As a forward-thinking company and an existing Google Workspace customer, Secret Escapes were keen to fully leverage their investment and empower the team with the latest AI tools. The primary challenge was to build staff confidence in using AI for daily work, moving beyond the public familiarity with tools like ChatGPT to a more structured and secure corporate application.

Eirik Pettersen, Chief Technical Officer at Secret Escapes, explained the motivation:

"We wanted to leverage our Google Workspace investment and build staff confidence in using AI for work purposes to empower employees to utilise AI as an assistant for everyday workflows, increasing efficiency and allowing them to focus on higher-level, value-added tasks."

Initial employee surveys revealed a positive and curious workforce, but also highlighted "minor concerns revolving around how AI could specifically help them and its safety/security," according to Marek Serzeniewski, Project Manager at Secret Escapes. The company needed a partner to help provide a clear and secure path to AI adoption.

Netpremacy delivered a comprehensive "AI in Workspace" training program designed to establish a common understanding of AI and encourage the consistent use of Gemini across the business.

The program included sessions on various AI applications within Google Workspace, aiming to upskill employees and provide them with practical examples of how to use these tools effectively and securely. The training provided dedicated time and expert guidance, which was crucial for success.

The training consisted of practical, hands-on demonstrations and screen-sharing sessions, which, as Hayley van der Woude, Head of Internal Comms at Secret Escapes, noted, helped the information "sink in better." The program was designed to bring all employees to a common baseline of understanding, catering to varying levels of AI proficiency.

Hayley also praised the execution:

"The training process was 'slick' and 'professional’, with clear documentation and ease of coordination despite the project's complexity."

For Secret Escapes, bringing in external experts was a strategic decision.

"Leveraging external experts saved time and resources for our lean internal teams, ensuring the delivery of factually correct material in a timely manner and providing great value for money," noted Eirik Pettersen.

The training sessions, led by Netpremacy's trainers, were commended by Marek Serzeniewski as "excellent, clear, and well-delivered."

The AI training program was a resounding success, creating a significant and immediate impact on the workforce. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with Hayley van der Woude noting that in a preliminary survey, "an overwhelming majority rated the training four or five out of five."

The formal training proved far more effective than self-learning. It "fostered organic discussions among participants after sessions, which would not have occurred with individual self-study.’

Most importantly, the training delivered tangible proof of increased efficiency.

Eirik Pettersen shared a powerful example:

"We have concrete proof points. A team leader reported her team had saved an estimated 900 person-hours on a project by using AI."

This demonstrated a clear return on investment and solidified the initiative's value across the company

Following the initial training, Secret Escapes is focused on embedding AI into its company culture for the long term.

The next step, as outlined by Marek Serzeniewski, involves "establishing an AI community of practice to allow employees to share experiences, voice concerns, and express interest in further upskilling with AI."

This community will help the team "keep pace with Google's evolving AI roadmap and encourage continued learning and self-service among users."

The strong foundation established by the initial training has created a culture of excitement and curiosity, paving the way for deeper and more specialised AI integration in the future.