We partnered with Bauer Media to design and roll out Microsoft Viva Engage as a trusted platform for two‑way internal communication. The focus was on enabling open conversation, leadership visibility and community connection — while ensuring robust governance and long‑term sustainability.
Case Study Summary
- Bauer Media introduced Microsoft Viva Engage as a central platform for two-way internal communication, giving employees a space to participate in conversations rather than just receive updates
- Internal Communications and IT worked closely together to design a solution that balanced engagement with governance, ensuring conversations remained open but well-managed
- Communities were structured around people, roles and shared interests, helping drive meaningful interaction across teams, countries and business units
- Adoption was supported through training, content planning and clear governance from day one, enabling strong engagement and long-term sustainability
About Bauer Media
Bauer Media Group is one of Europe’s leading media companies, with around 12,000 employees working across publishing, radio, TV and digital brands, spanning multiple countries and business units.
Like many organisations of this scale, Bauer Media had already invested in building a more connected digital workplace. Its myBauer intranet brought together news, tools and resources into a single, personalised experience, helping employees access the information they needed day to day.
However, as the organisation continued to grow, a familiar challenge remained: ensuring internal communication could truly cut through.
Microsoft-recognised approach
Showcase & External Recognition
Bauers’ approach to Viva Engage was highlighted in a Microsoft masterclass, showcasing how organisations can enable open conversation while maintaining strong governance.
Watch the full webinar on YouTube.
The Challenge
Internal communication at Bauer Media was complex. Employees were receiving updates across multiple channels, including Teams, email and the intranet – the majority of which were one-way, broadcast messages
As part of their work towards the “One Bauer” ambition, Bauer Media set out on a major digital workplace transformation. With big milestones already ticked off, including a new myBauer intranet and a personalised news capability, the team sought to solve the next challenge: two-way comms.
As the organisation approached its 150th anniversary the need to strengthen connection and shared identity became even more important.
Teams wanted more than broadcast updates. They needed a space where people could ask questions, join discussions and feel part of something wider without introducing new tools or increasing risk around governance and compliance.
Microsoft Viva Engage presented a timely opportunity to support this shift – from one-way communication towards a more open, participative and connected employee experience.
The Approach
We worked closely with Bauer Media’s Internal Communications and IT teams to ensure Viva Engage was designed around real behaviours, priorities and governance needs.
Our approach focused on:
- Aligning IC and IT from the outset to balance engagement with control
- Running in‑depth workshops to shape the platform experience
- Designing communities with people in mind, not just organisational structure
- Embedding governance, moderation and support processes from day one
The rollout was aligned with Bauer Media’s 150th anniversary celebrations, helping position Viva Engage as a meaningful, long‑term communications channel rather than a standalone tool.
The Solution
Microsoft Viva Engage
Creating a trusted space for conversation
Bauer Media introduced Viva Engage as their dedicated platform for open, two‑way communication — integrated into existing Microsoft 365 tools and secured through Entra ID.
This means employees can join conversations naturally, without needing to adopt additional platforms or workflows.
Governance and moderation by design
To give teams confidence in opening up dialogue, we delivered a robust governance framework, including:
- Structured moderation workflows with keyword flagging and escalation paths
- A clear decision tree for handling reported content, from immediate action to HR‑led review
- Defined roles and responsibilities for Community Admins, Internal Comms and reporting individuals
For European compliance requirements, including German Workers’ Council considerations, the Viva Engage network was reprovisioned into the EU geo to support data residency and governance expectations.
Community design and adoption support
To ensure communities felt active and purposeful from launch, we supported Bauer Media with:
- Conversation starters, pinned content and imagery
- Practical adoption approaches, including the 3‑2‑1 engagement rule for leaders
- Targeted training for Corporate Communicators and Community Admins
- Tailored service desk support for ongoing queries
This approach ensured Viva Engage is actively used and confidently managed, long after launch.
Results & Benefits
The Viva Engage launch delivered immediate and meaningful outcomes:
Increase in Engagement
An increase in post impressions and visible engagement through replies, reactions and participation.
Multi-national Shared Space
A shared space for cross‑functional conversation across teams, countries and roles.
Improved Confidence in Governance
Greater confidence for IC teams to enable discussion without compromising governance
Beyond engagement signals, Bauer Media now has a sustainable platform that supports connection, transparency and leadership visibility at scale. The rollout was also recognised externally, with Microsoft highlighting Bauer Media’s approach as best practice during a Viva Engage Masterclass. Watch the full webinar on YouTube.
What This Enables Next
With Viva Engage now embedded and growing, Bauer Media is well positioned to continue evolving its internal communications — strengthening connection, encouraging participation and supporting a more engaged employee culture across Europe.
