GuyKat Announces Sponsorship of Birmingham Tech Week 2023
GuyKat, a leading provider of innovative eLearning solutions, is excited to announce its sponsorship for Birmingham Tech Week 2023. The UK’s largest regional tech event, which will take place from October 16th to 20th, is set to be the biggest to date. This 5-day celebration is designed to spark inspiration, provide knowledge on topics ranging from Artificial Intelligence to Quantum Computing and Augmented Reality, and foster collaboration among participants from diverse sectors.
Birmingham Tech Week is a highly anticipated annual gathering that brings together tech enthusiasts, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across the West Midlands and beyond. With a focus on driving technological advancement and fostering collaboration, the event offers a diverse range of workshops, panel discussions, keynote presentations, networking opportunities, and a Black Tie award ceremony.
As a company deeply committed to leveraging technology for learning and development, GuyKat is proud to support Birmingham Tech Week and its mission to showcase cutting-edge solutions and trends in the tech industry. By sponsoring this event, GuyKat aims to contribute to the growth and prosperity of Birmingham's tech ecosystem while fostering knowledge exchange and innovation.
"We are thrilled to be part of Birmingham Tech Week 2023," said Guy McEvoy, GuyKat's CEO. "GuyKat is an international company that proudly calls Birmingham home. It’s an exciting time to be in the West Midlands tech scene; we’re witnessing innovative businesses scaling up at a rapid rate, and investment is at an all-time high. We look forward to engaging with the dynamic tech community and sharing insights that drive progress in the digital landscape."
During Birmingham Tech Week 2023, GuyKat will actively participate in various sessions, sharing expertise on the latest e-learning methodologies, immersive technologies, and strategies for maximizing the potential of technology-driven learning solutions.
To find out more and register here.
Unlocking the Potential of eLearning: Kiehl's Success Story
GuyKat and L'Oreal have been in collaboration since 2017 to develop a groundbreaking digital learning strategy. This has seen them implement a series of highly successful international eLearning projects. L'Oreal, a renowned multinational beauty company, added Kiehl's, a brand steeped in heritage and history, to its portfolio in April 2000. Recognising L'Oreal as one of their most significant clients, GuyKat decided to embark on a comprehensive case study. In this interview, we sit down with Mia Kernaghan, the project lead, as she sheds light on the crucial challenges, requirements, and measurable outcomes of their ongoing successful partnership.
1. What was Kiehl’s vision for their digital learning?
“Education has always been at the heart of what we do, dating back to our apothecary days in 1851. In fact, it was once a vision of founding family member, Aaron Morse, to create a Kiehl’s Academy to help educate in-store employees and customers alike. As part of our digital learning strategy, we needed to make the first ever eLearning platform for Skin Pros at Kiehl’s. Our platform provides a highly personalised, accessible, and academic experience where the users, Kiehl’s Skin Pros, can advance their education.
Our LMS (Learning Management System) has the optimal balance between engaging formats and rich content from the very start of their learning experience."
2. What were the main challenges and issues involved in the project?
“As part of our digital learning strategy, we needed to amplify and modernise over 170 years of education for Skin Pros. At Kiehl’s, we have extremely high standards in providing expert-level education. In order to empower and enable them to create superior customer experiences, we needed an LMS that reflected that.
We have a diverse team of Skin Pros around the world, about 4,700 total. They speak many different languages, have varying levels of technological expertise, and educational backgrounds. For example, some Skin Pros are brand new to Kiehl’s and work part time. Whereas other Skin Pros have been with Kiehl’s for over 20 years. The challenge with this is that we needed to create something accessible and engaging for all of them. We needed to amplify their Keihl's education regardless of how long they'd been with the company.
We need to partner closely with the local markets to create a truly global, optimised LMS.
By partnership, I mean actual buy-in for user fees, translation fees, and the investment of their own personal time. This all meant that we had to offer something different than our standard in-person training. This training generates a great sense of community and personal empowerment. Digitally replicating this is a big challenge for my team.
