See More Vendors in our LMS Directory
BlueVolt has some nice amperage with extended enterprise LMS distribution. This company gets it, and effectively marries learning with marketing. Manufacturers, distributors, associations and service companies use the BlueVolt Learning Management System to develop and deliver highly effective online training.
BlueVolt is the first LMS I reviewed that is really staking out a specific space in the extended enterprise LMS market. Love it.
BlueVolt targets the manufacturing industry including the relevant member-based organizations and brings together manufacturing companies and their independent sales distribution channels. Since the sales distribution channels are always non-captured or independent, the manufacturing companies are encouraged to put eLearning modules online about their unique products and how to sell them. The result is a community of manufacturers, distributors and retailers all on the same system.
Employees of the distribution channel could be from large box store retailers or local mom and pop electrical supply stores. No distributor or employee of a distributor can have a masterful knowledge of every product from every manufacturer so with the BlueVolt LMS manufacturers race to obtain and expand mindshare in the distribution channel and channel employees.
All features are tailored towards these audiences and usages. To that end, if you are in manufacturing and thinking about sales channel learning technology, you have to talk to BlueVolt. If you are not in manufacturing, you can skip these folks as too niche.
BlueVolt Extended Enterprise Vitals
LMS Name: BlueVolt
Website: www.BlueVolt.com
Contact Information: http://www.bluevolt.com/forms/contact-us
Extended Enterprise Ready: Yes
Types of Extended Enterprise Expertise:
- Sales Channel
- Associations
Industry Focus:
- Manufacturing and service industries including their associations and member organizations.
Differentiation:
The BlueVolt team has developed close partnerships with the manufacturing and service industries, so they provide a tight, tailored solution that is very specific to those audiences. BlueVolt is from that space, knows how to target that space and provides not only the LMS, but also complementary services such as video, webcast and course development.
Licensing and Certification:
- When loading courses, you can create sub modules and programs of study, but I didn’t see assignment of credits, accreditation or anything like that. It is more about training sales channel organizations that are doing it more voluntary vs. trying to get accredited. There is the incentive concept of the $BlueBucks described below.
- I did find a link to Continuing Education classes that BlueVolt offers —http://go.bluevolt.com/default/help.aspx. Based on the q/a the LMS is capable of managing CEUs with some sophistication for state variations but I couldn’t verify.
e-Commerce Features:
- There is the ability to set an ecommerce process around the purchase of courses.
- Integration with ecommerce engines.
- Integration with Open Sesame content portal would also trigger ecommerce processes.
Social Collaboration Features:
- Integration into existing social networks like FaceBook and Twitter.
- Most notable is BlueVolt has created its own social network out of its very similar customers and allows customers to share their content across any Blue Volt Customer.
Mobile Features:
- Branded mobile experience but does not specify if responsive design or apps for tablets and smartphones.
- Offline content tracking.
Gamification Features:
- BlueVolt has an incentive feature called $BlueBucks. Administrators can establish a value when setting up a course. Users complete the course and earn and accrue the $BlueBucks that can be redeemed for gift cards to hundreds of popular retailers. Doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of configuration to this feature and it also appears to be consistent across their entire client base.
Adaptive Learning Features:
- Target learning based on role or custom fields.
Globalization Features:
- 12 language localization.
Technology:
- Pure cloud / SaaS solution.
- System integration with Single Sign On, HRIS, CRM, ecommerce, Google Analytics, Adobe Connect & Crazy Egg.
- Historical data input of users and content available.
Links to Case Studies or Position Papers on Extended Enterprise Learning:
- IMARK Group: Improved Member Value with electrical manufacturers and their sales distribution
- Sphere 1: Achieving competitive and sustainable Advantages with tool manufacturers and their sales distribution
- Klein Tools University: Online training resource for professional tradesmen in the electrical, construction, telecommunications and electronics fields
- Affiliated Distributors: Utilizes branded “AD Knowledge@Noon” hosted webcasts to allow manufacturers to present products to their distributor members.
Links to Online Demos of LMS:
- BlueVolt Rapid Tutorials on YouTube is a 23-part series. I was hoping to see e-commerce, mobile and social but didn’t. However, you get a good feel for the intuitiveness and ease of use of the system.
- Here is a nice video on YouTube that describes BlueVolt and the focus on marketing and learning
In the News: No press releases or articles found on extended enterprise in 2014.
See More Vendors in our LMS Directory
Need Proven LMS Selection Guidance?
Looking for a learning platform that truly fits your organization’s needs? We’re here to help! Submit the form below to schedule a free preliminary consultation at your convenience.
About Talented Learning LMS Reviews
Talented Learning LMS Reviews provide initial screening of vendors for extended enterprise suitability. Vendors share lots of information on their websites — feature lists, video demos, case studies, position papers, press releases, free trials and more. We review and analyze all of this information to determine a vendor’s mission, assess the platform’s strengths and weaknesses, and determine how effectively it serves extended enterprise learning needs.
As always, at Talented Learning, we’re not about making sweeping predictions or judging vendors. Instead, we document the realities of today’s LMS landscape, and how learning technology is actually adding value. We have only one goal — to help clients find appropriate LMS vendors based on their unique business requirements.
Share This Post
Related Posts
Education Strategy Mistakes to Avoid: Customer Ed Nugget 15
What does it take to deliver a successful customer education program? It starts with a solid education strategy. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls on this Customer Ed Nuggets episode
Which LMS is Best for You? New Shortlisting Tool for 2024
How can you find the best learning system for your business? Our LMS shortlisting tool can help. Learn about the 2024 RightFit Solution Grid. Free, reliable guidance based on our independent research
How to Build a Learning-Based Business: Executive Q&A Notes
Building and selling online courses may seem easy, but building a profitable learning-based business is far more complex. Find out what successful leaders say about running this kind of business
The Rewards of Community Building: Customer Ed Nugget 14
What role does community play in your customer relationships? Find out why community building is such a powerful force in customer education on this Customer Ed Nuggets episode
Benefits of Training Content Syndication: Customer Ed Nugget 13
If you educate customers online, why should you consider content syndication? Discover 10 compelling business benefits in this Customer Ed Nuggets episode
Top Marketing Skills to Master: Customer Ed Nugget 12
Successful customer education programs depend on professionals with expertise in multiple disciplines. Which marketing skills lead to the best results?
How to Measure and Improve Partner Training ROI
An educated channel is a successful channel. But how do you know if your educational programs are effective? Learn from an expert how to evaluate partner training ROI
Mistakes in Ongoing Customer Training: Customer Ed Nugget 11
Customer education doesn't stop with onboarding. It pays to invest in ongoing customer training. Learn which mistakes to avoid in this Customer Ed Nuggets episode
2024 Learning Systems Predictions: Top 15 LMS Trends
Which learning solutions trends will define the year ahead? Check these top 15 learning systems predictions from industry analyst and consultant, John Leh
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL