How Areas enabled 300 temporary staff to train in record time with instant access to learning from day one

Areas, a major player in travel catering, needed to implement an express onboarding program to train and prepare 300 temporary workers across 25 locations ahead of the 2018 Paris Motor Show.

The traditional solution — more than 30 classroom training sessions — would have required a complex logistical setup that simply could not meet the timeline.

With Beedeez, Areas deployed a mobile learning program in just 10 days:
200 temporary workers trained (67% adoption), an 88% completion rate, and 81 hours of training delivered, all while keeping costs under control.

→ Proof that large-scale express onboarding is not only possible, but highly effective — even in an operational emergency.

Context: large-scale hiring for an event

Areas is the world’s third-largest travel catering company. Operating in more than 10 countries, the company primarily runs restaurants in airports, train stations, and highway service areas, offering everything from quick-service concepts to more traditional dining experiences.

Operating under tight deadlines is part of the industry. Large-scale events frequently require companies to recruit temporary workers and contractors who must become operational within just a few days.

Four major challenges for Areas

• ❌ Urgent mass recruitment: 300 temporary workers to recruit and train before the Paris Motor Show
• ❌ Multi-site deployment: 25 restaurants to operate simultaneously
• ❌ Extremely tight timeline: near-immediate onboarding with only about 10 days between decision and event
• ❌ No compromise on operational and regulatory standards: training had to include operational procedures, hygiene, safety, allergen management, and Areas service standards

The challenge: training 300 temporary workers without classroom sessions

Given the time constraints, Areas quickly ruled out traditional classroom training. Training 300 temporary workers would have required:

• 30+ training sessions
• 30 trainers mobilized simultaneously
• Dedicated training venues
• A significant budget (rooms, trainers, logistics)
• Several weeks of organization, incompatible with the event timeline

A highly constrained environment

• Very diverse profiles: temporary workers, contractors, short assignments
• Mandatory compliance training: hygiene, safety, allergen management
• Multi-site deployment: 25 locations to coordinate
• Fixed deadline: opening of the Paris Motor Show

A potential operational risk

Without a rapid solution, Areas risked being unable to guarantee its service quality during a major event.

→ The stakes were twofold: operational continuity and brand reputation during a high-visibility event.

An express deployment of the Beedeez LMS

Areas chose a direct approach: deploy Beedeez in real conditions, directly to the 300 temporary workers recruited for the event.

1. Full autonomy thanks to the Beedeez LMS authoring tool

The Areas training team created their own content:

• Training modules designed internally
• Simple and intuitive authoring tool
• Learning path of approximately one hour
• 95 operational skills covered

“With a learning path of about one hour and modules created directly by our team using the Beedeez authoring tool, we were able to deliver the key knowledge people needed to start their job in the best possible conditions.”
Jean-Michel Demée — Head of Digital Learning

2. Mobile-first learning for immediate adoption

• Direct download on each worker’s smartphone
• Training accessible anywhere
• No equipment required
• Zero logistical complexity

“We highlighted the convenience they could gain from having this app available to prepare for their role.”

3. Gamification and rewards to motivate temporary workers

• Engaging learning environment
• Learner challenges
• Final reward (driving experience gift boxes)
• Learning paths enriched throughout the event

Results: 200 temporary workers trained in record time

Key metrics

• 67% adoption (200 out of 300 workers)
• 88% completion rate
• 4,899 minutes of training delivered
• Mobile learning sessions lasting just a few minutes per day
• Measurable results within days

Three major impacts

1. Ultra-fast deployment: days instead of weeks

In a context where classroom training would have required weeks of preparation, 30+ sessions, 30 trainers, and dedicated venues, Beedeez enabled a go-live in just 10 days.

2. More than 200 temporary workers trained with controlled costs

“With a minimal budget, we managed to reach 200 of the 300 temporary workers, and we are very satisfied with the result.”
Jean-Michel Demée

The savings compared to classroom training (trainers, venues, logistics) were significant, while maintaining high standards for operational content.

3. 88% completion rate despite a temporary workforce

Temporary workers are traditionally difficult to engage due to:

• short assignments
• low long-term commitment
• highly diverse profiles

An 88% completion rate demonstrates that the combination of mobile learning, short formats, and gamification can effectively engage even the most transient audiences.

Keys to success

1. An intuitive authoring tool = full autonomy and faster deployment

Areas teams created their training modules themselves (95 operational skills covered in a one-hour learning path), without relying on external providers.

The Beedeez authoring tool enabled rapid content creation and quick deployment.

→ Result: no external dependency and production in just 10 days.

Takeaway: When teams can create training content independently, deployment timelines can be reduced by 3 to 5 times.

2. A mobile-first approach removes friction

Temporary workers downloaded the app directly onto their smartphones.

→ No equipment to provide, no classrooms to organize, no complex logistics.

Training became immediately accessible anytime, anywhere.

Takeaway: Mobile-first learning removes the traditional logistical barriers to training and accelerates adoption.

3. Gamification drives engagement among temporary staff

Learner challenges combined with attractive rewards transformed training into a positive competition.

→ Result: an 88% completion rate among a typically difficult-to-engage audience.

Takeaway: For temporary workers (seasonal staff, contractors, short-term hires), gamification is not just entertainment — it is a powerful driver of learning engagement.

Testimonial – Jean-Michel Demée

“With a learning path of about one hour and modules created directly by our team using the Beedeez authoring tool, we were able to deliver the key knowledge people needed to start their job in the best possible conditions.

We showed them the convenience of having the app available to prepare for their role. It made the experience much more comfortable.

With a minimal budget, we managed to reach 200 of the 300 temporary workers, and we are very satisfied with the result.”
Head of Digital Learning – Areas Headquarters

‍

Discover how Beedeez can deploy mobile training in just a few days for your event, seasonal, or temporary workforce 👉 Request a personalized demo