We especially needed something reliable. Kiehl’s Academy officially launched in 2019. When Covid hit in 2020, Kiehl’s Academy quickly became a vital tool to conduct virtual training for Skin Pros. This also meant that myself and my manager, JR, had to become eLearning experts very quickly. I found this daunting as I had never been in the LMS world before, however, GuyKat helped every step of the way"
3. What was the purpose of the bespoke landing page created by GuyKat?
"Through our partnership with GuyKat, we were able to transform the vision for our global digital learning strategy into a real user experience. We created customised web pages that aligned very well with our brand identity, displaying a balance of nature and science, as well as 'star-ifying' the Kiehl’s Skin Pro, who really is at the centre of all that we do.
Our bespoke landing page also reflected Skin Pros feedback from our Kiehl’s Academy pilot in North America in 2018. Here we learned that a user cannot be engaged in the content if the front-end development is clunky. So, we incorporated these insights into the new landing page, ensuring that users would not be deterred from completing any digital training, and would feel engaged from the very start. For example, this meant making the landing page customised and on brand.
The GuyKat team carefully listened to our ideas, feedback, strategy and goals, and helped us to achieve a robust and immersive eLearning experience for users, that’s uniquely designed for Kiehl’s. With an advanced, yet accessible, eLearning platform, we’re able to provide users with the same high-quality, personalised, expert learning experience that they provide to customers in store and online."
4. How did GuyKat assist Kiehl's in maximising the capabilities of Docebo as part of their digital learning strategy?
“GuyKat helped to customise Kiehl’s Global Community, which is our internal social eLearning page, to balance the structure of our traditional learning content. A challenge for us was having to modernise our long-standing education at Kiehl’s. We also needed to replicate the same feeling of community that’s generated from connecting in person. This sense of connection is one of the main reasons why Skin Pros love and stay at Kiehl’s.
With GuyKat’s help customising Kiehl’s Global Community, we were actually able to create our own internal, social page. Added features include a customised “CONTRIBUTE” bar at the top of the page and a fully branded platform. These improvements have engaged users and increased retention. It fosters a greater sense of confidence and community, while learning in a less-formal way. For example, this is where we activate our sustainability platform. 'Kiehl’s Mission Renewal' incentivises Skin Pros to share their best practices and become a part of something bigger.
'Kiehl’s Global Community' has also been noted by other L’Oreal groups as a key feature that differentiates our LMS from other L’Oreal LMS’s.
GuyKat has helped to create a more simple and efficient user experience for our Skin Pros. A specific example of this is that we have over 300 courses in 12 languages on the platform to date. At the time, all of our courses separated into three channels – a Product Courses channel, an Ingredient Glossary, and a Service channel. There was still an overwhelming amount of content to comb through to find what you needed.
To make the content more accessible and streamlined, GuyKat did almost all of the backend work independently to create categories for each channel and then itemise our 3,000+ courses into the correct category."
5. How did GuyKat approach the creation of a bespoke eLearning module for Kiehl's?
“At Kiehl’s, we have over 170 years of rich history and heritage. We needed a centralised place where Skin Pros could understand our values and how we uphold them today. This is where the idea of the Kiehl’s History Storybook came into play.
There was a lot of content and different designs that we needed to include in one course. We needed to make it engaging so that the users would complete the entire course. It also needed to be consistently on-brand so that the users could have a clear understanding of our history.
First, GuyKat created a streamlined process for us with clear objectives. They helped us create assets to showcase in our meetings with local markets to create excitement for what we were going to deliver. This encouraged investment in Kiehl’s Academy. Then GuyKat created a very straightforward process for us to follow in order to stay on track for what we committed to deliver.
GuyKat also had a very in-depth understanding of our brand visual codes. This proved incredibly helpful since we not only used our existing Kiehl’s assets, but they also created elements of their own saving time and money.
Thanks to GuyKat, ‘The Kiehl’s History Storybook’ is our first fully animated and gamified module.
It is completed by all Skin Pros on Kiehl’s Academy as the very first course they take as a part of their onboarding, which is their first introduction to the brand."
6. What type of admin training did GuyKat provide for Kiehl's, and how did it help them manage their eLearning platform more effectively?
“Regular communication is key to keeping our digital learning strategy on track. Monthly calls with GuyKat are great for a general catch-up.
Also, if we have any technical issues, they’re a really reliable source to come up with a quick solution and articulately explain the different platform capability options.
