Building a Connected Workforce with Viva Engage
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As a leading Microsoft partner, Valto is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements to deliver the best possible guidance to its clients.
When Microsoft Viva Engage was released, Valto recognized a unique opportunity—not only to enhance its own internal communication processes but also to become one of the first to adopt the employee engagement platform.
By gaining early, in-depth experience with the product, Valto aimed to guide customers through best practices, ensure a smooth adoption experience, and help them avoid common challenges.
This case study highlights Valto’s journey as a “Customer Zero” for Microsoft Viva Engage, focusing on the challenges encountered, the solutions implemented, and the measurable results achieved.

During Valto’s adoption of Microsoft Viva Engage, several key challenges arose:
Many employees at Valto were accustomed to existing communication tools and platforms, leading to some initial reluctance to embrace a new platform like Viva Engage. Convincing them to switch from familiar methods to a new tool required a shift in mindset and overcoming the resistance to change.
As Viva Engage is designed to foster connection and collaboration, it was crucial to ensure that employees actively used the platform instead of reverting to their previous methods of communication. Maintaining engagement levels was a challenge, as the success of Viva Engage depended on it becoming a central part of daily interactions among team members.
Additionally, Valto faced challenges in training employees across its diverse teams. Different groups had varying levels of familiarity with Microsoft tools, which made it difficult to design a training program that catered to both beginners and advanced users alike. Creating a tailored approach to meet these diverse needs was essential for effective adoption.
Valto also needed to ensure that the new platform aligned with the company’s culture of openness and collaboration. It wasn’t enough for Viva Engage to function as a communication tool; it had to reflect the values and principles that defined how Valto’s teams interacted and shared information.
Lastly, since Viva Engage is intended to complement the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem, seamless integration with existing tools like Teams and SharePoint was critical. Ensuring that Viva Engage fit smoothly into these workflows was essential for maintaining productivity and avoiding disruptions during the transition.
Valto approached the adoption of Microsoft Viva Engage with a strategic plan to overcome the challenges we faced.
The leadership team communicated the vision and benefits of Viva Engage early on, highlighting how it would create a more connected workplace. By involving employees in discussions about how the platform could support their work, Valto minimized resistance to change and fostered a sense of ownership over the new tool.
To encourage active participation, Valto introduced initial engagement campaigns within Viva Engage, such as recognition programs and “shout-outs” for team achievements. These activities helped create a positive association with the platform and made it more appealing for employees to use regularly.
Recognizing the diverse skill levels within the organization, Valto created a tailored training plan for Viva Engage, offering different levels of training sessions based on team members’ familiarity with Microsoft tools. These sessions included interactive demos, hands-on workshops, and Q&A forums, ensuring that every employee could confidently navigate and utilize the platform.
Valto also customized Viva Engage’s channels to reflect the company’s core values, creating dedicated spaces for sharing success stories, celebrating wins, social communities and discussing company initiatives. This approach helped align the platform’s use with the company’s collaborative culture.
Lastly, Valto’s Modern Workplace team worked closely with all stakeholder to ensure that Viva Engage was seamlessly integrated with existing Microsoft 365 tools like Teams and SharePoint. This allowed employees to access Viva Engage’s social features directly from their regular workflows, making the transition to the new platform as smooth as possible.
Proactive Communication and Change Management
Incentivizing Early Engagement
Customized Training Programs
Integrating Company Values into the Platform
Seamless Integration with Existing Tools

The deployment and adoption of Microsoft Viva Engage quickly demonstrated value for Valto in several ways.
By creating a centralized space for team discussions and knowledge sharing, Valto reduced the number of internal emails by 30%, making it easier for employees to access important information and updates.
Viva Engage’s integration with Microsoft Teams helped improve cross-departmental communication, allowing teams to collaborate more effectively on shared projects and initiatives.
The focus on using Viva Engage to celebrate employee achievements and share success stories strengthened Valto’s company culture, leading to higher morale and a greater sense of community.
The investment in Microsoft Viva Engage provided clear benefits for Valto, including increased productivity.
By streamlining internal communication and reducing time spent searching for information, Valto estimated a 15% increase in productivity across key teams.
Additionally, the enhanced focus on recognition and community-building through Viva Engage contributed to a 10% increase in employee retention rates over the first six months.
As one of the first to adopt Viva Engage, Valto was able to offer valuable insights and proven strategies to its clients, further solidifying its position as a trusted advisor in Microsoft 365 adoption.
“Our successful adoption of Microsoft Viva Engage has transformed the way we communicate and collaborate. By prioritizing employee engagement and fostering a culture of recognition, we’ve not only strengthened our internal connections but also positioned ourselves as trusted advisors for our clients. This initiative is a testament to our commitment to innovation and our belief in the power of technology to enhance workplace culture.” – Alex Karolemeas, COO