SumTotal Systems, Inc.announced the latest release of SumTotal Social Learning, a rich, interactive platform that enables organizations to capture, share and strengthen the critical informal learning processes that complement and augment the traditional learning management systems (LMS).
While typically 70 percent of training budgets is spent on formal learning, approximately 80 percent of what people actually learn is achieved on the job through informal learning. SumTotal is addressing the critical need for organizations to better contain costs while meeting the development needs of diverse global workforces.
SumTotal Social Learning empowers users beyond formal learning by providing a complete set of tools to collaborate and share knowledge focused around any desired topic or activity. From flexible learning communities to content libraries, discussion forums, blogs and content rating tools, SumTotal delivers a complete collaborative environment for all users across an organization. SumTotal Social Learning also provides users with a familiar, easy-to-use experience with all social tools embedded within their existing learning environment.
The trend towards more social learning is driven in part by the ever changing needs and demographics of the global workforce. Traditional learning systems are fundamental to key business processes and certification requirements. However, organizations can deliver greater business value by capturing and strengthening informal learning channels that are now a critical component of successful learning management initiatives.
“Key differentiation of our solution is that we provide an integrated environment for both formal and social contributed content. This enables our customers to have one place for all developmental knowledge and scale their learning initiatives with the collective intelligence of their global workforce,” said Hardeep Gulati, Executive Vice President of Products at SumTotal. “Customers are increasingly leveraging our new innovations in social and mobile capabilities across their strategic human capital management processes to meet the needs of their new, demanding and multifaceted workforce, across all mediums of access, and realizing the significant cost benefits of an integrated solution.”