The company distributes Volkswagen, Å koda, Audi and SEAT motor vehicles and Volkswagen commercial vehicles in Italy.


This application of the learn eXact LCMS also won two 'best-in-category' awards - for the best corporate training solution and the best learning system - from among a number of shortlisted entries from all over the world.


A number of factors prompted Volkswagen Group Italia to implement a blended learning approach. Directly related to the automobiles were a broadening dealer network and an increase in the number of models and their technological complexity. On the training side, the factors were an increase in the number of both participants and courses, a growing need to train staff, dealers, and service partners rapidly, as well as a rise in training quality standards.


The approach selected addresses individual training needs by defining key competencies and skill gaps. Volkswagen Group Italia uses this analysis to plan tailored training programs to develop individuals' key competencies.


The step has already produced an increased availability of training courses and cut down the need for face-to-face training, thus reducing 'time to competency' for learners. The improvement in overall efficiency in training reduces training costs - notably those associated with travel and time. This, in turn, has increased the organisation's overall productivity.


Volkswagen Group Italia's working with Giunti Labs' learn eXact for its eLearning programme implementation dates back to 2005. The company needed to create a multi-domain portal that could be fully integrated with PetrA, the dealer portal, BDO, the dealer database, and Ad@, the employees' portal. The aim was to achieve full integration of 'single sign on' with the company's application for the face-to-face training activities.


Multi-delivery options - via CD-ROMs, mobiles, smartphones, and even wearable PCs - offer dealers and service partners a high degree of flexibility in accessing the learning materials.


"Advanced user-performance tracking functionalities of the selected platform are fundamental as are the skills management options for individual learning program planning", explained Volkswagen Group Italia's Laura Apostoli. "Learning-object-based content production architecture and compliance with the main eLearning standards and specifications guarantee that the adopted solution is future proof.


"Essentially, the customized learn eXact LCMS solution allows Volkswagen Group Italia to organize all its learning content into one single LCMS and digital repository. Most importantly, Volkswagen Group Italia's legacy content has been transferred into the system and tagged with a SCORM-based metadata and taxonomies framework.


"Using this approach enables Volkswagen Group Italia to manipulate and reuse content seamlessly between different formats and to create different deliveries of the same content from one single source", she said.


During 2006, eighteen training courses were deployed across different brands and training sectors in Volkswagen Group Italia. Based on the positive results and the feedback, learn eXact has now been fully integrated into the dealer portal.


The LIAs - the results of the world's annual competition of high-impact use of technology to support and enhance learning - were announced by the IMS Global Learning Consortium (IMS GLC), a global, non-profit, member organization supported by over 115 organizations. The grouping strives to enable the growth and impact of learning technology in the education and corporate-learning sectors worldwide. The LIAs recognize use of technology in context to improve learning across all industry segments and in all regions of the world.


Twenty-three finalists were evaluated by an expert panel of judges at the IMS annual Learning Impact conference and Summit on Global Learning Industry Challenges, held in Austin, Texas.


Entries are evaluated based on eight criteria of impact, including improving access to learning, improving affordability of learning, and improving the quality of learning.