What Is Extended Enterprise Learning? Benefits, Implementation & Top LMS

Extended enterprise learning refers to the process of educating not just the internal employees of a company but also its external partners, including customers, suppliers, distributors, and even contractors. This broader scope of learning aims to create a more cohesive and well-informed ecosystem around the company, enhancing overall business performance and customer satisfaction.

Types of Extended Enterprise Learning

1. Customer Training

Customer training programs focus on helping customers understand and effectively use a company’s products or services. This can include user manuals, online tutorials, webinars, and interactive guides.

2. Partner and Reseller Training

Training for business partners, such as resellers and distributors, ensures they are knowledgeable about the company’s offerings and can effectively sell and support these products. This training often includes sales techniques, product features, and competitive positioning.

3. Supplier Training

Suppliers and vendors are trained to meet quality standards and compliance requirements. This can include training on production processes, quality control measures, and company-specific protocols.

4. Franchisee Training

Franchisors provide comprehensive training to their franchisees to ensure consistent brand experience and operational standards across all locations. This includes operational procedures, customer service standards, and marketing strategies.

5. Contractor and Consultant Training

Contractors and consultants need to understand the company’s policies, safety procedures, and project requirements to effectively contribute to the company’s goals. This training ensures alignment and compliance with company standards.

Benefits of Extended Enterprise Learning

1. Improved Partner Performance

Training partners, suppliers, and distributors ensures they understand your products and services well, leading to better performance and higher quality of collaboration.

2. Enhanced Customer Satisfaction

Educated customers are more likely to use your products effectively, leading to higher satisfaction and loyalty. This can also reduce the load on customer support services.

3. Consistent Brand Messaging

Ensuring all external stakeholders have the same level of understanding about your brand and products helps maintain consistency in how your brand is represented in the market.

4. Increased Revenue Opportunities

Educated partners and distributors can identify and seize sales opportunities more effectively, potentially increasing revenue.

5. Competitive Advantage

Offering comprehensive training to external stakeholders can set your company apart from competitors who do not provide such resources.

How to Implement Extended Enterprise Learning in Corporates

1. Identify Training Needs: Determine what knowledge gaps exist among your external stakeholders. This can be done through surveys, feedback, and performance data analysis.

2. Choose the Right Learning Management System (LMS): Select an LMS that supports external user training, offers scalability, and provides robust tracking and reporting features.

3. Develop Relevant Content: Create or curate training materials that are specifically tailored to the needs of your external partners, customers, and distributors.

4. Deploy the Training: Use your chosen LMS to roll out training programs. Ensure that the platform is accessible, user-friendly, and provides support for mobile learning.

5. Track and Evaluate Performance: Use the LMS’s analytics and reporting tools to monitor engagement and performance. Gather feedback to continuously improve the training content and delivery.

6. Engage and Motivate Learners: Use gamification, certifications, and incentives to keep external learners engaged and motivated.

Top 5 Extended Enterprise LMS in India

1. G-Cube LMS: Offers a robust platform with features designed for extended enterprise learning, including multilingual support and comprehensive reporting tools.

2. TalentLMS: Known for its ease of use, TalentLMS provides scalable solutions for training external stakeholders with extensive customization options.

3. Adobe Captivate Prime: A leading LMS with powerful features for extended enterprise learning, such as AI-based learning recommendations and detailed analytics.

4. Mindflash: This LMS is designed to deliver training to external partners and customers, with features like advanced tracking, mobile compatibility, and integration capabilities.

5. WizIQ: Provides an easy-to-use platform with a focus on virtual classrooms, ideal for delivering live training sessions to external audiences.

Use Cases

Use Case 1: Improving Supplier Quality

Company: A leading automotive manufacturer

Challenge: Inconsistent quality of parts supplied by various vendors.

Solution: The company implemented an extended enterprise LMS to provide standardized training to all its suppliers. The training included detailed modules on quality standards, production processes, and compliance requirements.

Outcome: Suppliers’ understanding of quality expectations improved, leading to a significant reduction in defects and an increase in production efficiency.

Use Case 2: Enhancing Customer Product Knowledge

Company: A global consumer electronics brand

Challenge: High volume of customer support inquiries due to lack of product understanding.

Solution: The company deployed an LMS to offer comprehensive product training to its customers. The training modules included video tutorials, interactive guides, and troubleshooting tips.

Outcome: Customers became more adept at using the products, which led to a 30% decrease in support calls and higher customer satisfaction scores.

Conclusion

Extended enterprise learning is a strategic approach that enhances the knowledge and skills of your external stakeholders, leading to better collaboration, increased revenue, and a stronger competitive edge. 

By implementing an effective LMS and providing tailored training, companies can ensure that their entire ecosystem is well-equipped to contribute to their success. With the right tools and strategies, the benefits of extended enterprise learning can be fully realized, driving growth and efficiency across the board.