We leveraged this information to create admin training courses on the LMS for local Educators managing the regional Kiehl’s Academy. A challenge for us when we originally launched the LMS was my manager and I having to become experts at the platform, almost immediately. GuyKat helped with being our partner for strategic development and problem solving. This helped us to become experts and then we built off that to help the local Educators.
This was especially useful during the pandemic in 2021. We were able to onboard over 20 countries that year because of the defined process for new markets. This helped local Educators feel equipped with the right resources to provide the best learning experience to their users."
7. How did GuyKat address the language needs of Kiehl's employees through translations and bespoke content creation?
“Accessibility is super important when putting together a digital learning strategy. However, there are two, often interchanged, factors that must be considered. It’s important to understand the needs of your audience, as well as any challenges they may be facing currently and in the future."
Inclusivity within your online material may include considering different learning styles, localisation of content and ensuring the eLearning flows in a logical manner.
‘Accessible eLearning’ means that any learner, no matter their needs, can fully experience your courses. It can be as easy as ensuring there is audio, a transcript and captions for your learners. Some other simple tips include adding Alt Text to your visuals and checking colour contrast to ensure readability."
8. How did GuyKat provide ongoing support to Kiehl's after the initial eLearning implementation was complete?
“Platform clean ups:
- GuyKat worked with us to ensure that each user had their correct courses in their correct language, fixed their badges/points/coins, etc. which is a lot of manual backend work.
- Enrolment rules. Mistakes can happen when you have a large LMS and different people managing it in their market. GuyKat worked to re-trigger our enrolment rules so that all users had the courses that they should. We have over 3,500 users and each user has 300+ specific courses.
Platform management:
- GuyKat optimised our extended enterprise (local KA domains), implemented any legal documents and translated graphics and copy into the website and app. This made the onboarding process for new markets quicker since GuyKat sets up the website and app and we can focus our efforts on training the new markets.
- Reward Store. Since Kiehl’s Academy has grown exponentially, we get about 200 Reward Store requests each month. These were managed by me. We now partner with GuyKat to help manage Reward Store requests which saves an incredible amount of time. This allows my time to be allocated to other Kiehl’s Academy projects and initiatives.
Elevating content:
- We partner with GuyKat on all Advanced Certification content. Our certified content differs from our standard courses since it’s a way for Skin Pros to become a subject expert. The course content therefore needs to reflect this same expertise. It provides an in-depth education through gamified interactivities and knowledge reinforcements to increase retention."
9. What are your top benefits and positive outcomes from your continued work with GuyKat?
"Kiehl’s Academy has been a vital tool in helping the brand ensure all training is complete while saving time and cost, increasing learner retention, and providing trackable and measurable results for all users to help with performance improvement. Creating a comprehensive digital learning strategy with GuyKat has been essential to our success.
- 100% of users completed all onboarding virtually in our “Traditions” learning plan, which includes the Kiehl’s History Storybook.
- All Skin Care Pros successfully completed comprehensive sustainability training.
- 100% of local Educators (Super Admins managing Kiehl’s Academy in their market) use Kiehl’s Academy to conduct training (virtual or blended learning).
- GuyKat created beauty tech training on Kiehl’s Academy, and activated and integrated beauty tech into customer consultations worldwide, led by Skin Pros, helping to amplify the in-store and online customer experience even more.
Retention and performance has increased by Kiehl's Academy training being self-paced. Users are empowered to learn from anywhere at anytime, on the website or via the mobile app. They are able to use the LMS as a quick reference to help answer customer questions, as well as use it as a place to enhance their ongoing education.
'Kiehl’s Global Community' fosters a greater sense of confidence and community while learning in a less-formal way. On Earth Day, 100% of stores in Mexico shared how they were actively working towards a better future. This included volunteering in their community, reducing plastic waste, etc.
Kiehl’s Academy has not only changed the learning experience for Skin Pros, but has also changed the role and responsibilities of the Educator.
Educators can track and measure the results of individual users, tailoring their learning to the individual's needs. We have saved time, money and improved user engagement by having a personalised LMS."
Looking for help with your digital learning strategy and implementation?
