Inside Kion is a people-focused blog where we share what makes our culture thrive. Insights from behind the scenes, the values we live by, and the ways we keep our team connected, energized, and inspired.

Building relationships that fuel innovation, trust, and growth. How we connect, collaborate, and carry our values beyond our “walls.” In Part 1, we reflected on how our annual All Hands in Philadelphia helped deepen bonds across our remote-first team. In Part 2, we’re turning the spotlight outward, on how those same values shaped the way we connected with our customers.

Our culture thrives on connection. So this year, we asked ourselves: what if we extended that connection beyond our internal team? What if our customers could experience our culture firsthand – see the people behind the product, and share their stories directly with the Kioneers who build, deliver, and support their success every day?

That question led to one of the most meaningful moments of our entire All Hands: our first-ever Customer Panel.

Bringing this idea to life was a true cross-functional effort. Our People Operations team partnered closely with our Delivery & Support team, and Leadership team, throughout the planning process to thoughtfully select our customer attendees. The goal wasn’t just to find enthusiastic advocates. It was to invite customers across several regulated industries that use our product who could provide honest, constructive, and inspiring insight into what it means to work with Kion day-to-day.

Together, we designed an experience that would give our customers a voice and give our employees a chance to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful conversation.

On Day 2 of All Hands, the ballroom buzzed with energy as our customers took the stage. What unfolded wasn’t just a panel, it was a candid, authentic dialogue.

Kioneers asked the questions they’ve always wondered about:

• What do you love most about using Kion?
• Where can we do better?
• What’s on your wishlist for the future?

And our customers didn’t hold back! (Which we loved!) Their honesty was refreshing, their passion contagious. They shared stories of success, challenges overcome, and even a few feature requests that had our engineers taking notes. It was pure customer-driven innovation.

But the experience didn’t end with the panel. We wanted our customers to truly feel what makes Kion, Kion. The evening before the panel, they joined our CEO for dinner… what started as a formal meal turned into a spontaneous night out at Morgan’s Pier, where they met up with many other Kioneers. The night was complete with laughter, singing, and a few dance floor cameos.

By the end of the night, our customers weren’t just guests, they were part of the team.

The following day, after the panel, they stayed on to witness our first-ever Lux Awards, celebrating Kioneers who embody our core values. Seeing customers cheer alongside us as we recognized our peers was a powerful full-circle moment. Proof that culture isn’t something we just talk about; it’s something we live, and it resonates with everyone who experiences it.

At Kion, we believe culture and customer experience are two sides of the same coin. When employees feel connected, valued, and inspired, they bring that same energy to every customer interaction. Inviting our customers into our All Hands wasn’t just a feel-good moment, it was a strategic one. It deepened trust, sparked new ideas, and reminded us that our mission, making the cloud easier for everyone, isn’t just about technology. It’s about people.

As we reflect on Philly, we’re thinking about what’s to come. The customer panel reminds us that the most meaningful innovation happens when we listen deeply. To our people, our customers, and our community. And that’s what Inside Kion is all about. Sharing those moments of connection that make us better together.

Stay tuned for more stories from Inside Kion, where culture meets impact, and connection drives everything we do.