- Date: January 9, 2024
- Categories: Team & Collaboration
INTRODUCTION
Role
- Role: Sr. Product Designer
- Company: Rappi
- Team: B2B • Design Team
- Country: Global (9 countries)
Challenge
The B2B design team lacked collaboration and engagement, with minimal interaction, skill-sharing, or team-building, leading to siloed workflows and limited cross-team support.
Solution
Implemented Rappi Hour, a series of online team-building sessions to strengthen connections, improve collaboration, and integrate teams after the Box Delivery acquisition.
Impact
- Team Engagement: Increased participation
- Collaboration: Most of designers know who to approach for help.
- Morale Boost: Increased team satisfaction.
- Cultural Integration: Unified Brazilian and global teams.
THE STORY
The Challenge
Rappi’s design team, spread across multiple countries, operated in silos. The Brazilian culture’s emphasis on connection and camaraderie was missing in the global team. This lack of interaction hindered collaboration, left team members feeling isolated, and made it difficult to leverage the collective expertise of the group.
The Initiative
To strengthen team connections, I initiated Rappi Hour, a remote, cost-free program featuring creative activities, storytelling, and knowledge-sharing. Purposeful icebreakers encouraged sharing personal and professional insights, fostering collaboration in a distributed team.
CREATING CONNECTIONS
During one pivotal Rappi Hour, I focused on integrating the Brazilian Box Delivery design team with the global Rappi team. The acquisition had led to collaboration between these groups, but many team members had never met. To bridge the language barrier, I partnered with our UX Writer, who provided simultaneous translations to facilitate seamless communication. Activities included:
Introducing team members through storytelling and skill-sharing.
Collaborative problem-solving exercises to spark creative thinking.
Open discussions about cultural practices and design workflows.
One memorable Rappi Hour was the Halloween event, featuring a costume contest with prizes for the top three winners. Supported by HR, participants received low-cost Rappi credits to order food within a set budget. Voting categories included best, worst, and funniest costumes, adding fun and engagement while strengthening team bonds.
RESULTS
1.Enhanced Collaboration: Designers began reaching out to one another for feedback and assistance on projects, fostering a more collaborative environment.
2.Improved Team Morale: Surveys showed a 60% increase in team satisfaction related to interpersonal connections.
3.Cultural Integration: The integration of the Box Delivery and Rappi teams was a success, with participants expressing increased trust and familiarity.
4.Skill Awareness: By the end of the first quarter, 85% of team members reported knowing who to approach for specific design challenges.
Reflection
The Rappi Hour demonstrated that even small, cost-effective initiatives can have a significant impact on team dynamics and productivity. By addressing the root causes of isolation and fostering connection, the initiative strengthened the design team and laid the groundwork for continued success in a fast-paced environment.