We are a multi-award-winning solutions provider with over two decades experience in the industry. We work with some of the world’s most prestigious brands, our consultants build engaging content and create intuitive learning platforms. Based in Birmingham, UK with an office in Tampa, USA, we have deployed localised solutions in more than 50 countries. Our content team thrives in ‘making complex information seem simple’, our platform team are experts in making content easy to access and our clients engage with us as a ‘partner’ rather than a ‘supplier’. We are proud partners of LMS, Docebo, and content authoring tool, FLOWSPARKS.
GuyKat Reaches UK Company Culture Award Final for Outstanding Graduate Scheme.
International eLearning company GuyKat has been named a finalist for the UK Company Culture Awards in the 'Best Employee Development Programme' category for its Graduate Trainee Scheme. This prestigious recognition is a testament to GuyKat's commitment to providing a complete online learning experience that focuses on human-centred technology, engaging instructional design, and expert project consultancy.
GuyKat's mission is to maximise the potential of an organisation's workforce through planning, creating and implementing online learning solutions. With a client portfolio that includes Amnesty International, Kiehl's, and La-Z-Boy, the company has established a global reputation for outstanding work over the last decade in the eLearning industry.
Since the scheme's launch in 2019, the company has more than doubled in size. 100% of participants in the Graduate Scheme transition into a permanent role within the company. Currently, there are 20 members of staff that have either completed the Graduate Scheme or are currently enrolled. In 2022, the company's most successful year to date in terms of revenue, GuyKat had its largest intake of grads, totalling 15 new team members.
The training initiative is a cornerstone of GuyKat's employee development program, offering candidates an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and exposure to many diverse roles within the company. This program helps candidates make informed decisions about their future career paths within the company, ultimately leading to a more engaged and fulfilled workforce.
The trainee initiative feeds into GuyKat’s vibrant and dynamic company culture by contributing to their core values of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. The Graduate Trainee Scheme has hugely contributed to maintaining the company ethos at GuyKat, and has helped the company retain its core values whilst being able to scale.
"We are thrilled to be named a finalist for the UK Company Culture Awards in the 'Best Employee Development Programme' category," said Guy McEvoy, CEO of GuyKat. "Our Graduate Trainee Scheme is a testament to our commitment to employee development and our belief that investing in our people is the key to our success.”
GuyKat is looking forward to the awards ceremony being held in London on 4th May 2023 and meeting the other finalists. The event promises to be an exciting and inspiring occasion for anyone interested in building strong and healthy company cultures.
About GuyKat
GuyKat is an award-winning B2B learning technology company. Founded in 2009 and based in Birmingham, UK, it serves clients in six continents and has deployed training in over 50 countries. At the core of the company is a passion for intuitive user experience, engaging instructional design, and achieving learning outcomes. To ensure we are a true ‘end-to-end’ eLearning agency, we also have developed partnerships with Docebo (LMS), FLOWSPARKS (an authoring tool) and Open Sesame for off-the-shelf content.
GuyKat founder, Guy McEvoy, to continue as Midlands Export Champion.
GuyKat is delighted to announce that CEO, Guy McEvoy, is continuing his support of SME’s as a Midlands Export Champion. This will be the third year the Department for International Trade (DIT) have enlisted Guy into the cohort.
Founded in 2009, GuyKat has products and provides services in over 100 countries. This makes Guy an experienced champion, specialising in North American and European markets.
Speaking about the champion scheme at the Summit in Birmingham, International Trade Minister Mark Garnier said:
“We want to use the momentum of the Midlands Engine to drive this region’s exports to new heights … My department is helping even more companies in the region explore opportunities on the global market and through this Programme local business will truly benefit from a range of expert advice from local business leaders.”
Key figures and opportunities:
- The Midlands contributes over £200bn to the UK’s GVA each year.
- In 2020/21, the Midlands Engine attracted 217 foreign direct investment projects.
- In 2021, the Midlands goods exports were £45.5 billion.
“GuyKat has always thought globally from day one, it is at the core of the business and played a vital role in our success. I am delighted to help and inspire fellow business owners to maximise the potential of exporting their goods or services. Since Brexit it has become vital for UK companies to enter new markets and I am thrilled to be able to help business leaders navigate the process.” Guy McEvoy, CEO of GuyKat and Midlands Export Champion.
