JSC Rosagroleasing is a Russian agro-industrial leasing company that provides financial leasing of equipment and machinery for domestic agricultural enterprises. The company is the undisputed leader in the agricultural machinery leasing segment in Russia. In response to the need for import substitution and enhanced information security, Rosagroleasing decided to unify employee communication channels and switch to the domestic corporate messenger eXpress.
Background and Reasons for Implementation
Prior to the implementation of the corporate messenger, the company experienced fragmentation of communication channels. Different departments and employees used a variety of messaging and meeting platforms, from Skype to public messengers. This fragmentation led to numerous inconveniences: there was no unified information space for employees, difficulties finding necessary contacts and information, and security risks due to the use of foreign platforms with their own data transfer policies. The main reasons for switching to the domestic corporate messenger eXpress were:
- Import substitution: As a state-owned company, it was important for Rosagroleasing to abandon Western technologies and transition to domestic solutions in line with the state's commitment to digital sovereignty.
- Strengthening information security: Using foreign platforms such as Skype and WhatsApp (owned by Meta Corporation, which is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation) did not guarantee the security of corporate data or the confidentiality of correspondence.
- Unification of Communications: The need to create a unified space for employee communication across all departments with a familiar and user-friendly interface.
Thus, the eXpress platform became a solution that met the strategic goals of security, transparency, and technological sovereignty.
Key Requirements for a New Corporate Messenger
When selecting a messenger, the client set strict requirements:
- The solution must be a domestic product and operate on-premise, meaning it must be hosted and run on the company's own servers, excluding the use of cloud services.
- Up-to-date information security mechanisms and FSTEC certification.
- Quick authorization without having to enter multiple logins and passwords.
- Integration with the corporate directory for quick contact searches by department and job title.
- Functions for modern digital interaction: messaging in chats, calls and video conferences with screen sharing and background blur, user statuses.
- Connection of external partners and contractors with guest access to chats and video conferencing.
Project progress and team interaction
The implementation of eXpress at Rosagroleasing took place in several stages. The pilot launch began in late 2023 and took place in the company's IT department, where the product was tested by approximately 50 users. Following a successful pilot in early 2024, the messenger was scaled company-wide, with over 95% of active employees signing up within the first two months. Currently, over 500 Rosagroleasing employees use the messenger daily.
During the implementation of the new corporate messenger, a number of technical issues arose, which were successfully resolved thanks to the coordinated work of the company's IT specialists and the vendor's support team. The client notes that the technical support from the eXpress team was highly responsive and attentive to detail. This collaboration between the project teams significantly facilitated the adaptation process and made the transition to the new online space more comfortable.
Industry Specifics of Messenger Use in the Agricultural Sector
Rosagroleasing is actively experimenting with expanding the messenger's capabilities by creating intelligent chatbots and integrations based on SmartApps technology. For example, a chatbot has already been developed and implemented to automate the company's technical support work. This is a tool for interaction between internal systems that simplifies the work of specialized technical support departments. Based on instructions on the most frequently asked questions from internal customers, the bot provides users with comprehensive information, relieving the operational burden on specialized specialists.
The company is also developing solutions to automate customer service. The possibility of creating a smart app is being explored, in which specializedSales representatives could quickly, without leaving the messenger window, select equipment from the catalog and submit commercial proposals to clients, bypassing the internal CRM. For Rosagroleasing clients, this will ensure up-to-date product listings, maximum speed of feedback, and service delivery.
Finally, the client is interested in creating a smart app with management reporting monitoring for management, allowing them to track key business indicators online from a smartphone. Thus, the messenger becomes not just a means of communication, but a tool for supporting business processes in the agricultural sector.
Implementation Results
Rosagroleasing's experience implementing the domestic corporate messenger eXpress has demonstrated that there is a reliable solution to the challenges of import substitution and improving information security for Russian businesses. Thanks to certified security mechanisms, extensive capabilities, and the vendor's prompt technical support, eXpress has become a working tool for more than 500 company employees and a foundation for the further development of corporate communications and operational processes.
