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Competence development is so strategically important to us that it remains a budget priority, even when many other areas are cut. To reduce costs, we have, among other things, shifted more of our training to e‑learning instead of physical gatherings.  

Birthe Nordseth
OneCo

Facts 

  • Company Name: OneCo

  • Industry: Elektro, automation, telecom, technical insfrastructure 

  • Training neneds: : Onboarding, mandatory courses, competence development, etchical guidelines, cybersecurity.

OneCo is one of Norway’s largest electrotechnical groups, with just under 2,000 employees across Norway and Sweden. The company delivers services and projects within electrical engineering, automation, telecom, mobile, security, power, and technical infrastructure.

For an organisation with a large, distributed workforce, having the right competence is business-critical. OneCo therefore needed a solution that made it easier to deliver, follow up, and document training across disciplines, roles, and locations.

Through a close collaboration over ten years, XtraMile has become a key platform in OneCo’s work with onboarding, mandatory training, and the development of critical competence.

In this customer story, Birthe Nordseth, Executive Vice President for Organisation and Sustainability at OneCo, and Adam Dabrowski, responsible for process improvement and digital innovation, share their experiences of how OneCo uses XtraMile in practice.

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Left: Birthe Nordseth, Executive Vice President for Organisation and Sustainability

Right: Adam Dabrowski, responsible for process improvement and digital innovation

Summary of results

  • Efficient training for 2,000 employees across locations in Norway and Sweden

  • Better control of completion, documentation, and certifications

  • Easier onboarding and development of critical competence

  • More flexible training with less dependence on in‑person sessions


Addressing critical competence needs with XtraMile


Competence is business‑critical at OneCo.

Employees’ skills are a core part of the company’s value base, which is why training and competence development are strategic priorities. This remains true even in periods of cost pressure, where OneCo has chosen to protect its competence work while looking for more efficient ways to deliver training.

“When it comes to value, our people and their competence are decisive. We don’t have patents, machinery, or other similar assets. We have our people, and if they don’t have the necessary competence, we are effectively out of the market,” says Birthe Nordseth.

“Competence development is so strategically important to us that it is prioritised in the budget, even when many other things are cut. To reduce costs, we have, among other things, moved more training to e‑learning instead of physical gatherings. We can’t spend half a day travelling and half a day in a course,” she adds.

Effective training in a geographically dispersed organisation

OneCo’s employees are spread across many locations in Norway and Sweden, and a large share of the workforce works operationally at customer sites. This makes large‑scale classroom training difficult to deliver. It is therefore crucial that training can be made available in a way that fits into the workday, without losing impact or relevance. E‑learning is used as a practical way to reach employees across locations and work patterns.

“We have many operational employees who work out at our customers’ sites and are based in many different places in both Norway and Sweden. Bringing people together is expensive, because you have to take them out of production. On top of that, the geographical distances are significant,” says Birthe Nordseth.

“E‑learning becomes a way of being present in the everyday work. You get a small reminder of topics that are important,” she says.

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XtraMile covers multiple critical training needs

OneCo uses XtraMile for several types of training in the organisation. Across these use cases, they share the need for training that is easy to access, simple to follow up, and possible to roll out across departments and locations. The platform is used for mandatory training, development of critical competence, onboarding, and training when new systems are introduced. This means the solution addresses several concrete needs in the organisation, not just a single use case.

Mandatory training and regulatory courses

A key area is regulatory training and other courses the company is required to provide. This includes, for example, FSE courses, work at height, and similar training that must be completed regularly and documented. Here, XtraMile is used to centralise and distribute courses more efficiently and is used alongside in‑person sessions.

“One area is regulatory competence, such as FSE training, working at height, and similar courses we simply must have in place,” says Birthe Nordseth.


Developing critical competence and supporting onboarding

The platform is also used for more strategic competence development. This covers competence areas OneCo has defined as particularly important, such as project management, leadership, foreman (BAS) roles, and other key functions. E‑learning is therefore not only used for mandatory training, but also to build the competences OneCo needs over time.

“The second area is the more strategic part, the competences we have identified as critical for us: project management, leadership, BAS and other key roles in our organisation,” says Birthe Nordseth.