Feel free to get in touch if you wish to set up a meeting with Guy. Alternatively, visit great.gov.uk to find out more.
7 essentials for your 2023 digital learning strategy
As recession sets in, businesses are bracing for turbulent times ahead. Having a robust digital learning strategy in place is essential to help your company weather the storm. GuyKat are experts in planning, creating and implementing engaging eLearning that maximises the potential of your workforce. We asked our team for their top tips to get the best from your digital learning strategy in 2023.
1. Hannah Quinton, Head of eLearning, advises getting qualified help to write your storyboard:
“Good storyboarding is the key to great content. A well-structured storyboard will help you validate whether the concept is working or not, and determine the direction the course is going to take.”
At this crucial initial stage, errors related to narration, media, and other relevant details are identified. It also determines the entire structure of the course along with the tone and how learners will interact with the content. Getting this part right early on saves time, effort and money.
GuyKat has experienced instructional designers and developers that can help visualise your project. Get in touch with an expert today.
2. Joshua Haque, eLearning Designer, says refining & finalising a module's audio script early on can save a lot of time:
“It is much more difficult and time-consuming to amend the narration after the eLearning module is built.”
As part of creating the foundation for each module the audio needs to be signed off. You don't want to rush the process, but it's in everyone's best interests to finalise the audio script before it is narrated by a voiceover artist. Amendments to the audio further down the line can also impact design and functionality, which will add to the cost and cause delays.
3. Guy McEvoy, CEO, encourages you to consider which is the right online learning tool for your organisation.
There are several content authoring tools available on the market, choosing which one is right for your organisation depends on your resources, budget and required learning outcomes.
We have partnered with FLOWSPARKS, a self-authoring tool that enables you to quickly update your content without having to go back to the original content/eLearning provider.
“When clients build online learning in-house, they usually want to focus on the content itself. They don’t want to invest time upskilling as an IT developer, graphic artist, or instructional designer. FLOWSPARKS solves that problem.” Guy McEvoy, CEO.
Find out more about FLOWSPARKS here.
4. Localisation Project Manager, Georgina Bartlett, recommends considering localisation from the outset:
“Localisation takes into consideration nuanced cultural differences ensuring that your eLearning will be fully understood, effective and relevant.”
If your company operates in different countries you may need to translate your digital learning into several languages. Going one step further and considering the localisation of your content will help you ensure your different audiences are getting the same message.
At GuyKat, we offer 3 stress-free translations and localisation services:
- Full translation of an eLearning module
- Implementation of your in-house translation
- Subtitles
Get in touch to find out more.
5. Jayne Tomkins, eLearning Designer, says audience research is a fundamental part of the process:
“Knowledge refresh audiences might only require access to specific areas of interest. Whereas new starters with a low existing knowledge base might need an end-to-end learning experience.”
When creating eLearning, you should have the target audience in mind. Spend time researching your audience. Take into account their learning style, level of knowledge, and what they will be expecting from the course. Having this information makes a big difference not just to the content but to the way the eLearning module functions.
Read more: Tailoring your learning content to your audience
6. Benjamin White, Project Manager, suggests setting clear ways from the outset to measure success:
“Metrics will be different in each situation however we recommend you base your analysis on quantifiable outcomes related to performance rather than just the completion of a click-through module.”
Assessing ROI (Return On Investment) from your digital learning is essential. It will enable you to figure out what learning methods are most effective within your organisation and help you make informed decisions about budget allocation.
When working with a digital learning company always advise how you are going to measure success as this will help inform how content and courses are designed.
7. Platform and Localisation Specialist, Carris Wilson, advises you to consider diversity within the workplace, now and in the future:
“Accessibility is super important when putting together a digital learning strategy. However, there are two, often interchanged, factors that must be considered. It’s important to understand the needs of your audience, as well as any challenges they may be facing currently and in the future."
Inclusivity within your online material may include considering different learning styles, localisation of content and ensuring the eLearning flows in a logical manner.
‘Accessible eLearning’ means that any learner, no matter their needs, can fully experience your courses. It can be as easy as ensuring there is audio, a transcript and captions for your learners. Some other simple tips include adding Alt Text to your visuals and checking colour contrast to ensure readability.
