The Value of Software Certification

Here are the key benefits of certifying the competence of users employing routing and scheduling technology—both for companies and for their employees.

As modern technology continues to advance, the number of software programs that companies are using is also increasing. In the supply chain management space, myriad different platforms handle the many steps that it takes to get shipments from their origins to their final destinations.

For decades, large software providers have awarded certifications to users who want to master a particular technology or practice (e.g., Oracle Certified Professional, Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment, etc.). Today, software providers of all sizes are offering certification programs for their platforms.

By enrolling employees in these programs, companies ensure that their users fully understand the platforms’ capabilities and functionalities. Program graduates not only expand their technological expertise, but they also come away with a new credential that can help them get that next promotion or position.

Improving Employee Retention

Early developers of software certification programs were definitely onto something. According to Robert Half, employees who are certified on a software application know how to make greater use of the program’s advanced features. Certified employees often work more efficiently than uncertified colleagues, it adds, and their presence can help improve the productivity of team projects.

“People are happier working for organizations that are invested in their professional development and committed to helping them take the next steps in their career,” Robert Half points out.

“Employees also will feel noticed and valued by the company. This sense of value can go a long way in prompting them to want to stay, which reduces one of your biggest headaches and expenses — staff turnover.”

Turn-by-Turn Instructions

We developed a certification program for our routing software to recognize knowledgeable, proficient users that have passed a multi-point examination. Employees that earn the certification become more valuable assets to their organizations, while their companies can use the certification as an onboarding tool for new users.

Upon completion of the training workshop, employees then take a certification exam, on which they must achieve a score of 75% or better. If they don’t pass the first time, employees can retake the test one more time, and then again every six months, with the idea that the time will be spent learning the software. We offer Level 1 and Level 2 certification standards to recognize both standard and advanced competency.

By enrolling employees in these types of certification programs, companies get to recognize qualified individuals who are proficient in best practices for using specific software. They can also develop highly-skilled workforces that know how to apply best practices to advance their organizations’ routing goals.

Other key benefits of certification include:

• Proof of accreditation and documentation of standard and expert-level proficiency in the software.
• Simplification of the hiring process by helping you quickly identify qualified candidates for key technical positions.
• Teams that are certified are more productive and better at solving problems.
• Helps employees perform their jobs, keeps them engaged, and makes them want to stay with your company.
• Provides proven competency in using the software to solve complex routing problems.
• Gives program graduates a professional certification logo that they can use on their resumés and in their email signature lines.

By supporting development paths for a variety of staff roles, certification serves as a valuable tool to motivate and retain the people that your business relies on every day.  “The more certifications your employees possess, the better it reflects on your company,” Infotec points out. “The market places great value on the employees being as highly trained as possible, and the most distinguished mark of their training is a certification from a relevant and trustworthy source.”

Preventing Software Overwhelm

Investing in your employee shows how much you value them. Certification also helps prevent “software overwhelm” and gives associates the tools they need to be able to get the most out of your company’s technology investments. Companies see the immediate results of their training investment and know that their workers can handle the programs they’re implementing.

In today’s uncertain business environment, certifications also help individuals position themselves in what may be a difficult job market for some time to come. The company that’s already using RouteSmart software solutions and in hiring mode, for instance, will lean toward hiring a candidate who is already well versed in the platform’s functionalities and capabilities. If someone comes certified from another organization, all the better – right?

Danielle Baci is Client Success Manager at RouteSmart Technologies, Inc. She acts as a technical expert for RouteSmart’s Business Development team and advocates for its clients, prospects, and partners. In this capacity, Danielle works with all aspects of the company, so that its Development, Product Management, Operations Research, Sales, and Client Services departments all work together to meet the needs of the greater RouteSmart community. Please contact Danielle for more information about the RouteSmart for ArcGIS® Certified Routing Professional program.