How BigMat increased training engagement 20× across its network of 320 stores

BigMat France is a leading distributor of construction materials.
The network brings together 92 independent entrepreneurs, 320 stores, and more than 3,000 frontline employees working across the country.

Despite this strong collective network, one key lever remained largely untapped: the training platform. Although designed to strengthen employee skills, it struggled to reach its audience. On average, only 10 learners were actively using the platform each month across the entire network.

The platform was already deployed and offered a solid foundation of training content. The real challenge was animating the platform and building an engagement strategy capable of mobilizing employees in the field. By working closely with the BigMat teams, Beedeez helped revitalize the platform and make training easier to access and more relevant for day-to-day work.

With Beedeez, training at BigMat took on a new dimension: 200 active learners per month (up from 10), an 85% completion rate, and no mandatory training requirements.
This proves that when learning is relevant, practical, and accessible, employees naturally adopt it.

The context: training across a network of 320 stores and 3,000 employees

BigMat France employs 3,000 people working on the frontline every day.

In a sector undergoing rapid transformation — increasing regulations, accelerating energy transition, and diverse regional practices — continuous skills development has become essential to maintaining performance and competitiveness across the network.

However, several challenges had to be addressed:

• ❌ Very low platform adoption: only 10 active learners per month and 137 active users per year across a community of 3,000 employees
• ❌ A digital training strategy still in its early stages: the platform was used occasionally, accounts were created on demand, and internal communication around training remained limited
• ❌ A highly distributed workforce: with 320 stores and many frontline employees without access to a fixed computer, training needed to be accessible on mobile
• ❌ Complex industry challenges: energy renovation, constantly evolving regulations, and strict Qualiopi certification requirements made skills development critical for staying compliant and competitive

Before 2023: a platform that almost no one used

When Marie Helin, Head of HR Development, joined BigMat in March 2023, the Beedeez platform was already in place. However, its potential remained largely untapped due to the lack of a structured engagement strategy.

At the time:

• Only 10 learners logged in each month on average
• Just 137 active learners per year out of 3,000 employees
• Accounts were created on request, without a strategy for large-scale adoption
• No performance tracking and no personalized communication

❌ A clear missed opportunity: without visibility or internal promotion, the training platform’s potential remained largely unused. It was also difficult to ensure that frontline teams were mastering key topics relevant to the network.

The solution: a “Flash Training” strategy and continuous platform animation

Marie and Alice, who leads training initiatives, quickly identified the main lever for change: the challenge was not the tool itself, but how it was animated and integrated into employees’ daily routines.

As Marie explains:

“Beedeez is particularly well suited to our retail network challenges. In a construction materials distribution branch, there isn’t always a computer available to access training. But everyone has a smartphone in their pocket. So people can easily train whenever they have the opportunity.”

Three key pillars structured the relaunch:

1. Flash Training: building a simple and effective learning routine

• 1 to 2 new training modules published each month
• Short, easy-to-consume content designed for busy frontline teams

→ Over time, this creates a sustainable learning habit.

2. Close collaboration with BigMat’s field experts

• Subject-matter experts directly involved in content creation
• Topics aligned with real operational needs: energy renovation, regulations, and technical expertise

→ Training content remains relevant, practical, and aligned with Qualiopi standards.

3. Mobile-first learning for frontline employees

• Training modules fully accessible on smartphone
• Employees can learn between customer interactions or directly in store

→ Knowledge and best practices can circulate easily across the 320 stores in the network.

Results: before vs. after

Three major impacts

1. Massive voluntary adoption (20× growth)

BigMat increased from 10 to 200 active learners per month without making training mandatory.
When learning is relevant, accessible, and well communicated, employees adopt it naturally.

2. An exceptional completion rate (85%)

The 85% completion rate shows that the content is both engaging and useful. The Flash Training approach (1–2 modules per month) creates anticipation and establishes a sustainable rhythm without overwhelming employees.

3. A measurable business impact (+80% positive feedback)

More than 80% of surveyed employees reported that training had a positive impact on their daily work, helping them become more effective.

The platform also strengthens knowledge sharing across the network’s 320 stores, reinforcing collaboration and collective expertise.

What made the difference

Continuous animation rather than simple deployment

A learning platform without regular activity quickly becomes a dormant catalog. The Flash Training rhythm created a sustainable habit where none existed before.

Content co-created with field experts

Training modules address real operational needs. When content is directly relevant to daily work, engagement naturally follows.

Mobile-first learning for frontline teams

In construction materials stores, computers are not always available — but smartphones are. Making learning accessible on mobile removes the biggest barrier to adoption.

“I really appreciate the collaborative aspect. We have 320 stores and knowledge circulating across them. No matter where we are, we can share and learn from each other. It’s a way of capitalizing on the collective expertise of the network.”
Marie Helin — Head of HR Development, BigMat France

Discover how Beedeez can transform training adoption for your retail and construction teams.