Need a helping hand with your project?
Welcome to GuyKat. We are a multi-award-winning solutions provider. We work with some of the world’s most prestigious brands, our consultants build engaging content and create intuitive learning platforms. Based in Birmingham, UK with an office in Tampa, USA, we have deployed localised solutions in more than 50 countries. Our content team thrives in ‘making complex information seem simple’, our platform team are experts in making content easy to access and our clients engage with us as a ‘partner’ rather than a ‘supplier’. We are proud partners of LMS, Docebo, and content authoring tool, FLOWSPARKS.
FLOWSPARKS vs Articulate Rise
You’ve been tasked with producing learning content for your organisation. You don’t have the budget to outsource the job. You’re not a professional eLearning developer but have a good understanding of your company and capacity to produce content in-house. As an ‘accidental’ eLearning developer you now need an authoring tool that has intuitive design features, can be tailored to your company’s specific learning requirements and produces professional looking modules quickly. If this sounds familiar, we can help. We believe the two best authoring tools for this situation are FLOWSPARKS and Rise. They have shorter learning curves than programs like Storyline or Captivate and are packed with handy features to assist you in creating engaging content. Here at GuyKat we are proud users of both. For full disclosure we are a FLOWSPARKS reseller, but we still use Rise daily. In this article we will outline our view of the best fit for each tool.
1. How easy are they to use?
Both FLOWSPARKS and Rise are easy to use. If you can use PowerPoint, you will be able to create decent content. They are both cloud-based, there is no need to download specific software. You can insert interactions instantly, such as drag-and-drops or quizzing, without any programming skills. With either you can create professional looking online content that will engage your audience.
We believe FLOWSPARKS has an edge here because of the thought that has gone into their templates. They accelerate the creation of great looking content, but also ensure it is built with solid instructional design in mind. This means that you can even delegate content creation to your subject matter experts without the need for them to understand learning theory or have any ‘design’ skills.
2. What features do they have to have to engage learners?
In both authoring tools you can add video, multiple choice questions, interactive elements and gamification to make your content pop. Both have intuitive design capability so your modules will look professional and be engaging.
FLOWSPARKS, in particular, also has some clever features that we love. As part of your modules you can add surveys to gain learner feedback and turn on adaptive learning to ensure the correct information is tailored to the individual’s knowledge level. Versioning is another brilliant feature of FLOWSPARKSs. Unlike Rise, which saves automatically every few seconds, FLOWSPARKS will give you access to past versions of your module which may come in handy when using a decentralised approach to creating content. Finally, real-time updates have to be our favourite feature of FLOWSPARKS. Not only can you future proof your content by making it easily editable, but you can apply these changes across different modules ensuring your courses always contain the latest information.
3. How much do they cost?
Generally we would recommend Rise for freelancers or single-author organisations and FLOWSPARKS for larger companies. Both tools work on an annual subscription basis and Rise comes with a free trial. A single Rise user will cost $999 per annum. FLOWSPARKS entry price point is higher and the minimum investment requires 5 authoring accounts, this is why we would recommend it for larger organisations with multiple projects to create. Deals and bespoke offers are available for both so speaking to a consultant is highly recommended.
4. What about customer care?
Both have customer support packages with varying access points. Rise offers live chat through their website, video tutorials, a support centre contact and has an active online community. FLOWSPARKS customer care can be accessed through; email support, FAQ pages, knowledge base resources, an online forum and a helpline you can call. In either case, you may be able to access enhanced support if you bought the product through a reseller.
5. What devices are these tools available on?
Rise and FLOWSPARKS content is designed to work on desktop, tablet and mobile. With responsive and intuitive design, content can be accessed on whichever device is most convenient.
The authoring tools themselves are cloud based so any device with a browser can be used to make content. However, the best authoring experience is on a laptop or desktop computer.
6. What are the translation options with these authoring tools?
Each authoring tool can translate into several languages, however the way they do this differs. Rise uses XLIFF imports so the possibilities are pretty much endless, including being able to translate into specific dialects such as Catalan for example. You can also use company specific terms without anything getting lost in translation. The only limitation at the moment is right to left languages such as Arabic and Hebrew. There are workarounds that can be coded, however this takes time and expertise. Also using XLIFF means you have to create a separate file for each language whereas FLOWSPARKS has 30 languages available that can be automatically applied across all content. Due to this functionality learners can also select their preferred language and switch between languages that have been activated. A handy feature of both tools is automatic formatting, when you translate any content it resizes so redesigns are minimal.
