Sonic Automotive, a major player in the US automotive retail industry, has been making waves with its innovative approach to talent development through the use of LearnUpon’s Learning Management System (LMS). By leveraging LearnUpon’s platform, Sonic Automotive has been able to enhance its employee training and development programs, resulting in impressive improvements in internal mobility, onboarding efficiency, and administrative time savings.
Driving Talent Success with LearnUpon
Sonic Automotive’s decision to invest in LearnUpon was driven by the company’s commitment to recruiting, developing, and retaining top talent. This strategic move has proven to be highly successful, with the implementation of LearnUpon resulting in a remarkable 80% internal mobility at the General Manager level, a 50% reduction in new hire time to proficiency, and a substantial 93% time savings for administrators.
About Sonic Automotive
As one of the largest automotive retailers in the US, Sonic Automotive boasts annual revenues of $10 billion and holds a place on the prestigious Fortune 500 list. With over 100 stores representing 24 brands, including 16 EchoPark used vehicle stores, Sonic Automotive is a powerhouse in the industry.
The Challenge
Despite its impressive growth and financial success, Sonic Automotive faced challenges in improving its people KPIs to meet its ambitious goals. Previous experiences with learning platforms had left the team frustrated with cumbersome systems that were not learner-friendly and lacked essential functionality. Recognizing the need for a solution that would simplify the training process for employees, Douglas Bryant, VP of Talent Management, Training, and Recruiting, led the charge to find a more effective platform.
The Solution: Friction-Free Learning Experiences with LearnUpon
LearnUpon’s LMS emerged as the perfect solution for Sonic Automotive, addressing all of the company’s pain points in one fell swoop. The user-friendly and mobile nature of the platform, coupled with its ease of content creation and accurate reporting capabilities, made it a clear choice for Sonic Automotive’s team.
By consolidating multiple tools into a single, cost-effective platform, Sonic Automotive streamlined access to training for employees and made it effortless to manage and track learner metrics. The team was able to create separate instances for Sonic University and EchoPark, tailored to the specific needs and cultures of each brand.
From new hire onboarding to leadership development academies, Sonic Automotive’s training initiatives are efficiently managed and delivered through LearnUpon. The platform allows for the creation of blended learning experiences that combine live training sessions with course pre-work, enabling the team to engage employees and drive learning consumption.
Big Role for Big Data
One of the most significant benefits of using LearnUpon for Sonic Automotive has been the transformation of reporting processes. What used to take days of manual work to generate reports is now accomplished in minutes, with a 93% time saving for the training team. The rich insights provided by LearnUpon’s reporting features enable the team to measure training consumption, performance, and ROI, demonstrating the impact of training on employee development and organizational success.
Looking Ahead with LearnUpon
Sonic Automotive’s commitment to career development, training, and performance improvement has not only had a positive impact on its employees but has also translated into tangible organizational benefits. The company’s impressive asset utilization ratio reflects greater operational efficiency and positions Sonic Automotive for continued success in the industry.
As Sonic Automotive looks to the future, the team is focused on further enhancing its online learning strategy. With the shift to virtual training due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company has seen significant cost savings and improved training outcomes. By leveraging LearnUpon’s platform, Sonic Automotive aims to refine its online programs, ensure knowledge retention, and continue to demonstrate the correlation between learning initiatives and key performance indicators.
In conclusion, Sonic Automotive’s partnership with LearnUpon has proven to be a game-changer for the company’s talent development efforts. By embracing a learner-centric approach to training and leveraging the power of data-driven insights, Sonic Automotive has set a new standard for employee development in the automotive industry. With a focus on continuous improvement and innovation, Sonic Automotive is poised to drive even greater success in the future with LearnUpon by its side.