No one knows more than the team at SEAK
How Globetrotter has been managing 16 outdoor retail locations and 1,100 employees with SEAK since 2006 — workforce scheduling, time tracking, access control, and self-service, all in one
Globetrotter at a Glance
Globetrotter is one of Europe's largest outdoor retailers — founded in Hamburg in 1979 and today part of the Swedish Fenix Outdoor International group. With immersive, experiential retail environments, a strong commitment to sustainability, and a quarterly magazine reaching 400,000 readers, Globetrotter is a defining brand in the outdoor industry.
Team
Around 1,100 employees, including shipping staff, at the Ludwigslust logistics site
Locations
16 locations across Germany
SEAK customer since 2006
Workforce scheduling, time management, access control, employee self-service portal – Mobile shift planning and team performance monitor coming soon
Numbers, Data, Facts
Locations across Germany, managed with SEAK
Employees incl. Logistics Site Ludwigslust
Manages Globetrotter Workforce Management with SEAK
The Challenge
Following the acquisition by Swedish conglomerate Fenix, corporate management raised the bar: data-driven decision-making, clear budget-versus-actual comparisons, and standardized KPIs across all locations. At the same time, HR administration in the branches was mired in a time-consuming paper-based system of forms and binders.
Three specific pain points were holding the business back:
Data-Driven Control Required
Changes in the shareholder structure made data-driven business management more critical than ever.
Paper Trail
Time-consuming manual administration and a lack of transparency across vacation requests, booking corrections, time entries, and hour adjustments.
Lack of Transparency
Staffing, working hours, days off, and absences — visibility was limited and the risk of errors was high.
Omid Soltani – Head of Workforce, Retail – Globetrotter
"The software's analytics features and budget-vs-actual comparisons bring real clarity and enable better decision-making. That proved invaluable after we were acquired by the Swedish Fenix Group — our parent company places great emphasis on data-driven business management."
The Decision: An 18-Year Partnership
Globetrotter has been working with SEAK since 2006. What makes the partnership work: a customer satisfaction-driven philosophy at its core, a management team that's always personally reachable, and software built with genuine depth and breadth of retail expertise. As Soltani puts it: "No one comes close to the people at SEAK when it comes to the breadth and depth of their retail knowledge.
The Solution: Workforce Management, Time & Attendance, Access Control, MSP
Globetrotter uses the full versions of Workforce Scheduling, Time Management, and Access Control. In 2018, the Employee Service Portal was added — providing a self-service solution for requests, corrections, and balance/leave inquiries. Shift planning is handled by Sales Unit Managers (department heads across the branch locations).
What the software actually covers
Right quantity, right location, right cost
The software schedules the right number of employees at the right time, in the right place, and at the right cost.
Plan vs. Actual Analysis & Reporting
Comprehensive analytics with plan-vs-actual comparisons – delivering clarity and enabling smarter decisions.
Qualifications & Features
Employee qualifications and required roles are automatically factored into every scheduling decision.
Contract & Preferences
Contracted hours and personal preferences are built into the scheduling process.
Workforce Time Management
Capture and evaluate working hours as the foundation for payroll, controlling, and employee self-services.
Access Control
Controlled and documented access to functional areas and restricted zones — fully integrated into the platform.
Employee Service Portal
Web-based self-service portal: submit vacation requests, correct missed clock-ins, and check balances and leave entitlements — all from your smartphone.
Approval Workflow
Requests are approved by managers and automatically synced to time tracking.
Omid Soltani – Head of Workforce, Retail – Globetrotter
"The MSP is completely web-based and streamlines time-consuming processes such as vacation requests, missed clock-ins, schedule adjustments, and balance inquiries — making them faster and easier for everyone involved. This level of self-service empowers employees to manage their own needs, reducing the administrative burden on managers and HR alike."
The Result: What Has Changed Since Then
Greater Transparency, Better Decisions, Happier Employees
Control
Employee Satisfaction
Controls & Analytics
Operational Relief
Omid Soltani – Head of Workforce, Retail – Globetrotter
"Happy, engaged employees are your greatest asset. To get there, you need to involve them as closely as possible in the processes that directly affect them — and that's exactly where digital tools like MSP make all the difference."
Which components Globetrotter relies on
Omid Soltani – Head of Workforce, Retail – Globetrotter
"Invest in software that streamlines your processes, frees up valuable time, and delivers transparency across every level of your organization. It's worth it. The SEAK leadership team is deeply committed to ensuring everything runs smoothly — and that level of dedication is truly remarkable."
Let's talk about whether SEAK is the right fit for your business
In a 30-minute introductory call, we'll assess where your business stands today, identify which modules are the right priority for your situation, and outline a realistic implementation roadmap.
Alternatively, you're welcome to reach out via our contact form — we'll get back to you promptly. Or give us a call at: +49 40 238 348 – 000
The Trade Trusts SEAK
From fashion and food retail to building materials and specialist trade: retailers across Germany rely on SEAK to manage their workforce.
Outdoor Adventure Experiences Since 1979
Globetrotter was founded in Hamburg in 1979 as "Northern Germany's first specialist store for expeditions, safaris, survival, and trekking." Through a series of immersive, experiential retail concepts — some of them truly spectacular — Globetrotter has grown into one of Europe's largest outdoor retailers.
Sustainability is a core part of the company's DNA: a commitment to protecting nature and the environment, fair working conditions throughout the global supply chain, a reduced ecological footprint, and a steadily growing share of eco-certified products. A cornerstone of the company's marketing strategy is the Globetrotter Magazine, published quarterly with a circulation of approximately 400,000 copies.
Today, Globetrotter operates 16 stores across Germany and employs around 1,100 people, including staff at its logistics center in Ludwigslust. Its online store offers more than 35,000 products from over 1,000 brands. Globetrotter is part of the Swedish Fenix Outdoor International group.