Kinko’s Rapidly Deploys Saba to Support Sales Readiness
Kinko’s Deployment of Saba Marks Its Largest-Ever Learning & Development Software Implementation
Kinko’s Rapidly Deploys Saba to Support Sales Readiness, Compliance, and Blended Learning
REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. and DALLAS, Feb. 10 — Saba (Nasdaq: SABA – News), the leading provider of Human Capital Development and Management (HCDM) solutions, and Kinko’s, Inc., the world’s leading provider of document solutions and business services, today announced that Kinko’s has deployed Saba to its approximately 20,000 team members (employees) throughout more than 1,100 locations. Deployed in six short weeks using the Saba Rapid Deployment Package (RDP), Saba is helping Kinko’s to increase sales readiness, ensure compliance, provide blended learning, and substantially reduce training costs. With this solution, Kinko’s has already achieved measurable results.
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Kinko’s Director of Learning and Development, Whitney Shelley, said: “The Saba deployment was our largest national implementation and was completed on time and on budget. This solution has enabled us to quickly begin realizing substantial results, including significant savings in training cost per employee, reduced time-to-market for new products and services, and reduced time-to-quota for sales staff. Our Knowledge Network powered by Saba has been well received by our executives and team members and is already fully integrated into our culture.”
Sales Readiness
Kinko’s immediately reduced the time necessary for sales representatives to master new skills, products and programs by 80 percent with the introduction of a blended training solution managed by Saba. For example, Kinko’s recently rolled out two Sign and Banner Center modules. The first trains sales representatives on the features and benefits of Kinko’s signs, banners, posters and prints. The second module focuses on up-selling in the branch and selling signs and banners to commercial customers. Ted Buscaglia, Sr. Manager Product Management at Kinko’s, said: “With this new training module, we are now able to train our Field Sales Team much more rapidly and effectively. Never before have we had this amount of flexibility to make updates and add to the courses. It definitively gives us an edge.”
Certification and Compliance
Kinko’s decreased the risks associated with certification and compliance by training team members on workplace issues such as diversity and harassment, and maintaining client document confidentiality. For example, Kinko’s has closed larger deals with corporate customers through the ability to efficiently train its team members on customer confidentiality. Tracking training and certifications, and then demonstrating that required training has occurred, assures Kinko’s customers that the confidentiality of their documents is guaranteed.
Blended Learning
Kinko’s reduced the training cost per team member by roughly 75 percent. This cost savings was achieved by transforming nearly 100 percent classroom-based training conducted in 50 field training facilities around the country, to blended learning delivered via the Internet, including a mix of required training and just-in-time reference and optional programs. With Saba support for all types of formal and informal learning, the Kinko’s blended learning catalog now includes job aids, books, tapes, web-based courses, live events, and classroom courses.
“Leading retail customers are demanding solutions that deliver proven return on investment and increase competitive advantage,” said Saba President and CEO, Geno Tolari. “Kinko’s has successfully demonstrated that Saba solutions rapidly provide measurable results such as increasing same-store sales, improving channel readiness, and ensuring regulatory compliance.”
For more information about Kinko’s Knowledge Network, please see Kinko’s press release issued February 6.
About Saba
Saba is the leading provider of Human Capital Development and Management (HCDM) solutions. Saba offerings include an integrated Internet-based platform to manage learning, content, performance, talent, and collaboration and related professional services. Organizations around the world rely on the Saba platform to ensure that their customers, partners, and employees have the knowledge and skills required to successfully execute business initiatives.
Among the Global 2000, Saba customers include Alcatel, Telecom Italia, DaimlerChrysler, Procter & Gamble, Medtronic, Anheuser-Busch, Ford Motor Company, Continental Airlines, Cisco Systems, EMC Corp., and VERITAS Software. The Saba ecosystem of partners includes Allos, Buck Consultants and Mellon HR Solutions, Cisco, Deloitte Consulting, IBM Business Consulting Services, and SchlumbergerSema.
Saba was recently positioned in the leader quadrant in Gartner’s 2002 LMS “Magic Quadrant”. Founded in 1997, Saba is headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, with offices worldwide. For more information, please visit www.saba.com or call 877-SABA-101 or 650-779-2791.
NOTE: Saba, the Saba logo, and the marks relating to other Saba products and services referenced herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Saba Software, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