The platform is also an integral part of onboarding. New employees get access to relevant training early, so they are better prepared from day one. This makes onboarding more structured and ensures a more consistent introduction across the organisation.

“It works very well as an introduction. New employees receive the courses before they start, and this is received very positively. They are well prepared when they arrive,” Nordseth explains.


Training for new systems and technologies 

OneCo also uses XtraMile when new IT systems and work processes are introduced. In these situations, the platform is used to gather training materials and make them available together with webinars and other support content. This makes the solution valuable in change processes, not just in traditional course delivery.

“We have used XtraMile in connection with the implementation of new IT systems, such as a new HR and payroll system and a new travel expense system. We used XtraMile as the training platform, combined with webinars and other training materials,” says Birthe Nordseth.

At the same time, Nordseth emphasises that e‑learning works best in combination with other learning formats. For OneCo, it is important that digital training supports meetings, gatherings, and other follow‑up, rather than standing alone.


Scalable training with smart AI features

OneCo has employees with different roles, languages, and needs. It has therefore been important to have a learning platform that makes it easy to scale training and adapt content to different target groups. Adam Dabrowski highlights capabilities that make the platform easier to use in practice in a large organisation.


Multilingual courses and fast translation

For OneCo, it is valuable to offer courses in multiple languages, both to their own employees and other target groups. According to Dabrowski, the quality of translations has exceeded expectations, while the process remains fast and simple.

“The quality of the translations was incredibly good. It wasn’t old‑fashioned machine translation, but more context‑based AI translation. I was surprised by how fast and easy it was,” says Adam Dabrowski.

“We also tested languages such as Serbian and Lithuanian and received very positive feedback on the quality,” he adds.


Text‑to‑speech makes training more accessible

OneCo has also tested the text‑to‑speech functionality, which makes it possible to listen to course content instead of just reading it.

“I have rarely experienced such a natural text‑to‑speech model. It can actually be difficult to hear whether it is a synthetic voice or a real person reading,” says Adam Dabrowski.


Verification of practical tasks

OneCo is also exploring the feature for verifying practical tasks. This is particularly relevant in courses where practical skills must be documented in addition to theoretical knowledge.

“I have used other training platforms before, but I haven’t seen this type of functionality previously. It is very, very smart,” says Adam Dabrowski.

“The solution with QR codes and automatic registration is far better than manual messages and emails back and forth,” he adds.


Three reasons why OneCo succeeds with training


Intuitive and user‑friendly platform

For OneCo, ease of use has been a decisive factor. The platform must be simple both for employees taking courses and for those who design and administer the training.

“In the end, it comes down to being user‑friendly and simple. Training must be accessible, straightforward, and effective,” says Birthe Nordseth.

“The platform is very user‑friendly. I was able to figure out most of the features and build the entire course myself,” says Adam Dabrowski.


Full visibility into completion and documentation

Another key benefit is the level of insight the platform provides. In a large organisation, it is crucial to monitor who has completed which courses, send reminders, and maintain control over documentation and certificates.

“You have full control over completion rates, can send reminders, and follow up on responses. That is very useful. The certificate functionality also works very well,” says Adam Dabrowski.


Close collaboration with XtraMile

For OneCo, the value lies not only in the technology, but also in the partnership around the solution. The company describes its dialogue with XtraMile as close and constructive.

“We are listened to. We’ve had many requests over the years, and the most important thing is that we have had a good dialogue. XtraMile is very good at following up,” says Birthe Nordseth.


Results: More efficient training and better control

XtraMile has made it easier for OneCo to plan, deliver, and follow up training in a large and geographically dispersed organisation. The most important gains are:

  • Centralised training across locations, departments, and target groups

  • More efficient delivery of mandatory training and competence building

  • Better control over completion, documentation, and certifications

  • Easier follow‑up of employees through reminders and clear overviews

  • Improved access to training for employees working in the field




About OneCo

Founded in 2011, OneCo is today one of Norway’s largest electrotechnical groups. The company delivers services and projects within electrical engineering, automation, telecom, mobile, security, power, and technical infrastructure.

As of 2025, the OneCo group has just under 2,000 employees and a turnover of NOK 5.4 billion. The head office is located in Kristiansand, with business areas covering the whole of Norway and operations in several locations in Sweden.

 

 

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Image: From OneCo.no 

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