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American Fastener Journal, July 2004

Educating employees about the features and benefits of your company's enterprise software solution can pay dividends. Knowledgeable employees work more efficiently and experience less job frustration, leading them to stay at their jobs for longer periods of time.

Implementing an effective solution-related education program should be relatively easy - especially if you partner with a technology company committed to providing you with a variety of educational resources. Because you need to focus on improving your bottom line and moving inventory efficiently, you should expect your technology partner to provide you with high-quality educational tools, along with guidance in developing a strategy for putting these tools to work.

Varying Coursework

As a distributor working in today's ultra-competitive marketplace, you know how important it is to get employees up to speed with your solution before they start working in your warehouse, with your general ledger, and especially with your customers. And, you also realize how important it is to invest in ongoing education to ensure that veteran employees are using more of the functionality available in your software solution.

But, you also understand that a one-size-fits-all approach to education does not work because different positions require different types of training. Your technology partner should understand this, too - and should offer a variety of resources to meet people's differing learning levels and business needs.

For example, your technology partner should offer material covering the basics of your solution for a newly hired accounts receivable clerk, and more advanced coursework featuring in-depth functionality for your CFO. And, because a customer service representative might need more information about order entry than your shipping manager, your technology partner should offer targeted resources for each. This way, all employees know what they need for optimal performance and productivity.

Different Tools for Different People

Different people learn best from different types of training. To accommodate individuals throughout your organization, your technology partner should offer a blended suite of coursework in a wide range of mediums.

For example, some of your employees might learn the most when they work independently. They would benefit from self-paced, individualized materials they can use on their own time. Other people might want to interact with an instructor and fellow students, and learn best from traditional classroom-style or group instruction. You should also have the option to work with a consultant, because one-on-one training is often the best solution for people inexperienced in distribution, or for a new executive or manager.

And, because your technology partner must understand that you need to watch your bottom line, they should be able to deliver any learning resource as cost-effectively as possible - like via the Web or reusable resources.

A Resource Roadmap

Once you know about the resources your solution provider offers, how do you know which tools - or combination of tools - are appropriate for your employees? Because you do not have time or money to waste, your technology partner should be able to assist you in developing a comprehensive training strategy. You should also expect assistance in determining which resources will work best for your employees. Your partner should offer this assistance through a team of experts or targeted diagnostic tests - or both.

Implementing an effective solution-related education program is not difficult - especially if you partner with a technology company that provides you with resources to teach employees how to use your solution to increase sales, improve customer service, and cut operating costs.

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