Case studies

Insight

Despite an Learning Management System (LMS) and frequent in-person and virtual training sessions, pharmaceutical giant, Cipla Medpro was struggling with low learner engagement and training retention, impacting operations and performance. In an environment with a large deskless salesforce where product knowledge is key, Cipla recognised the need for a radically revised approach to training.

Idea

Mobile workforces need mobile training solutions that facilitate rapid upskilling aligned with product development. A mobile-first, reinforced micro-learning academy featuring rapid authoring tools for content creation proved the best solution for Cipla. We white labelled our learning engine and empowered the Cipla content team to create their own courses.

Impact

Transforming desktop and in-person long format training into mobile micro-learning had significant impact on both training impact and operational efficiency.

In the past, the sales team could only learn at a desktop - a major barrier to learning for a mobile salesforce. By enabling mobile learning, 95% of learners accessed the platform via smartphone, with 79% of learning occurring outside of core working hours. Gamification also contributed to an overall 42x increase in learner engagement, with 75% of learners accessing the platform every single day.

While engagement and completion rates increased, the biggest impact was in knowledge retention. We can't apply what we can't remember. And, without repetition and reinforcement, we forget up to 80% of what we learn within a day. Before each course, we tested and measured the knowledge levels of learners to identify gaps and tailor learning journeys geared to close those gaps. When starting on Digemy, the base knowledge of the sales representatives on training material averaged 32%. Through daily training interventions through Digemy's platform, this increased to 83% in just 4 months, with 82% of sales representatives 100% up to date with their learning plans, and only 5% falling below the 70% progress level.

By implementing Digemy's unique reinforced micro-learning platform, Cipla transformed training from a transactional, just-in-case tick box exercise to transformational just-in-time learning that sales representatives looked forward to, daily.

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“ By implementing the Digemy Knowledge Partner in Cipla, we have increased the engagement and knowledge levels of our employees significantly. Their ability to break down courses into granular levels and display the results using active dashboards enable us to analyse our learning environment within seconds, without having to use any additional business analytics. We can now measure the knowledge growth of our learners, see which learners are struggling with what content and why, and also incentivise performers and link their knowledge growth to KPI’s. Digemy’s service is responsive and professional, and they are always willing to add and develop to their existing platform to meet our needs.  All in all a great experience.” - Jacques Van Staden | Chief Operations Officer

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Insight

Africa Seeds Group is a specialised seed, fertilizer, and agrochemical producer and distributor, primarily focused on serving the developing farmer market in South Africa. Their extensive range of vegetable and agronomy seeds, fertilizers, and other agrochemicals are tailored to meet the needs of farming enterprises of every size—from small home gardens to large-scale commercial farms, as well as institutional customers such as government entities.

The group sources its products from a diverse range of suppliers across the agricultural value chain, ensuring consistent access to top-quality products. Africa Seeds Group is deeply committed to supporting their customers, providing them with the training, knowledge, and resources necessary to achieve successful harvests. Their state-of-the-art packing facility offers flexibility in packaging and pack sizes to cater to individual customer needs.

Farmers are constantly challenged by external factors beyond their control, such as unpredictable weather conditions, pests, and market fluctuations. As a seed and agro-input provider, Africa Seeds Group recognised that the success of these farmers directly impacts their own success. Ensuring that farmers have best practices at their fingertips is crucial; it empowers them to make informed decisions and practically apply this knowledge, giving them a better chance of success.

However, smaller-scale farmers often lack the comprehensive support provided to large commercial farmers. These developing farmers previously had to communicate their specific questions via email, WhatsApp, or phone, relying on technical officers to respond as promptly as possible. This method often led to delays and inconsistent support, impacting the farmers' ability to maximise their yields.

Africa Seeds Group sought to bridge this gap by offering a more structured and accessible solution, enhancing farming practices and contributing to the growth of agricultural communities, one successful farm at a time.

Idea

Recognising the limitations of traditional facilitated training, Africa Seeds Group partnered with Digemy to introduce a more effective and accessible learning solution for farmers. Traditional training methods, often conducted in person, are plagued by a significant drop in knowledge retention—studies show that within 24 hours of training, much of the information is forgotten. This lack of retention poses a critical challenge, particularly for farmers who need to apply what they’ve learned directly in the field.

To address this issue, Digemy introduced a mobile micro-learning platform designed to provide just-in-time support to farmers when and where they need it most. This innovative approach combines tailored reinforcement with mobile accessibility, ensuring that crucial farming knowledge is not only delivered but reinforced daily so that it can be retained and applied effectively.

The mobile micro-learning academy offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers essential farming practices such as:

• Field Preparation: Teaching farmers how to prepare their fields for optimal planting conditions.
• Fertilization and Irrigation: Providing guidance on how to fertilize and irrigate crops correctly to ensure healthy growth.
• Disease Identification and Management: Equipping farmers with the knowledge to proactively identify crop diseases and apply effective remedies.

By delivering these lessons in bite-sized, easily digestible modules, farmers can access the information they need right from their fields, allowing them to make informed decisions in real-time. This approach not only enhances knowledge retention but also empowers farmers to implement best practices that lead to tangible results.

Moreover, the mobile micro-learning academy is offered to farmers at no cost, making it an invaluable resource for those who may not have access to traditional education or training programs. As farmers adopt these best practices, they are able to produce higher quality crops, which command better prices in the market. This ultimately leads to a more profitable farming operation, benefiting both the farmers and Africa Seeds Group, whose success is intrinsically linked to the success of the farmers they serve.

Impact

The introduction of Digemy’s platform led to transformative results for Africa Seeds Group and its network of farmers:

• Widespread Adoption: Six months after the platform's launch, approximately 50,000 farmers across six countries in southern Africa had accessed the training. As Africa Seeds Group continues to expand the platform with more crop-related courses, even more farmers across the continent will benefit from the training.
• Enhanced Farming Practices: Farmers who participated in the training demonstrated an improvement in applying best practices, contributing to better crop yields across various regions.
• Increased Access and Engagement: With mobile access, more farmers were able to engage with the training modules, which were designed to be accessible and relevant to their daily work routines. The ease of accessing training on-the-go meant that farmers could learn without disrupting their workday.
• Improved Knowledge Retention: The bite-sized, interactive format coupled with tailored reinforcement, contributed to knowledge retention, ensuring that farmers were better equipped to maintain and enhance their farming practices over time.

Leadership at Africa Seeds Group noted the positive impact on both productivity and morale, as farmers felt more empowered and supported in their roles. The success of this initiative underscores the importance of providing accessible, relevant training to the backbone of Africa’s agricultural industry.

If your organisation is looking to empower a field workforce with practical, impactful training, Digemy offers solutions that meet the challenges of deskless environments head-on.

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