How International SOS saved six figures by training employees faster with video
The International SOS Group of Companies is in the business of saving lives and protecting organisations’ global workforce from health and security threats. International SOS is trusted by over 9,000 organisations. This includes the majority of the Fortune Global 500, as well as mid-size enterprises, governments, educational institutions, and NGOs. Nearly 12,000 multi-cultural security, medical, logistics and digital experts provide support & assistance from over 1,200 locations in 90 countries, 24/7, 365 days.
We interviewed Michael Whitlow, Group General Manager Talent & Development, and Yih Wen Chang, Digital Learning Manager at International SOS. They shared how International SOS leveraged AI-powered video technology to transform compliance training, drive engagement, and enhance efficiency across their global workforce.
The Challenge
Michael and Yih Wen lead the talent development and digital learning initiatives at International SOS, overseeing compliance training to ensure employees meet regulatory standards across multiple regions. Ensuring high compliance training completion rates is critical, as falling short poses risks such as failing internal and external audits, jeopardizing contract renewals, and weakening the company's ability to win new tenders.
Re-assessing the current state of their compliance training, they encountered several key obstacles that could put compliance and potential deals at risk:
- Inefficient Training Delivery: The compliance training module required up to 5 hours to complete, leading to reduced engagement and long completion times.
- Long Localization Turn Around: Internally translating compliance training into multiple languages took 3-4 months, delaying rollouts and increasing costs.
- Limited Engagement & Retention: Traditional text-heavy learning modules made it challenging for employees to stay engaged, with completion rates trending downwards.
The Solution
To address these challenges, International SOS implemented AI video, allowing for rapid content creation, seamless localization, and improved learner engagement.
Here's what the team values in particular:
- Automated Translation & Voiceovers: Training is now localized into 10 languages, with the ability to scale further using Synthesia’s library of 140+ languages and voices.
- Live Collaboration: The team now collaborates in real-time by inviting global colleagues as guest reviewers, streamlining proofreading and refining training materials in multiple languages.
- Version Control & Rapid Editing: Updates to training content are instantly reflected in the LMS, ensuring employees always access the latest information without delays or disruptions.
“AI video has transformed how we deliver compliance training – making it more interactive, engaging, and easier to digest. This shift has empowered employees to complete training more efficiently while staying compliant” – Yih Wen Chang, Digital Learning Manager
The Results
By integrating AI-powered video into their training strategy, International SOS achieved remarkable improvements:
- Higher Engagement & Retention: Compliance training completion rates rose by 12%, reaching 97% within two months. This marked a significant step toward strengthening regulatory compliance.
- Significant Cost Savings: Enhancing training with AI video led to six-figure savings by reducing training time per new hire by 1 hour and 20 minutes and cutting training time for existing employees by 50 minutes.
- Seamless Localization: Training was translated into 3 languages (French, Spanish, Arabic), cutting translation time from 3-4 months to weeks.
“Our five-hour compliance training was difficult to engage with, impacting retention. By modernizing it, employees absorb key information faster, ensuring compliance and strengthening our ability to win and maintain business contracts” – Michael Whitlow, Group General Manager Talent & Development
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