Axonify is a frontline learning and enablement solution that's science-backed and proven to maximize the potential of workforces. It gives frontline workers the tools they need to learn, connect, and get things done day-to-day. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Axonify co-founder and CEO Carol Leaman to learn more about the company.
"I'm Carol Leaman, the co-founder and CEO of Axonify. In 2011, I recognized that there was a significantly under-served and under-supported segment of the employee population in frontline workers. They weren't getting the ideal attention and investment they, and the organizations they worked for, needed to drive business outcomes. So we started Axonify to equip the frontline workforce with the skills, training and tools necessary for personal and business success. Over a decade later, I can say with confidence that we have disrupted the corporate learning space through our unique approach to learning and development."
"Before Axonify, I was the CEO of PostRank Inc., a social engagement analytics platform that I later sold to Google. I have also served as the CEO of several other technology firms, including RSS Solutions and Fakespace Systems. I am a graduate of the University of Waterloo."
"Despite my love of the previous companies and what we were doing, Axonify is by far the one I feel most connected to. Axonify's initial mission was simply to put knowledge and information in the hands of frontline workers wherever and whenever they had a few minutes a shift and to continuously reinforce knowledge gaps so they would know what to do in the moment of need. The incredible success we had with the massive adoption of a fast, fun, daily experience and the behavior change it generated allowed us to think about what other innovative directions we could go with such incredible levels of participation. So today, we've expanded our value to include things like onboarding, access to information with AI, communication features, and other operational solutions. We've continued to evolve our output to keep pace with the challenges of our customers and the rapid pace of tech. But our continual innovation is always centered on delivering a solution that grows knowledge and confidence, drives behavior change, boosts performance,e and maximizes ROI for the frontline."
Core Products
What are the company's core products and features? Leaman explained:
"At its core, Axonify is a frontline learning and enablement solution that gives frontline workers everything they need to learn, connect and get things done. Whether they're retail sales associates, hotel receptionists, grocery cashiers, or warehouse workers, Axonify offers them personalized, highly relevant learning solutions that address their unique on-the-job needs. It's also built for business impact, using machine learning to tie knowledge to behaviors and tangible business results."
"Our solution is designed to fit directly into the flow of work, minimizing disruptions and time off the floor. We support this approach through several products that impact learning, communications, and operations."
"Our solution provides just-in-time support, so instead of spending hours watching lengthy training videos or searching through binders, workers can use Axonify in short bursts throughout their shift to brush up on their skills, practice something new or get instant answers to on-the-job questions with Max, our conversational AI assistant."
"In addition to making learning digestible, we fundamentally understand that for information to be retained, it needs to be reinforced. Instead of simply memorizing information, like a student before an exam, we aim to help workers absorb the information with learning that's spaced out over multiple events, so it sticks with them long-term and is consistently applied on the job."
"And to make it an irresistible experience, we wrap everything in gamification. For example, our platform includes casual gaming if a learner chooses, or a leaderboard which drives friendly competition, in addition to earning badges, points and other rewards. When workers enjoy their learning and can complete it on their own time, they're more likely to dive into training on a more routine -- and as we've proven -- daily basis."
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Leaman affirmed:
"Axonify is unique in that no matter the trends, news or hurdles surrounding learning and development for the frontline, our teams are always innovating and considering how to improve the experience and make a business impact."
"One of our key differentiators is our strategic use of data. While there's value in collecting traditional information about completion rates and scores in training, compared to other learning solutions we go significantly deeper. Axonify captures billions of data points every year about what people know, what they don't know, how long it took them to learn it, how it changed their behavior, how that behavior caused them to sell more, or reduce accidents. In other words, it allows us to better understand the connection between effective learning and development initiatives and increased productivity from a stronger, more knowledgeable frontline."
"The company's innovative approach to training has been recognized by Gartner and G2. This year, Axonify was identified as a Representative Vendor in the 2024 Gartner® Market Guide for Corporate Learning Technologies and earned 20 G2 badges, solidifying its status as an industry leader and innovator. In December, Axonify won two Brandon Hall Group Excellence in Technology Awards: Silver for Best Advance in a Generative AI Solution and Gold in Best Advance in Learning Management Measurement/Business Impact Tools."
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company's most significant milestones? Leaman cited:
"In 2012, we fundamentally changed the way organizations delivered training. Until then, it had been a one-and-done, check-the-box traditional approach that had to be completed in a back room and had little measurable impact on performance. We introduced the concept of continuous, gamified training in the flow of work based on brain science and built to drive real business results -- it was a massive paradigm shift."
"AI has been at the core of our platform for more than 10 years. In 2012, we were the first to deliver adaptive learning. In 2018, we were the first learning platform to measure the impact of learning. In 2021, we launched the industry's first micro-content generator. And we recently launched Max, our conversational AI assistant that delivers instant on-the-job answers. We've also recently celebrated the latest releases of our Communications and Operations products, offering frontline organizations a consolidated solution that promotes consistent execution and performance."
"Axonify users answer a variety of questions to help build or reinforce the knowledge needed for specific roles and, as of this year, we've enabled over 4 million frontline workers globally across 160 countries who have answered a lifetime total of 4.4 billion questions on our platform."
Customer Success Stories
When asking Leaman about customer success stories, she highlighted:
"Axonify works with customers in various industries, including retail, grocery, hospitality, manufacturing, F&I and food and beverage. It's hard to sum up all of our past work and capabilities, but let me tell you about how one major retailer leveraged our solution to close knowledge gaps and increase safety and a restaurant chain was able to change behaviors and drive success."
"Foot Locker's leadership noticed that its frontline workers needed stronger guidance in leading meaningful interactions with customers. With the help of Axonify, its associates would gain a better understanding of how to approach conversations with the goal of creating a positive customer experience and encouraging them to shop with Foot Locker again -- not just making a one-time sale but offering a full experience."
"To do this, Foot Locker's frontline workers participated in Axonify's gamified learning experiences. The bite-sized and personalized training content meant that staff could learn at their own pace and focus on areas where they needed individual improvement. It also provided a daily cadence of learning, which paid off big, with 95% of North American employees logging in to do their training 12.4 times per month."
"In addition to Foot Locker, Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe also turned to Axonify to help equip its frontline workers with continuous training opportunities. The fast-casual food chain's CEO knew that one-and-done training failed to keep workers' attention and a corporate LMS-based approach wasn't changing employee behaviors. He looked to Axonify to better communicate directly with the frontline and improve turnover and retention by ensuring team members were confident in their work. Another game-changer? Access to reports so leaders could measure participation, frequency and knowledge."
"Implementing Axonify's platform, the company experienced a 70% participation rate and an 8% knowledge lift. The digestible training content kept workers hungry for more, allowing the organization to reach its goal of ensuring learning was both engaging and instilled long-term skills that employees could utilize on the job."
"No matter the size or industry of the organization, frontline training, communication and task management are essential tools to ensure productivity and continued success. By encouraging employees to engage in continuous training for just a few minutes a day, organizations strengthen the foundational knowledge critical for frontline performance and the ongoing success of their business."