In today’s world, work transcends the walls of the physical office. At NN, we’re always looking for ways to make our processes more effective, efficient and flexible. New technology enables new ways of working, not confined to the office space or working hours. Now we can work wherever, and whenever we wish.
These developments have already resulted in a considerable amount of NN colleagues working from home. At the same time, it is important that our employees stay in touch with the organisation and stay connected to the NN brand. Wherever our employees are located, they should always proudly convey the NN brand story to all our clients, customers and partners.
We find numerous ways to keep our people connected to the organisation, using tools like the online workplace, our wallpaper and our intranet SAM. We make sure our employees experience the NN brand the same way we want them to convey it to our customers, using the same language, basic elements and tone-of-voice.
The visibility of the NN brand exceeds our logo on a building. As a caring and committed company, we want to remind people of the quality and services we provide in both the expected as well as in the unexpected moments and places. Just to let people know we’re always there to help them secure their financial futures.
For our employees this adds an extra dimension to the quintessential NN feeling. It reminds them that NN plays an important role in the lives of many and that they are part of this. Being in contact with the brand of the company they work for, on these unexpected moments, stimulates employee involvement and enstills a feeling of company pride.
Whether it’s a billboard, banners, flags, posters, signing or other NN outdoor communication, it establishes the strong position of our company. NN is everywhere. Our company plays an important role in society and our employees are an essential part of it.
Every day, our employees come to work in different ways and from different places. Whether it’s by car, foot or public transport, our goal is to always give all of them the same feeling entering our offices - a warm welcome to start their working day for NN.
It’s the waving flags and the logo on the building. It’s the branded entrance and the warm smile of the receptionist. It’s everywhere and all around us.
This thoughtful brand experience creates recognisable surroundings for clients as well as for our own people. It should spark that unmistakable NN brand feeling – human, clear and inviting. It makes our people proud to be part of the team and gets them ready for a fresh new day.
At our physical workplaces, our offices across the world, our employees make great efforts every day to bring our values to life and help NN grow as a company. By organising the work environment and processes in the best way possible, we create meaningful brand experiences on all levels of our organisation.
Although we want our employees to recognise the workplace as a typical NN environment, we do not distract them with blatant branding and messaging. Conveying our brand in these spaces is therefore all about finding the right balance. Through subtle internal branding we create an atmosphere of optimism and productivity.
The right way to do this is by abiding to our corporate identity. The look and feel of our interiors should adhere to our basic brand values: Care, Clear and Commit. We want to create open, transparent and multifunctional spaces; designs based on clear guidelines and interiors with a fresh, modern look with warm, natural materials.
At NN, we translate our open, transparent and functional office spaces into online workplaces. Our digital environment should be an equally pleasant experience and an extension of the physical NN workplaces.
The design and deployment of our online workplaces should be aligned with the guidelines. Our digital workplace is clear and easy to use. It is as functional as it is focused on engaging and connecting individual employees through their thoughts and ideas.
Enabling our people to do their job in the best way possible, creates the right energy and contentment that will be passed on to all other stakeholders – internal as well as external.
To create a coherent brand experience it is important that certain processes are streamlined, so that everybody experiences them in the same way. Documentation is typically one of those processes.
Files, forms and other paper documents are important elements of communication with our stakeholders. They form an efficient way to get comprehensive information across. Today, online forms are also becoming more important: whether on a laptop, tablet, and smartphone, on the web or via an app; all of our touch points should unmistakably have the NN touch.
Streamlining these into our guidelines gives NN a professional look and gives people a sense of trust in working with us. So whether it’s a form headed from the insurance division to a client or it’s a service-related letter going to a customer, the brand experience is consistently NN.
Whether it’s in meetings, presentations or any other form, presenting our ideas, results and solutions should be done in a consistent, professional and clear way. It’s one of the major sources of how NN is perceived by the people we work with.
The key to presenting our brand in the best possible way is optimising the combination of conveying the story (by the presenter) and visualising the information (in the presentation). All elements should connect and fit together, adding up to one consistent NN story.
The NN Visual Identity offers numerous elements to visualise and underline any story we want to convey. Think of illustrations, charts and tables, infographics, bullets and typography, etcetera.
Sponsoring has always been an important element for NN, since it’s a tangible way to communicate and show what we as a company stand for. The visibility of these endeavours makes sponsoring a vital element of the NN brand experience.
Every sponsorship needs to be aligned with the NN values and needs to express how we as a company operate. Running is exactly such an activity. With its focus on a healthy lifestyle, accepting new challenges and setting clear goals, running ties in with our values and our mission to help people create better, healthy and fruitful lives for themselves and those around them.
The initiative Your miles matter is a good example of how sponsoring activities add to the total NN brand experience. This website lets runners set personal goals and involve friends, colleagues and family to support them. Your miles matter is also executed internationally.