How do you train employees quickly and effectively in a growing company? Shurgard, Europe’s leading self-storage provider, found the answer in game-based learning with Play it. Thanks to an interactive, digital approach, onboarding and safety training are now faster and more efficient. The result? Quicker learning, better retention, and greater engagement. Discover how Play it is taking Shurgard’s training to the next level!
Shurgard’s Expansion: Growth with a Mission
Shurgard is the largest self-storage provider in Europe, with locations in seven countries and a strong focus on urban areas where demand for storage space is high. While not everyone immediately recognizes the name, chances are you’ll come across Shurgard when moving or renovating. With 1.4 million square meters of storage space and an ambitious growth strategy—including recent acquisitions in the UK—the company continues to strengthen its position. But rapid expansion brings challenges, particularly in training and safety. How do you ensure that employees across all locations maintain the same high standards?
The Onboarding Challenge: How Shurgard is Training Smarter
As Shurgard grows, so does the need for efficient onboarding. With frequent acquisitions, new employees must quickly become familiar with the company’s processes. Consistency is key—every location must uphold the same high standards of safety and service. However, traditional training methods, such as classroom sessions and lengthy manuals, proved insufficient. Shurgard needed a flexible, interactive solution that would help employees learn faster, retain knowledge better, and apply it directly in practice.
More Flexibility, More Responsibility
Shurgard is increasingly investing in unmanned locations, offering customers more flexibility. However, without staff constantly on-site, new safety challenges arise. Daily inspections are essential to prevent risks such as break-ins, fires, floods, and hazardous storage. Employees must know exactly what to look for and how to respond quickly and effectively in case of incidents. Without proper training, small issues can quickly escalate. That’s why an effective, hands-on learning solution is crucial to maintaining safety across all locations.
A Comprehensive Safety Approach for Customers and Employees
At Shurgard, safety is a top priority—not just for customers but also for employees. Security goes beyond protecting storage units; fire prevention, flood risks, and hazardous materials are just as critical. Employees conduct daily inspections to ensure each facility remains safe and operational. Ergonomics is also a key focus—lifting heavy objects is not part of their job. Through strict safety protocols and a proactive approach, Shurgard minimizes risks and ensures employees can perform their tasks with confidence.
From Dull Manuals to Interactive Learning
Long manuals and static presentations? Those days are over. Shurgard found that traditional training methods no longer resonated with modern employees, especially younger generations accustomed to digital and interactive learning. Passive information intake leads to poor retention, whereas hands-on training ensures faster and better knowledge acquisition. Shurgard needed an approach that was short, dynamic, and effective—one that actively engaged employees and prepared them for real-world tasks. This realization led the company toward an innovative digital learning solution.
Game-Based Learning: The Solution for Modern Safety Training
Shurgard wanted more than a standard training program—they needed a method that truly worked. At a trade show, the team discovered Play it and was immediately intrigued by the impact of game-based learning. Studies show that this approach not only improves knowledge retention by 30% but also helps employees learn four times faster. This was exactly what Shurgard needed: an interactive, hands-on training method that was not only more effective but also more engaging and motivating. Together with Play it, they developed a virtual learning environment where employees can practice real-life scenarios, ensuring they feel confident in applying their skills.
Better Retention, More Confidence: The Impact of Interactive Training
Since implementing Play it, Shurgard has seen clear results. Employees find the training more engaging and enjoyable, but more importantly, they retain significantly more information. While traditional methods result in only 11% knowledge retention, this interactive approach delivers much higher rates. By training in a realistic virtual environment, employees master procedures faster and feel more confident in their roles. This is particularly valuable for critical topics such as fire safety and first aid. The enthusiastic feedback and high engagement levels prove that this method of learning truly works.
Why Shurgard Creates Its Own Training Content
With Play it Creator, Shurgard has full control over its training programs. This intuitive platform enables the team to quickly and easily develop new training modules or update existing ones. Within a single day, a complete new course can be ready—saving significant time. This flexibility is crucial in a fast-changing work environment where processes and safety regulations are constantly evolving. By creating its own training content, Shurgard ensures that employees always have access to the most up-to-date and relevant information. No long waiting times, no outdated materials—just immediately applicable, customized training.
How Shurgard Got 300 Employees Learning on Day One
The launch of Play it at Shurgard was a resounding success. Thanks to a well-thought-out rollout strategy—including teaser campaigns and internal communication—employees were immediately intrigued. The result? On the very first day, 300 out of 600 permanent employees logged in to explore the training. To ensure a smooth transition, Shurgard opted for a phased rollout: starting with the core modules, followed by additional courses like cybersecurity. This allowed employees to gradually familiarize themselves with the new learning environment. The combination of a playful approach and a strategic implementation led to rapid adoption and high engagement.
The Future of Learning at Shurgard: This is Just the Beginning
The success of Play it has inspired Shurgard to explore even more possibilities. Beyond internal employees, the company now wants to extend game-based learning to external parties such as visitors and truck drivers. With Play it Creator, they can easily develop customized modules, from interactive visitor tours to safety briefings with realistic scenarios. Additionally, Shurgard is exploring ways to integrate training data with a Learning Management System (LMS) or federal learning accounts to track and optimize learning progress. One thing is clear: Shurgard will continue to innovate, making learning smarter, more accessible, and more impactful.
