Pepkor Speciality, a dynamic retail division within the group of Pepkor companies, transformed their employee training programmes by partnering with PlutoLMS. The L&D team, led by Natalie Pienaar and Kyle Kingston, sought a centralised solution to address fragmented training processes, inconsistent reporting, and resource allocation challenges.
After careful evaluation, they chose PlutoLMS for its user-friendly interface, robust user segmentation features, and strong reporting capabilities.
Post-implementation, the team saw significant improvements in training efficiency, engagement, and reporting accuracy. Natalie and Kyle’s dedication, supported by PlutoLMS, resulted in streamlined training processes and enhanced organisational performance.
Pepkor Speciality is a dynamic retail division within the larger group of Pepkor companies. They manage multiple well-known brands like Dunns, Shoe City, Refinery, Tekkie Town, SPCC, and CODE, operating over 900 stores across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland.
Each day, their mission is to provide exceptional retail experiences through a dedicated workforce that ensures customers receive top-notch products and services. For Pepkor Speciality, continuous employee training is key. It’s all about making sure every team member, from the bustling urban centres to the quiet rural areas, is equipped with the skills and knowledge to excel.
The learning and development team at Pepkor Speciality have always been committed to driving business objectives within the group of Pepkor companies through effective training strategies that focus on the growth and development of their employees. The small team, consisting of only four members, is responsible for the development of over 5,560 employees across six brands and multiple regions.
Before implementing PlutoLMS, the L&D team faced significant challenges due to the geographical dispersion of their workforce and the limitations of their existing training methods.
Training was primarily conducted via face-to-face workshops and early morning training sessions facilitated by store managers using guides created by the L&D team. However, these approaches were costly, time-consuming, and only reached a fraction of their employees—primarily store managers in central hubs like Johannesburg, Pretoria, KZN, and Cape Town.
For nearly three years, most store and HQ employees did not receive direct training from L&D, which meant that many were left without the necessary development opportunities. Additionally, all training data was manually captured on spreadsheets, which further complicated the process and made reporting difficult.
The small team was constantly juggling priorities. They felt the pressure of ensuring every employee had access to the training they needed while dealing with the inefficiencies of their existing system.
Recognising the potential of their human capital, the company sought to invest in a future-focused approach. The L&D team at Pepkor Speciality needed a new Learning Management System (LMS) to streamline their training management and drive employee growth across the vast array of locations they service.
In early 2020, after a thorough evaluation of several LMS providers, the team chose PlutoLMS. The decision was driven by PlutoLMS’s robust feature set, user-friendly interface, and strong reporting capabilities. The pivotal moment came when Natalie and Kyle realised they needed a centralised system to streamline training and improve reporting accuracy.
The platform's customisation options and the responsive support from the PlutoLMS team were significant factors in their decision. They saw the potential for a unified platform that would enable them to standardise training across all brands and countries, ensuring a consistent, high standard of execution.
With real-time statistics on completion and competence, they could also provide management with up-to-date insights, ultimately supporting their business objectives.
Most importantly, Natalie emphasised that PlutoLMS would allow the team to reach all their employees on a regular basis—even daily if needed.
Implementing PlutoLMS marked a significant transformation for Pepkor Speciality’s L&D team. The process began with some initial challenges, particularly with their reporting set-ups. With ongoing support from and close collaboration with the PlutoLMS team Natalie and Kyle were however able to optimise their courses and reporting structures to provide engaging learning while generating accurate data to present to management.
While there was a slight learning curve, the dynamic team soon became well-versed at using the platform's user segmentation features to efficiently monitor and support training across the different regions.
With PlutoLMS, the L&D team can now deliver training directly to every employee across all regions, fostering a learning culture where employees take ownership of their development.
The platform has shifted their focus from face-to-face workshops to more accessible e-learning. Rather than getting bogged down by administrative tasks, they have been able to concentrate on creating impactful learning experiences for both store and HQ staff.
Post-implementation, Pepkor Speciality saw remarkable results:
One of the standout successes is their Champs101 course, the first-ever online onboarding programme for any Speciality brand, launched for Shoe City. This course, completed over three months, has enabled new employees to become productive much faster than before. Feedback from learners has been overwhelmingly positive, and the course has become a cornerstone of their onboarding strategy.
The partnership with PlutoLMS has empowered the L&D team to provide consistent, standardised training experiences, resulting in smoother onboarding, increased productivity, and reduced time to proficiency. Their journey with PlutoLMS continues to evolve, with plans for further integration and automation to enhance the training experience even more.
By working with PlutoLMS, the L&D team has been able to transform their training capabilities, creating a powerful and dynamic learning environment that aligns with business goals and fosters a sense of unity under the larger Pepkor Speciality umbrella.
With the right, reliable system on their side, the creative and committed L&D team have been instrumental in breaking down barriers between brands and promoting a culture of #BetterTogether at Pepkor Speciality.
"We want to use PlutoLMS to give our entire staff access to relevant training and sustainable career growth that drives business goals."
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