Sample of TTA Case Studies

Two local colleges, each with training divisions, were trying to get technology programs off the ground.  Both institutions had salespeople who were adept at selling lower level technical and non-technical classes, but not the technologies that were in high demand.  As a result, both schools were losing students.  TTA consultants recommended that they outsource the required instructors and become the schools’ virtual bench of technical instructors.  Outsourcing instructors through a trainer staffing specialist enabled the colleges to increase both the quantity and types of technology classes offered. Based on TTA’s unique knowledge of the training market and trends, TTA consultants were able to advise the colleges’ sales staff of the “hot” technology classes they should offer, further increasing student enrollment and sales. In addition, TTA provided the required courseware which gave the salespeople an additional selling advantage over their competitors.   Between the two schools TTA has taught several technology classes including: Microsoft, Citrix, Java, and several others, all with great success.

A well known education center controls the majority of the Iowa training market. They had been using a valued staff trainer to deliver most of their Microsoft courses as well as lower level Cisco classes, but relied on a larger firm for their higher level Cisco classes.  This firm asked for a larger percentage of the profit from the classes it taught, leaving little profitability on the classes for the client.  The client contracted with TTA to teach two of its Cisco SECURE classes. The training was a great success, the client realized 20% more profit than with their previous vendor and TTA became the exclusive Cisco provider.

A major Northwest Bank was lacking the trainer resources needed to deliver approximately 1,200 diverse classes per year in 75 locations throughout the United States. After assessing the option of hiring and building their own training team – this option was quickly dismissed once costs and utilization issues were evaluated. The bank then decided to outsource this function and called The Training Associates.  TTA put together a solution that satisfied all requirements of this initiative.  A cadre of qualified TTA Trainers from throughout the United States was assembled to provide the best and most economical solution.  Trainers with the specified required skill sets were located near each facility where the training was to be delivered.  The client’s utilization rate rose to 100% due to the elimination of all trainer down-time.  The bank now ONLY paid for trainers when they were in front of the class. Travel costs were all but eliminated because the trainers deployed were indigenous to each location. TTA also provided its comprehensive administrative services to manage the training program to a successful outcome.  Scheduling of trainers, payment to trainers and acting as the control center for all administrative issues, freed the bank of many of these tedious, but necessary, tasks.  Because the bank was able to reduce its training cost structure so significantly and at the same time provide its employees with exemplary training, outsourcing training delivery to TTA has become their new modus operandi.

A major healthcare company needed to train over 4,000 managers throughout North America in managerial personnel policies and procedures in 4 months time. Its staff trainers were unable to meet these demands in the timeframe required, so the company outsourced training delivery to TTA.  Additionally, although the client had designed and developed the training curriculum, during train-the-trainer it was decided that the courses were not in keeping with the standards of their new CEO and needed to be redone. TTA supplied the instructional designers to redo the curriculum and seventeen TTA Trainers delivered the training to managers throughout North America.  After successfully completing Phase One of the training in the required timeframe, the client contracted with TTA for the instructional design of Phase Two to include: leadership, delegation, emotional intelligence, and accountability.

Channel enablement is a significant undertaking for any IT Manufacturer, and Microsoft is no exception.   When Microsoft needed to train partners in their vastly dispersed channel on how to properly market, sell, service, and install their latest products, they quickly realized the most efficient way to accomplish this task was to enlist the help of their partners. The Training Associates was called upon to manage 10% of Microsoft's channel enablement events.  TTA was the only partner Microsoft had that was able to provide trainers AND facilities in any city Microsoft needed in the timeframe they needed.  We were also one of the few partners who were able to meet Microsoft's high technology requirements for the classroom setup and preparation.  We ran many events in major cities such as Chicago and Atlanta.  In under two weeks we had lined up a rented facility and a trainer and the event ran as scheduled.  One of our trainers won an award for having the best evaluation score for a Sharepoint class.

 
A nationwide storage company, preparing to implement its migration strategy nationally, contracted a TTA Partner to handle and rollout training at each of its stores throughout the U.S. Our partner did not have the trainer resources on staff to meet the requirements of a training initiative of this scale.  In addition, the travel costs of flying the select few trainers it did have to multiple locations was cost-prohibitive.  The Partner consulted with TTA to explore alternatives. TTA proposed that it train sixty of its trainers at a single, central location and then deploy the trainers back into their local markets. This ensured that all trainers were ready for the national roll-out at the same time and travel expenses were minimized.  TTA’s ability to assemble and train a national training force capable of simultaneous delivery of training to all stores rounded-out our partner’s solution and enabled our partner to exceed its client’s expectations.

Case # 7 Solution Provider:

Client:  Solution Provider

Situation: Client has numerous training opportunities, but lacks the appropriate resources to fill the requirements

Solution:  Added Higher Level Technology Programs to Attract / Retain Students

This well-established solution provider began offering training to the numerous Fortune 100 clients it had been providing various IT-related services for.  The newly publicized training offerings resulted in requests for several diverse training courses.  Topics requested included Java, PeopleSoft, Business Analysis, Software Testing, Project Management, and several others.  The Solution Provider realized that developing the infrastructure and advertising to recruit the required instructor resources was not economically feasible.  TTA was able to provide quality instructors and the required pre-sales support to make this client's training business very successful.  The initiative bundle training with their solution has been deemed a huge success by the company’s CEO.  The training division continues to grow with additional sales resources introduced at an increasing pace.  The company continues to rely on TTA to provide their clients with the trainer resources they require, regardless of geography or technology.

Case # 8 Utility:

Client:  One of the Largest Natural Gas and Electric Utilities in the United States

Situation:  Needs to Implement Major Change Initiative Across Company As Quickly As Possible

Solution:  Training Outsourcing Partner Outsources Training Delivery to Reduce Expenses & Maintain High Quality

Our client contracted with a leading consulting firm to implement a major change initiative to improve company performance across its business; conversion of older IT systems and process to SAP and LD-Pro was part of the change. To maximize system efficiencies and ensure employee understanding of key company objectives, the client's senior management mandated training for all personnel affected by the change. Training would address systems and the company’s key objectives by which it would measure its success moving forward.  Joint facilitation of the training by TTA’s carefully selected team of trainers, possessing all required skills and client Business Transformation Specialists resulted in the successful execution of 160 “man days” of training in 22 weeks. Keeping the class size to 12-18 people afforded an optimal learning environment and favorable outcomes. The client conducted weekly class evaluations and shared all feedback with TTA to ensure the training reflected any necessary changes. TTA had been awarded a $2 million dollar training budget for this project and delivered its solution well within that mark, exceeding the company’s expectations. The client continues to utilize TTA for outsourced trainer solutions.