7. How easily can they be integrated into our current L&D?
If you already have an LMS you are happy with, the content from either product will work great.
On the technical side, both have similar supported specifications including SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, xAPI/Tin Can API. Rise also supports AICC exports and FLOWSPARKS can export IMS LTI.
The way FLOWSPARKS content is deployed means that once you update the ‘master’ copy of a course it can be instantly updated everywhere it is hosted. This is also possible in Rise, but we think the workflow in FLOWSPARKS around both content deployment and change control is more attractive to large enterprises.
Our verdict
Overall Rise and FLOWSPARKS are both fantastic content authoring tools. When it comes to choosing between the two it is more about your organisation's resources, budget and learning needs. If you are a team of one with a small budget, Rise is a good option. However, if you work for a larger company with many subject matter experts where content change control is important, we believe FLOWSPARKS may be the better choice.
Docebo Inspire 2022: GuyKat to host two round-table discussions
GuyKat Staff are proud to be presenting two round-table discussions at this year's Docebo Inspire conference.
- Annie Fuller and Joanne Payne will host a discussion titled ‘Attract, Engage, Retain! - Creating a user experience that keeps your learners coming back for more.’ You can find them from 12-1PM EST on Tuesday the 18th.
- On Wednesday the 19th, at 12-1PM EST, Hannah Quinton and Emma Powney will be hosting a discussion on ‘Working with a creative agency - why we want partners, not clients.’
GuyKat are proud Gold Sponsors of the event which will be held virtually from October 17th-19th. Register here to connect and learn from Learning & Development professionals all over the world - including GuyKat!
We will also have a virtual booth available throughout the event and would encourage delegates to stop by (or click!), say hi, and meet the friendly team.
The ‘Inspire’ agenda
Docebo University will be hosting a half day of sessions on Monday 17th. These sessions are specifically designed to help maximize the impact of Docebo learning solutions in your organisation.
On Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th of October, the virtual exhibition hall opens where attendees will be able to network and connect with leading experts in the L&D industry as well as attend product sessions, roundtable discussions, and more.
GuyKat to launch FLOWSPARKS in US Market
GuyKat’s Tampa-based US team will launch content authoring tool, FLOWSPARKS, to the US market in October at DevLearn, Las Vegas’s leading learning technologies event. This follows a successful launch in the UK earlier this year.
FLOWSPARKS is already well established in continental Europe. In March 2022 the partnership with GuyKat was set up as a way to accelerate product adoption in the UK and North America. The product’s simple-to-use interface allows the quick creation of great-looking content based on sound instructional design principles. FLOWSPARKS’ output can be installed on any standard LMS.
DevLearn will take place on October 26th-28th at The Mirage Hotel, located in the centre of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Find GuyKat with FLOWSPARKS at booth #827.
Register your attendance at DevLearn here.
“We’re lucky nowadays, there are some great authoring tools on the market. Our own content creation team loves tools like Captivate, Storyline, and Rise. They are superb products. But all have various learning curves. When clients build stuff in-house, they usually want to focus on the content itself. They don’t want to invest time upskilling as an IT developer, graphic artist, or instructional designer. FLOWSPARKS solves that problem. You get great-looking output created with ease. The software does the heavy lifting. Anyone at DevLearn should swing by to see the new show in town!”
GuyKat Founder & CEO, Guy McEvoy
About FLOWSPARKS
FLOWSPARKS is a cloud-based eLearning software suite used for content authoring. The company offers its clients flexibility and autonomy in creating digital training courses. Based on proven instructional design principles, FLOWSPARKS guides authors in creating awesome-looking interactive content.
Read more: Why use Flowsparks authoring tool?
About GuyKat
GuyKat, tagline ‘Beyond eLearning’, is a multi-award-winning eLearning agency specializing in corporate learning. Their content team thrives on ‘making complex information seem simple’. Their platform team thrives on making content easy to access. With offices in Birmingham, UK, and Tampa, US, they work with some of the world's biggest brands.
