Arlo: Transitioning Training Departments to Profit Centres

Many organizations are still struggling with spreadsheets to manage their training or using old software that is difficult to use and doesn’t integrate with their other business systems. “When we first started developing Arlo, our focus was on addressing key administrative issues and making a business more efficient. The focus has broadened. Being efficient is important, but it’s only one part of the mix. It helps you cut costs, but it doesn’t drive sales and revenue,” explains John Mitchell, CEO, Arlo. Arlo has expanded its scope, offering a competitive advantage to its customers in a way that no other provider does—supporting the promotional aspects, facilitating sales, and enhancing delivery capabilities. The company is transforming the training services industry with its cloud-based solution that helps businesses “Promote, Sell and Deliver” their training services.

Arlo helps businesses “Promote” their training services like never before. Smart website integration technology allows web designers to create beautiful looking websites that seamlessly integrate with their website’s Content Management System. Marketers are able to send targeted campaigns to prospects, track Google and Bing website conversions, and tag and track prospects within their Marketing Automation solution. People are able to “like” and share their course experiences over social media.

Arlo let’s you “Sell” your courses, making it possible to accept online registrations and take payments. But selling is more than just being able to process payments, it’s about building a relationship with customers, capturing and managing sales opportunities, and growing repeat business. This where Arlo’s built in CRM helps sales people manage their day-to-day tasks.

With Arlo you can “Deliver” courses to the new type of learner. “We’re helping training providers who traditionally deliver face-to-face training, extend their service to include an online element. Learners still attend face-to-face sessions, but courses are expanding to include self-paced e-learning, online collaboration, and virtual live online session, then” says Tim Tarbotton, Arlo’s Marketing Manager. Arlo supports the full range of delivery options; classroom led, live online (webinar style) training, and self-paced e-learning courses.

It’s important not to overlook the administrative efficiencies associated with the software too. “Automating manual processes and making everyday tasks easy is a core part of our software’s success”. Arlo’s taken a close look at all aspects of delivering training, from making course scheduling easy, sending communication, through to automated notifications when courses’ details change and calendar updates to keep everyone’s calendars in sync. Other innovations include a mobile presenter app that allows trainers to access their schedule, view registrants details, and most importantly, record attendance. This coupled with online feedback surveys have transformed course administration - it’s completely paperless and online.

System integration is another important factor in a company’s software decision making process. “Data needs to flow seamlessly between applications for a solution to work effectively,” states Arlo’s CIO, Allister Cournane. Fortunately integration between systems is becoming easier as more and more business applications move to the cloud. “When integrating a cloud-based solution, you do not have to deal with some of the challenges faced with on-premise solutions. For example you do not have to worry about a customer’s networking and firewall configurations. More importantly though, most cloud based software solutions recognise the importance of integration and have built-in API’s to make the process easier. Take Arlo as a good example, we have an extensive API for developers to use.” Arlo has also taken integration a step further and offered pre-built integration with other business applications such as CRM’s (e.g. Salesforce), accounting software (e.g. Xero), feedback surveys (Survey Monkey), and email marketing (Campaign Monitor).

Arlo is making a difference to a wide range of organizations from large corporates such as Microsoft and Pearson, though to Universities across the globe who run short course programs. For example, The University of Auckland implemented Arlo to manage their Executive Education Programme. The software transformed their operations; made them more efficient, provided their sales teams with tools to better manage their clients, and equipped the marketers with functionality to promote and sell their courses. Their next advancement is evolving their instructor led courses into a blended learning experience and Arlo’s at the forefront of this transformation too.

Arlo introduces training providers to new innovations through their software and helps ensure that when a business adopts their solution, it is implemented effectively into a company’s operations. “We are a trusted advisor, a business consultant,” John explains. “Our customers rely on us to implement the solution successfully that those can maximise the benefits. They also look to us for the next innovation that is going to change the educational landscape - innovation that will give them a competitive advantage. We live and breathe technology so are in an ideal position to keep our clients ahead of the technology game”.