At Esdec, we find it important that solar professionals go onto the roof well trained and prepared. That is why we invest extensively in product training courses, webinars and e-learnings. After free registration, users have access to over 70 modules in the Esdec Academy. “A unique online learning platform that we launched in June 2023 and has now been embraced by more than 1,500 active users,” says Thomas Elshof, Product Manager E-learning.
The idea of the Esdec Academy was born from the needs of installers, who – as it turned out – preferred a place where information was available anytime, anywhere. “That conclusion validated our ambition to take the existing training offering to the next level,” recalls Thomas. “We set ourselves the goal of converting at least all manuals into online training courses. We took a lot of time for that because, of course, the translation to the other countries was something we had to deal with. Our preference was to be as scalable as possible.”
The modules of the early days are no longer online in that form. “It was a fine basis at the time, but we have become increasingly critical of aspects such as didactic structure and interaction. But certainly also important are user-friendliness and a good design. In terms of content, the biggest difference is that we are way more detailed on the subject. For example, the correct tightening torque of the roof hook or the use of the drop-out rubber. The modules are a lot more to the point and therefore easy to pick at the start of the working day or just log in during the break and take a module.”
The Esdec Academy is an important link in Esdec’s overall training offer. Those who have successfully completed two online modules only need to take one more practical training course to become a Solar Hero. “That is of course a nice quality mark for the solar professional, but it is also a guarantee that the Esdec Academy strives for a certain level of quality. We have good coordination with our colleagues in Sales about what they get back from customers. Moreover, our product trainers are frequently on site, where they obviously see and hear a lot.”
Not only does the Esdec Academy grow and develop further in offering new modules, there’s also a lot going on in terms of digitalisation. “MyEsdec is a good result of that, our digital platform from which you can access all our online tools with one account. This includes not only the Esdec Academy, but also the Esdec Calculator and the latest app Esdec OnSite. All these tools are linked together and, as a user, you are constantly presented with relevant content. All from the idea of making work as easy and efficient as possible.”
Another indispensable aspect in that process of digitalisation is the application of artificial intelligence. The Esdec Academy has been using it from day one. “It helps us in various ways. For example, in content creation and translation. We have also framed our Product Trainer in an avatar which allows him to speak any language. Very practical, of course, when you consider the international nature and accessibility of installers in, say, Sweden or Poland. The biggest gain we make is in speeding up processes.”
Looking to the future, the role of artificial intelligence will only increase. “It will never replace people, that is not an issue. But it will ensure that we can do more without having to deploy additional human capacity. For instance, I am very curious about the possibilities of unleashing artificial intelligence on our database to map our users’ navigation and search behaviour. The results of that analysis offer endless starting points for realising new e-learning modules.”
That the Esdec Academy would be a success, didn’t surprise anyone. The number of registrations is still on the rise. “Especially since the launch of MyEsdec, which does prove that we are doing good things here. I am really proud of what we have already achieved, which is also 100% in line with our expectations. But it still needs to be better, more complete. Internationalisation makes it complex because every country and even region has its own characteristics that we have to take into account. Every day we take steps in the right direction, and I am convinced that we will be over 5,000 unique users by the end of 2024.”
