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Big Data and Analytics Training Enables U.S. Retailer to Keep Major Merger on Track
Client
Large Food and Drug Retailer (LFDR)
LFDR, a Fortune 100 company, is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States with sales of $36.1 billion in 2013. The company employs approximately 138,000 people and operates more than 1,300 stores and 22 distribution centers in the U.S., as well as 31 manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada.
Situation
Big Data and Analytics Skills Critical for Successful Merger
LFDR and an American Grocery Company (AGC) were working through a merger agreement for more than 1,000 stores and needed to combine data and IT systems. To manage transactions, e-commerce, marketing and the overall shopper experience, AGC used big data and analytics products on the IBM InfoSphere platform. The LFDR team members did not have experience using InfoSphere, and the systems merger could not proceed until they did. The LFDR team needed to adopt IBM InfoSphere immediately.
Solution
Tailor-Made Learning Solution Helps U.S. and Canadian Users Securely Share and Manage Data
LFDR chose Global Knowledge to help because of our reputation as an industry leader, our ability to accommodate international learners and our ability to quickly craft a custom learning solution.
The Global Knowledge instructional design team immediately assessed AGC's InfoSphere environment and tailored IBM InfoSphere courses and labs to fill LFDR's skills gaps. LFDR employees gained data integration, data warehousing and data automation skills.
The learning solution covered IBM InfoSphere Discovery, FastTrack and DataStage, with the two tailored courses each delivered twice. Twenty-five LFDR students in the U.S. and Canada received IBM InfoSphere training in classrooms and virtual classrooms, depending on their location.
Results
Rapidly Delivered Training Re-Starts Stalled Progress
In just six weeks, the LFDR team was up to speed. The tailored learning solution enabled the LFDR team to restart stalled projects that were critical to the merger, keeping merger proceedings on track.
In the training sessions, employees not only gained the IBM InfoSphere expertise critical to existing functionality, but they also gained the skills that enable them to plan for future systems. Due to the success of the customized IBM InfoSphere courses, plans are underway to deliver training to LFDR team members in Manila, Philippines.