M5 Networks Selects Blackboard for Training

Washington — Jan. 31

M5 Networks, a provider of cloud-based business phone systems, selected Blackboard Learn as its employee and sales training platform, Blackboard Inc. announced Tuesday.

With the product’s full integration with Salesforce CRM, coupled with community-based and informal learning tools, M5 determined the platform will provide the most effective environment to help maximize employee learning retention and align with company performance metrics, Blackboard said in a press release.

Blackboard Learn for Sales embeds the concept of social learning directly into the Salesforce CRM platform by incorporating social learning tools and Web 2.0 innovations, such as discussion boards, blogs and wikis. The application can also be enabled for use on smartphones and other mobile devices.

The selection was driven by an internal employee survey and by M5’s executive “People Team” that focuses on training, office management and workplace happiness, Blackboard said. M5 employees will take up to 150 hours annually of cross-functional courses, such as customer management, investment techniques and matching product solutions to client pain points.

Blackboard Learn for Sales will allow sales reps to directly enroll in and complete training courses on Blackboard’s flagship learning management platform, Blackboard Learn.

Sales managers can measure the impact of training on sales growth, certify reps on new products, deliver training to geographically dispersed or traveling teams, and create targeted courses for reps needing improvement. Blackboard Learn for Sales is also integrated with Salesforce Chatter, allowing colleagues to instantly share information and ideas.

Source: Blackboard Inc.