SMITH WINS BRONZE IN 2019 LEARNINGELITE AWARDS

D2L Customer Recognized as a Learning Leader by Chief Learning Officer Magazine


Kitchener, Waterloo, April 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global learning technology leader D2L today announced that its client, Smith, has received a Bronze Award in the prestigious LearningElite awards for the company's excellence in Learning and Development.

Chief Learning Officer Magazine, a publication of Human Capital Media, announced the finalists of its ninth annual LearningElite at the CLO Symposium conference April 1 in Las Vegas. The awards recognize organizations using exemplary workforce development strategies to deliver significant business results.

“On behalf of everyone at D2L, I want to congratulate Smith for this tremendous honour and thank them for choosing D2L’s Brightspace platform to power their award-winning learning programs,” said D2L CEO John Baker. “We were proud to support your team on this brand-new leadership learning program — and we’re thrilled that LearningElite has recognized your outstanding work.”

Smith is one of the world’s leading electronic component distribution companies, supplying manufacturers with products, solutions, and supply chain services that help them get innovative products to market fast. The company is growing rapidly, with 16 offices around the world.

To support this growth, the company needed to be on top of every new development in the industry. However, this same growth meant training their teams was becoming increasingly more difficult. As Smith researched its options for a learning platform, it became clear that D2L’s Brightspace platform would be able to empower its global workforce to enhance their knowledge and skills, and enable them to learn whenever, wherever, and however was most convenient for them.

Some comments from the jury who judged Smith’s innovative learning programs:

  • “Smith University’s use of technology and planned use of technology to support its learning and development objectives is remarkable and impressive.”
  • “The most elite element in the application was technology.  Smith positioned the company for current, as well as future success in selecting an e-learning platform with Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and extensive dashboarding capabilities. These features inform the L&D team, managers, and executives, while serving employees. By selecting the D2L/

Brightspace e-learning platform and activating expanded features, Smiths’ branded Smith University Online increased courses offered by 481% and learner enrollment by 828% in less than 12 months.”

  • “The vision of the organization is impressive. I am particularly intrigued with the AI and the use of personalized learning. Creating an experience that not only meets the learners’ needs, but also impacts the business in a positive way will be a game-changer for the industry.

“It’s tremendously gratifying to have this kind of recognition for our e-learning programs after only 16 months of operation,” said Dr. Lisa Cairns, Smith’s Director of E-Learning. “Thanks to D2L and their supportive team, who treated us as true partners at every step of our journey as we focus on carving our unique path to becoming a leading learning organization.”

A full list of the 2019 award recipients, including Smith, can be found here.

ABOUT SMITH

Founded in 1984, Smith sources, manages, and distributes the electronic components that go into everything from mobile phones and computers to appliances and directional drilling systems. In 16 cities around the world, from Silicon Valley to Seoul, Smith’s legion of employees communicates in 50 different languages and dialects and buys and sells components 24 hours per day, with global annual sales of $1.66 billion. Smith is always moving: helping manufacturers navigate market shifts; customizing supply chain solutions; testing components using cutting-edge technology. With testing and logistics hubs in Houston, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam, Smith’s processes focus on critical issues, from quality management to counterfeit prevention and environmental safety. Smith’s operations, purchasing, and sales worldwide are seamlessly integrated with the company’s global IT infrastructure, offering real-time inventory and logistics visibility anywhere in the world. Smith is the leading independent distributor of electronic components and ranks number eight among all global distributors. Smith’s Intelligent Distribution™ model adapts to ever-changing demands by providing reliable global electronics sourcing and logistics, regardless of distribution channel or locale. For more information, please visit https://www.smithweb.com, or, to reach a Smith representative 24 hours a day, please call +1 713.430.3000.

ABOUT D2L

D2L believes learning is the foundation upon which all progress and achievement rests. Working closely with organizations globally, D2L has transformed the way millions of people learn online and in the classroom. Learn more about D2L for schools, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com.

D2L PRESS CONTACT

Christine D’Angela, Director of Awareness, D2L Ltd, pr@d2l.com

Twitter: @D2L

© 2019 D2L Corporation.

The D2L family of companies includes D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L Asia Pte Ltd, and D2L Brasil Soluções de Tecnologia para Educação Ltda.

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