E-learning company SkillSoft, which last year acquired SmartForce, has secured a deal with Allied Domecq – owner of Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin Robbins and Togo’s – that will see the company deliver e-learning to over 100,000 workers in 10,000 franchised outlets.
The multimillion agreement will see SkillSoft provide development, deployment, hosting and administrations to address a variety of topics spanning store management, customer service and product preparation for Allied Domecq’s workforce. The learning formula will be made available through onsite computers owned and provided by franchisees with high-speed internet connections.
Allied Domecq’s e-learning portal for its 100,000 workers is expected to go live this July.
“We see our e-learning initiative as a critical component of our company’s strategy to grow and protect its brands,” said Kevin McNamara, vice-president of training for Allied Domecq QSR. “Our expansion plans require an efficient way to deliver consistent, brand-specific training to employees throughout the world. With e-learning, we can reach everyone with the right training at the right time, at a cost that’s easily affordable for our franchisees.”
According to McNamara, store employees have been very receptive to CD-Rom training now used at all stores. “Web-based learning offers significant advantages over CD-Rom, including scalability and management efficiencies. We also believe e-learning will be very applicable and appealing to our employee audience,” said McNamara. “And because of its any time, anywhere accessibility, employees can get the training they need beginning with their first day on the job.”
By John Kennedy
