EnerSys is the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, providing reserve power, batteries, and accessories to customers worldwide. EnerSys solutions are leveraged across a wide range of industries, from military and aerospace to telecommunications, industrial vehicles and medical devices. EnerSys’s batteries even helped power the Galileo spacecraft that spent 14 years in space exploring Jupiter. When the company decided to launch a global employee training program, it sought a partner that could provide course content with a global reach.
Create a global learning culture
The company’s 11,000 employees work in 30 countries and in 18 languages, but until it implemented OpenSesame, EnerSys did not have a centralized, formal training program. “We had pockets of training across the organization, but nothing cohesive or formalized,” recalls Drew Krajewski, Director of Global Training & Development for EnerSys. “We wanted to create a truly global learning culture spanning locations and languages. OpenSesame has the largest elearning course catalog and provides it at the best available value.”
5,000
courses accessed as part of the OpenSesame subscription
44%
of managers signed up for training
93%
completion rate for the training program across managers
Integration with LMS
EnerSys had recently rolled out a new learning management system (LMS) across the organization and sought course content it could integrate into the platform.
“We looked at another content provider, but when we made a price-per- course comparison OpenSesame came out far ahead,” says Krajewski. “We have access to over 5,000 courses as part of our subscription. The other option costs three-times more and only offered 140 courses.”
Strategic rollout
The company took a strategic approach to its elearning initiative, starting with an opt-in program targeting its management team. “We emailed 1,000 managers to introduce them to the training program and inviting them to participate by enrolling in a single course during the quarter,” explains Krajewski. “The response rate exceeded our expectations — 44% of our managers signed up for the training and we saw a 93% completion rate.”
“OpenSesame offers courses from advanced leadership training to core communication skills, enabling us to meet people where they’re at and help them get to where they want to go.”
Melanie Moses, Global Manager of Training & Curriculum Design, EnerSys Inc.
6,000 users worldwide and counting
EnerSys phased the rollout of its elearning project geographically, with Asia-Pacific first, followed closely by Europe and the United States. More than 6,000 employees currently have access to OpenSesame and the company has plans to make it available to an additional 1,000 soon.
“We also may add some elearning kiosks for our staff that doesn’t have daily access to a computer,” notes Krajewski. “Our goal is to make elearning accessible, convenient, and meaningful to all EnerSys employees.”
An engaging culture shift
Among the benefits of OpenSesame is the expansive catalog of hand-curated courses covering every conceivable topic. “We have what we call a career-pathing program to help employees identify their strengths and build on them and identify potential weaknesses and address them,” explains Melanie Moses, Global Manager of Training & Curriculum Design at EnerSys. “OpenSesame offers courses from advanced leadership training to core communication skills, enabling us to meet people where they’re at and help them get to where they want to go.”
The company’s investment in elearning is proving to be a win for all involved. Employees are able to quickly log in to the LMS and access their courses from the desktop or mobile device — putting them in control and encouraging use. The company no longer has to pay training travel expenses to send employees off-site for training or to bring specialized trainers in. And managers no longer spend valuable time researching and vetting courses or administering basic skill-assessment tests.
But the single largest benefit, Ms. Moses notes, is a noticeable culture shift within the organization. “We’re seeing a culture shift — employees are responding to the program. Educational opportunities build a more engaged workforce.”
“We don’t consider OpenSesame a vendor. They’re our partner.”
Drew Krajewski, Director of Global Training & Development, EnerSys Inc.
Support done right
“We’ve been very impressed with OpenSesame — the product and the company,” say Ms. Moses. “Our customer success manager shares tips, tricks, and course recommendations with us — we almost feel like they’re part of the family.”
Krajewski agrees, “Actual customer service of this caliber is a rarity, and OpenSesame does it right. We don’t consider OpenSesame a vendor. They’re our partner.”