is a well-known product in Wibra stores, but this retail chain is much more than just a place for practical and affordable products. Wibra is a leading retail chain in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, with nearly 300 stores and plans to expand to 350 by 2025. Founded in 1956 as a family business, it has grown to 3,500 employees, yet remains a true family company focused on development and innovation to secure its future. 

The challenge 

During onboarding, Wibra faced several issues. New employees received a 20-page paper onboarding booklet, but there was often no time to review it. In practice, employees were put to work immediately—behind the cash register, for example—without clear instructions. As a result, they felt insecure and quickly left. More than 75% of new employees quit within a few months.

Additionally, each store operated in its own way. The workflow in one store could be completely different from another, causing confusion, especially when employees temporarily worked at different locations. There was no uniformity in processes and work instructions. Moreover, Wibra lacked the capacity and resources to develop a complete training program in-house. The company did not have a dedicated Learning & Development (L&D) department, nor did it employ specialists in this field. Training mainly consisted of personal explanations by colleagues, which was not always effective. The need for a professional and structured learning environment kept increasing. 

The solution 

Wibra established an L&D department and looked for a flexible and cost-efficient learning platform that fit both its company culture and its workforce. It needed to be easy to use, relevant to daily practice, and help employees to quickly and effectively learn their jobs. After extensive research, Wibra selected Totara LMS as its learning platform. Additionally, Totara LMS enabled integrations with various retail training systems. The platform guides employees step by step through a structured six-week onboarding process, with short lessons of 5 to 10 minutes each.

Wibra integrated Totara LMS with various retail training systems, including:
• Skillstown (for soft skills and retail training) 
• L&D Fabriek (for safety and logistics) 
• Virtual SkillsLab (for cash register training) 
• Kompas Groep (for first aid and emergency response training) 
• AFAS (for personnel records) 
• Dyflexis (for time registration)

Additionally, Wibra collaborates with Samenwerking Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven (SBB), allowing practical instructors to access training as well. 

The results 

Since the launch of Totara LMS, an increasing number of employees have started using the platform. In Amsterdam, 250 employees participated in a pilot before the actual implementation, with 140 logging in within the first week. After the national rollout, 300 employees accessed the platform in the first weeks—representing 15% of all employees.

New employees now receive a clear onboarding experience. Managers can track which training modules employees have completed. Every month, new training modules are added. A key part of onboarding is the “Welcome to Wibra” module, where new employees are introduced through videos showcasing the distribution center, stores, and headquarters. They are also personally welcomed by the CEO. The original goal was set to be achieved within three months, but it was exceeded by 162% within just two months.

Beyond the mandatory modules, Wibra also offers optional training modules, which can be featured on the homepage. One of these modules, “Dealing with Aggression,” has already been completed by 7.6% of employees within two months.

Wibra aims to increase employee engagement. The goal is to improve employee satisfaction by 5% annually until 2028. Through these training programs, employees gain more knowledge and confidence. This allows them to better assist customers and makes working at Wibra a more enjoyable experience.