Scrimmage EXTRA: Special Edition Newsletter
Welcome To A Special Edition of Scrimmage EXTRA!
Observations From Training Magazine's Online Learning Conference - September 2017
Training Magazine’s 4th
Annual Online Learning Conference took place last week (9.25 to 9.27) in New
Orleans. This year, the attendance burgeoned to over 500 participants.
Scrimmage began its sponsorship three years ago, along with just about 250
attendees. At that time, conversations around mobile learning technology were
just beginning in many companies across most industries. Today, attendees not only want mobile
learning, but they also want the latest learning tools. Moreover, they want and seek solutions
through technology to the challenges that still remain.
What are these challenges and pain points? What are the real wants? And, looking forward, what are the trends for
corporate learning?
Today, challenges run the spectrum. First, there are various internal factors. Leadership buy-in is a prominent issue, but so is employee buy-in, as learning cultures remain murky, at best. This challenge also has implications in terms of attracting, engaging and retaining talent.
At the same time, the different LMSs/systems and different log-ins are another significant pain point for both users and admin. This lack of integration leads to confusion and low engagement. Moreover, there is a lack of flexibility with some content only available on a desktop, for instance. Likewise, reports are not robust with simple excel spreadsheets offering few insights for management, admin and learners.
Finally, there are the technology issues that many IT departments raise as roadblocks that add to the list of challenges, particularly when it comes to maintaining the various systems.
Throughout the many sessions and different conversations, it quickly became clear that the ideal solutions and learning trends were basically universal. Let’s take a look at them!
Mobile.
Learning must be enabled anywhere, on any device. Learning must be always-on and available 24/7.
Intuitive.
Learning must be easy for all technical backgrounds. Bottom line, the learning application, along with the access to learning, should not have to be learned. It must offer an ease-of-use capability.
Integration.
Learning needs to be integrated and centralized. Learning needs to have one touchpoint. Today, companies have amassed different LMSs, applications and systems that are often not mobile and not easily accessed on any device, everywhere.
A Social Component is A Must.
There must be an element of on-demand, real-time learning. Social tools are the vehicle and a must for development, for training, for learning. Plus, it sets a company apart to have the ability to answer questions instantly, share best practices immediately and offer spur-of-the-moment coaching opportunities.
Reporting Reinforces Learning.
By connecting learning to performance, it allows the learner to understand his/her accomplishments. It showcases best practices and uses. It enables further resources for the learner, as well as to expand your initiatives.
Plus, Minimize Corporate IT Involvement.
As your technology partner, Scrimmage is able to handle the security authentication and deployment, as well as the server needs, architecture and capacity for your learning. Moreover, we maintain 99.8% uptime for round-the-clock learning. These value-added services mean minimal involvement from IT departments.
The Scrimmage Mobile Learning Platform Incorporates All Of These Learning Wants And Trends NOW!
Through the use of our modern technology and APIs, Scrimmage takes (all of) your LMSs mobile and creates one touchpoint, one access point on any device. The Scrimmage mobile app is also intuitive, scalable, flexible and device agnostic, allowing for learning anytime, everywhere, in real time and on-demand. Likewise, Scrimmage offers several robust reporting features, including its newly released matrix reporting tool that visually shows real ROI.
For more information on these tools and technology in the workplace, please visit here.
Client Use Case: The New Frontier In Mobile Learning For Sales Training
For a Global Medical Device Firm, a 3-month Mobile Learning Program showed direct results between learning and actual sales performance. By leveraging Scrimmage’s mobile technology that is device agnostic, a training program was implemented for sales reps to access pertinent content anytime, anywhere. Debuting in Q4 ’16, the program offered its field sales reps diverse forms of content for every learning preference and modality (from static to dynamic modules), along with various Gamification challenges.
Two cohorts were evaluated on engagement and sales performance. In the following quarter, clear double-digit increase in sales (13%) was realized among the reps that completed the training program via Scrimmage's mobile app. Further, a classroom training investment of over $500,000 for live meetings were saved and 1,530 cumulative selling days were recovered with no time out of their territories.
More Awards!
Scrimmage Is Named To Training Industry's 2017 TOP 20 LIST OF TRAINING DELIVERY COMPANIES!
As Doug Harward, CEO of Training Industry, Inc. notes, “this inaugural Top 20 Training Delivery Companies List is a resource for organizations that need a delivery partner with extensive knowledge of learning technologies and a strong set of features and capabilities to bring their training content to life,” At Scrimmage, we are honored to be recognized and included on this esteemed Top 20 List.
Philanthropy News!
Scrimmage Gives Back with Backpack Challenge
Through our philanthropy arm, Scrimmage Gives Back, we teamed up with our clients across the U.S. to launch the 1st Annual Backpack Challenge in support of the Cradles to Crayons program, a nonprofit organization that provides children from birth to age 12 living in homeless, or low-income situations, with the essential items from clothing to school supplies. All backpacks and supplies were donated ahead of the new school year to the local Cradles to Crayons program in Philadelphia, home to one of four Scrimmage offices. The items have been distributed throughout Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The need for backpacks, school supplies and related items is year-round. In recognition of this demand, Scrimmage Gives Back is set to continue its support of Cradles to Crayons and launch its 2nd Annual Backpack Challenge in Spring 2018.
For more information on the Cradles To Crayons program, please visit, www.cradlestocrayons.org.
Scrimmage Supports Philadelphia Initiative - Diversity In Tech
Along
with Comcast, Scrimmage has partnered with the Philly Startup Leaders
organization to sponsor its 2nd Annual Diversity Dinner taking place
on October 25th at Bok in Philadelphia.
This gathering is an opportunity to address the diversity gap in the tech community, as a whole, and to talk about the challenges, share best practices, as well as celebrate the positive aspects of being in the tech world. A collaborative discussion will be among other tech start-up leaders, corporate representatives and local civic leaders, including Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney. For more information on the event and to join us, please click here: https://psl.ticketleap.com/diversitydinner/?utm_content=buffer3c5bf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
More Fall Conferences - Coast To Coast - Join Us!
October 18-19 – LTEN’s Medical Device & Diagnostics Summit, Baltimore, MD
November 5-9 - Dreamforce, San Francisco, CA
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About Scrimmage:
SCRIMMAGE is a modern technology firm featuring the latest mobile learning, engagement and collaboration tools serving global businesses from Fortune 100 companies to SMBs. The company works closely with its clients to build a customized, scalable and secure platform for all static and dynamic content, along with a full suite of award-winning learning solutions, including gamification, social collaboration and robust data reporting. Founded in 2010, Scrimmage has enjoyed over 525M platform interactions on a worldwide basis to more than 50 enterprise clients across a spectrum of industries. To Demo the mobile platform, please click here.
About the author:
Sharon Steeley
Sharon is Vice President, Marketing and Communications located in the Philadelphia office.