Success Story: Standard Bank

Standard Bank, one of South Africa's largest banking and financial services institutions, has long been a leader in providing comprehensive banking and financial solutions. As part of their commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, the bank operates a dedicated internal library (known as the Knowledge Centre) for staff, designed to offer easy access to vital information and resources. The Knowledge Centre (KC) serves as a crucial asset in supporting employees with the information they need, ensuring they stay informed and productive in a fast-paced industry.

Standard Bank's relationship with Bookboon began several years ago when their previous account manager introduced them to the platform. At that time, the bank was looking for a reliable source of educational content, particularly eBooks, to enhance their staff's access to learning materials. The KC staff, not part of the bank's official learning department, recognised that they could provide a valuable resource for employees by offering access to Bookboon’s extensive collection of digital books.

The primary learning objective for Standard Bank was to offer its employees easy access to a wide variety of eBooks on a range of topics, such as business, finance, technology, and self-development. The KC team was not focused on formal employee training but rather providing resources for self-directed learning. This meant they needed a solution that was user-friendly, accessible, and able to cater to a broad audience of employees with varying learning needs.

Standard Bank chose Bookboon as their eBook provider for several key reasons. Bookboon offered a robust collection of high-quality educational materials that met the bank’s needs. Beyond the product itself, the service and support provided by Bookboon were exceptional. The flexibility in negotiating pricing also played a crucial role in the decision-making process, as it made Bookboon an attractive option for the bank’s internal library budget.

Bookboon was adopted very quickly within Standard Bank. The platform itself is intuitive, making it easy for employees to use and navigate without requiring extensive training. The main challenge the bank faced during the adoption process was simply getting the word out to staff about the resource. As the KC is not part of the bank's learning department, there were ongoing efforts to market the service to employees, ensuring they were aware of its availability and benefits.

The success of Bookboon at Standard Bank is measured primarily through usage statistics. The ease with which new staff can be introduced to the platform via a simple link has made it an efficient and scalable solution for the KC. The feedback from employees has been overwhelmingly positive. The platform is considered an integral part of the bank’s service offering to staff, and its popularity is evident from frequent use.

Bookboon works seamlessly, and there have been no major technical issues. However, continuous marketing remains a key area of focus for the bank, as ensuring that staff are aware of the service is critical for maintaining high usage levels. The bank’s KC team continues to actively promote Bookboon within the organisation to ensure that employees fully benefit from its offerings. Standard Bank recommends consistent marketing efforts to raise awareness of the resource. Once employees know about the platform and understand how to use it, they quickly recognise its value.

Looking ahead, Standard Bank plans to continue using Bookboon as long as the budget allows. The platform is seen as easy to use and provides valuable content across a wide range of topics, making it a key resource for staff development. 

Standard Bank’s account manager is particularly involved, providing personalised service that has greatly contributed to the smooth integration and ongoing success of Bookboon at the bank. The relationship between the bank and the Access Group is strong, with open communication and a mutual understanding of the bank’s needs. While the account manager is based remotely, the bank has had the opportunity to interact with her during training sessions and regular meetings, reinforcing the positive relationship.