Find out more about the services GuyKat offers here.
Contact
US: +1 813 564 8422
UK: +44 121 288 1122
5 Reasons Why Your Organisation Should Invest In Employee Learning & Development
There are many reasons why organisations should invest in employee learning and development. Not only does it offer the chance for employees to learn and develop their skills, but it also improves employee retention. But why else should you invest?
Up next: Benefits of Starting Your Company's Learning Journey with an Agency
#1 Customer satisfaction will be higher
Employee training can significantly improve productivity and elevate an employee's performance. When your employees are able to complete tasks more efficiently, this maximises your return on investment and will ultimately lead to a higher satisfaction rate in your customer service.
#2 Improves employee satisfaction
When you invest in employee learning and development, it shows you’re committed to providing your employees with relevant training to ensure they’re on track. It also shows you value their role in the organisation. By offering employees the opportunity to continuously develop their skills, they remain qualified for their role and feel appreciated, which increases their overall job satisfaction.
#3 Losing employees is expensive
Organisations that invest in employee learning and development will likely retain more engaged employees. It costs a lot to find and replace employees. Putting the effort into training your current employees lessens the likelihood of them leaving the organisation.
#4 Creates a knowledge-sharing culture
Employee training means you can educate your employees on important topics and address any issues or knowledge gaps within the organisation. It brings an opportunity for employees to learn from each other and management. This leads to reduced recurring mistakes and in the long term, creates a culture of knowledge sharing.
Read more: 5 Benefits of Promoting Lifelong Learning in the Workplace
#5 Increases employee productivity
Employees who are better trained and have more knowledge about their organisation are more likely to produce high-quality work the first time round. This, therefore, minimises mistakes and saves time. A comprehensive learning course provides your employees with the tools they need to fulfill their roles and make a great impact on the organisation. The skills acquired empowers the employees to deliver a better quality of work at a faster rate.
How we can help
Our dedicated team of designers can work with you to transform your organisation’s learning and development with bespoke eLearning modules. These modules can be accessed anytime, allowing your users to be more flexible with their schedules. This also allows users to go at their own pace.
If you wanted to create your own modules, FLOWSPARKS’ authoring tool could be for you.
Why use FLOWSPARKS authoring tool?
This year we partnered with FLOWSPARKS, an intuitive content authoring solution that allows users to create engaging eLearning. But what makes their authoring tool so appealing?
It's easy to use
The instructional templates FLOWSPARKS offer makes it easy for anyone to develop eLearning, allowing employees to digitize what they've learned, regardless of how tech-savvy you feel.
Making changes is simple
If you're not happy with an aspect of the eLearning module, you're able to make real-time adjustments in the FLOWSPARKS content editor. These changes are displayed immediately, even if the module has already been inputted onto an LMS.
You can work collaboratively
Others are able to review your eLearning module easily with FLOWSPARKS integrated review tool. All you have to do is click on an element, add a comment, and save. It's as simple as that!
There are multiple language options
FLOWSPARKS' authoring tool is available in over 30 languages. Users have the option to import and export translations.
You can try out different eLearning formats
Users can reach a higher learning efficiency with FLOWSPARKS as different eLearning formats can be tied into the modules. This includes adaptive learning, gamification, microlearning, and incorporating tests and exams.
You can tailor your eLearning to your brand
Users of FLOWSPARKS can manage the branding of their company with the 'skin' editor. The editor applies your branding to all eLearning modules that you create or have already created. Plus, if you want to change it for a specific project, that's also an option.
The user experience is great
All FLOWSPARKS templates and formats are fully responsive on desktop, mobile, and tablet devices. All interactive elements, like buttons and animations, are predefined and work right away.
Content is reusable
Users of FLOWSPARKS can reuse content across several different modules so no work is lost. When you make adjustments to one module, it is automatically updated in other modules.
You don't need to install anything
FLOWSPARKS is a SaaS Solution (Software as a Service) which means you don't need to install anything to use their authoring tool. Users are able to log in to the platform from anywhere.
Interested in finding out more?
Find out how your company could benefit from FLOWSPARKS services by booking a call with a member of our team below.
