When planning for this morning’s keynote speech at COGNITION22, I was struck immediately by how vast the possibilities are for the idea of Learning Everywhere.
Last year at Cognition, I talked about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the business of learning, and this year’s theme is a really natural extension to that vision. When we say the word learning today, the lines are immediately blurred between ideas as disparate as helping customers and professionals in their moments of need, transferring information from one person to another, offering career advancement, supporting compliance frameworks, and so much more.
Not only that, but the types of content, the channels on which we learn, and the very flow of information are constantly being transformed from one learner to another, and from one business to the next.
Introducing: Helium
The immediate ways the market thinks about learning are likely to be via web browsers and mobile apps, but the idea of Learning Everywhere goes far beyond that. Sure, let’s improve those interactions and customize them, and make them immersive and meaningful. But more than that, let’s think about proprietary bespoke devices that are all over the world that can become conduits for learning. People want to learn visually, through audio, with haptics, in-product, via Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality and whatever the next great innovation will be, too.
This is where Helium comes in, as a framework by which the innovations of today and tomorrow are being created. As a headless LMS, the architecture separates the application layer from back-end services, giving ultimate customization opportunities, limitless extensibility, and complete freedom for development and design. Companies can use a default configuration, make small modifications, leverage templates from the Helium Marketplace, or build from scratch with nothing but their own vision in mind.
It was great speaking to Zach Parnell from ITI today, who is right at the forefront of building exciting and bespoke new learning modalities. ITI has used Thought Industries to improve the learner experience using a wide range of training content, while seeing a 260% increase in sales, and a 520% increase in subscriptions.
“Our learners come from a variety of industries, working in construction sites and industrial sites. We see a huge opportunity for digital transformation, and I couldn’t be more excited about where we’re at and where we’re going with Thought Industries. We’ve been really forward-thinking about content, and developed simulation experiences using both browser-based consumption and also VR headsets. Customers can set this up in their training centers, for training such as hazard awareness, maintenance tasks, or even crane operation.”
— Zach Parnell, Industrial Training International
As I said at COGNITION22 this morning, the vision for Helium is “Imagine it, Build it, Deploy it.” I see Helium as a convergence of mediums and technologies that provide a backbone for creativity. What comes out of that framework? That’s up to you.
A Shift in the Market
Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps the reason why there are so many different Learning Management Systems (LMS) in the market, is that the drive has always been there to create something bespoke, something different and unique. In the past, there has always been some technology in the middle that didn’t make sense, restrictive components for design and deployment that meant businesses could get 70% of the way to their vision — but no further.
Today, I can see that the market is catching up with our focus. We were delighted last month to be named in Talented Learning’s Top 20 Specialist Learning Systems for 2022, called out for the 5th year in a row. But as exciting as the mention itself, was the shift from LMS rated within a single Top 40, to a new split between generalist products and more specialist products. This signifies a macro-market understanding of the work that we’re doing to create something transformational and targeted to the extended enterprise, a $70B market.
Hearing ZoomInfo’s CEO Henry Schuck discuss the impact of customer education on the business today really brought home the value that learning can provide, and how it can move the needle in a significant way. Using Thought Industries, the company has seen a 15% increase in customer renewals, doubled their unique users per month, and experienced an 108% increase in product adoption.
“Once you start thinking about customer education as an investment, it opens up the ability to think about how to get the most out of that investment. Customers don’t just need training, they actually want training! Building a structure and a framework to offer that on their own schedule so they have the resources at their fingertips is essential.
– Henry Schuck, CEO, ZoomInfo
Time to Unleash Your Creativity
In nine years, our aim hasn’t changed — we’re focused on helping organizations to deliver transformational learning products, whether that’s to customers or partners or professionals of any kind.
As specialty begins to be recognized in the industry, and with our deep understanding of the market, I believe that we are two steps ahead once again. Through Helium, we’re broadening the playing field and inviting our customers to build learning their way, with their own singular vision in mind.
Tomorrow’s COGNITION22 keynote will showcase the ways these incredible innovations aren’t going to be distributed out of the box by an LMS vendor. They are going to be made from scratch by you, the instructional designers and developers and trainers that are out there in the trenches. You are the ones who understand user needs, and who are building creative visions that meet your own business goals.
Whether you need rapid customizations, easy and limitless modifications, external data integration, in-the-moment training across new platforms, or the ability to consolidate internally-developed tools, with Helium we’re providing you with the infrastructure to express that creativity.
And then? Then, we’re going to get out of your way and allow you to transform the future of learning. I for one can’t wait to see what you come up with.
