Esri DECH chooses the flexibility of Totara Learn for its new digital learning platform

Esri Germany is a technology provider for location intelligence and GIS (geographic information systems). The company was founded 1979 and has offices in Germany and Switzerland. It is part of Esri worldwide, which is the global market leader in GIS software.

The Challenge 

Esri operates in a very specialised field, employees need specific training and well-structured onboarding, and customers as well need to be trained to use their software.

Already having extensive training content, they wanted to bundle their knowledge – ranging from onboarding courses to new learning formats for product-specific training – in one user-friendly platform and deliver the content to their target groups being colleagues as well as customers. The new system had to integrate smoothly into Esri’s existing IT architecture.

A short implementation time was important to Esri DECH, as well as having a platform that can be extended with time – with features, plugins and integrations and additional modules, e.g., for more engagement and social learning.

The Solution

Esri DECH decided to implement Totara Learn together with LearnChamp. The short and smooth implementation process gave Esri DECH the opportunity to get started quickly with their platform. For a true Esri look & feel, Totara partner LearnChamp implemented a custom theme and added a few custom blocks to provide the learners with all features they need. 

Today Esri’s Learning Management System focuses on blended learning programs combining a variety of self-paced learning content accompanied with short trainer seminars – using the whole range of possibilities that Totara offers.

Learning can be accessed at any time allowing learners to tailor their learning to their individual needs and schedules, thus, transforming the way employees as well as customers are learning and helping Esri DECH reach more people at the same time.

Given Totara’s flexibility Esri DECH already has various plans to extend the platform in future – together with LearnChamp as their trusted partner.

Results

• A User growth of 400% since the GoLive.
• More than 60 different interactive courses and offerings, focusing on strong collaboration and feedback from employees, customers, and partners. Totara gave the perfect basis for Esri to focus on content and content creation process.
• Allow learning from anywhere – bitesize content, gamification and learning on the go, in order to achieve high user engagement.
• Scalable system, prepared to welcome new colleagues, partners and customers.
• A Multi-language setup.
• Strong focus on brand recognition. Achieving high user satisfaction using mostly standard functionalities of Totara, with only few minor adjustments.
• Growing number of programs and certifications, with and without trainers, providing learners with a well-structured onboarding as well as the possibility to get certified for the specific systems and products.
• Use of the whole range of formats available with Totara – e-learning courses, seminars, webinars, video tutorials, exercises, quizzes etc.

• Use of badges for additional motivation.
• Reduced manual administration, by e.g., using SSO, HR Import with custom fields to enroll users into audiences and thus into relevant courses.
• Integration with analytics and CRM platforms. Advanced analytics in order to learn how the learning in the organization impacts its processes, teams and customers.
• Cutting training costs, saving effort and time on administration work and increase of the online presence of Esri and its products.
• Offering a higher variety of learning formats to meet customer and employee needs.
• With the blended learning programs, it is possible for Esri to accompany many customers at the same time during software changes and provide suitable training for them.