Konica Minolta drives innovation with its self-directed and skills-based learning approach

Konica Minolta, a global leader in advanced imaging and IT services, has long been an industry leader when it comes to innovation. Known for its cutting-edge printing and copying solutions, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of technology to meet the evolving needs of clients. However, behind the company’s sleek products and seamless services, Konica Minolta faced an internal challenge that required a transformative solution.

Despite its technological prowess, Konica Minolta's learning processes were struggling to keep pace with its rapid growth. The company needed an efficient way to expand on its employee training initiatives, whilst also fostering individual and self-directed development. This is where Cornerstone Content Subscriptions came into play. With the potential to streamline and enhance L&D efforts, Cornerstone was the solution Konica Minolta needed.

Main Challenge: Improving learning culture to engage learners and encourage self-steered development and growth

Solution: Cornerstone Learning Management, Content Subscriptions

Results: Konica Minolta created a culture of self-directed learning, empowering employees to steer their own skills and development journeys

One of the primary issues facing Konica Minolta was the fragmented nature of its existing systems. Training materials were dispersed across various platforms, making it difficult for employees to find and access the resources they needed.

"We had great content, but it was all over the place,” Rory, O’Callaghan, Learning and Development Leader at Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK says. “Our employees were frustrated by the time it took to find what they needed."

In addition to the scattered resources, the process of updating and maintaining training materials was cumbersome and time-consuming. This was exacerbated by the lack of visibility; the company could not track and measure the effectiveness of their training programmes accurately. Without reliable data and insights, O’Callaghan and his team could neither identify areas for improvement, nor demonstrate the impact of their initiatives.

The company has always had an entrepreneurial culture, focusing on innovation and values to improve how it interacts both with external and internal communities. Therefore, in 2023, Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK invested significantly into improving learning experiences for its employee base in Europe. With its learning management solution, and also now its access to the Cornerstone Content Subscription library, the organisation created a learning culture of self-driven learning encouraging employees to forge their own career paths.

The first step for Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK was developing a tailored implementation strategy. "From the beginning, Cornerstone's team took the time to understand our unique challenges and goals," O'Callaghan shares.

This involved thorough consultations and assessments to customise the platform, adapting it in order to fit with Konica Minolta’s specific requirements. By aligning the system with existing processes and future objectives, the team ensured a smooth integration.Cornerstone also provided extensive training and support to ensure that Konica Minolta could fully leverage the new system.

"The training sessions were incredibly comprehensive,” O’Callaghan notes. “Our team felt confident using the platform from day one."

The collaboration didn't end with the initial implementation; Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK and Cornerstone established a continuous feedback loop to identify areas for improvement and adapt to changing needs.

"We have regular check-ins with the Cornerstone team,” says O’Callaghan. “They’re always receptive to our feedback and proactive in making necessary adjustments.”

One pivotal element of Konica Minolta’s partnership with Cornerstone has been its new learning approach, which supports employees as they upskill, reskill and grow within the organisation. Introducing a vast training library has been instrumental in revitalising Konica Minolta’s learning culture, significantly boosting employee engagement and development; the company boasts a 4x course completion compared with the previous financial year. "We really wanted to inject this form of learning culture back into our business,” says O’Callaghan. “That's really why we chose Cornerstone Content Subscriptions."

With a focus on promoting personal development and career pathways, the content provided by Cornerstone has empowered employees to take charge of their own learning journeys.

"This content gives us that enablement to provide employees with true self-learning," O'Callaghan notes.

To facilitate this self-directed learning, Konica Minolta has crafted a variety of content collections, whilst also encouraging employees to engage in self-development.

"We’re seeing engagement grow. In fact, we have seen four times as many course completions in the past eight months than we did for the previous full financial year with other providers,” shares O’Callaghan.

The results speak for themselves.

The remarkable increase in course completions and self-requested learning highlights how Content Subscriptions has met the diverse learning needs of employees.

The strategic integration of this content has also ensured that training reaches the right individuals.

"It’s given us the ability to really go above and beyond when it comes to curating content, and getting this content in front of the right individuals," O'Callaghan says.

This targeted approach has further enhanced the impact of training, fostering a culture where continuous learning is both accessible and aligned with career development goals.

By leveraging the extensive resources, Konica Minolta now has robust learning culture, with highly engaged employees. In fact, one of the most notable outcomes has been the significant increase in employee engagement and satisfaction. "We’ve seen a marked improvement in how engaged our employees are with their learning journey,” O'Callaghan points out. The tailored training modules and user-friendly interface have made learning more accessible and enjoyable for employees, in turn boosting participation and enthusiasm.

This initiative not only supports personal and professional growth, but also drives organisational success through a more skilled and motivated workforce. "Our teams are now able to apply what they learn more effectively in their roles, which has had a positive impact on productivity and performance," O’Callaghan emphasises. By providing continuous access to updated training materials and resources, Cornerstone has empowered employees to continuously develop their skills and stay ahead in a competitive market.

Looking ahead, Konica Minolta remains committed to pushing the boundaries of learning and development aiming to further enhance learning initiatives, ensuring they remain agile and responsive to the evolving needs of their workforce and industry. "Our journey with Cornerstone is far from over," O'Callaghan affirms. "We envision even greater advancements in how we empower our employees through learning, ultimately driving sustainable growth and innovation."

As Konica Minolta continues to innovate and adapt in a rapidly changing landscape, its strategic partnership with Cornerstone serves as a foundation for its approach to talent development. By prioritising continuous learning, Konica Minolta is poised not only to meet future challenges but to lead with confidence in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Together with Cornerstone, it is shaping the future of learning experiences, paving the way for continued success and excellence.