Case Study: How Thomson Reuters developed a multi-device learning
solution that exceeded business goals and objectives…
Thomson Reuters connects and powers the global financial community through trusted news, data,
analytics and insight, tools and applications, trading capabilities, and infrastructure and services –
enabling discovery, efficiency, liquidity and compliance.
See the Pre-boarding Program in action! CLICK HERE to watch a Showreel Video.
Program Description
Thomson Reuters Pre-Boarding program is a
multi-device learning solution designed in
partnership with Interactive Services to engage
newly hired employees of the organization –
"before they walk through the door.” The
program can be accessed across various web
browsers allowing new hires to access content at
home, in the office, or on the move.
The Pre-Boarding program forms part of a wider
blended learning program that also includes an
ILT induction program called “EXCELERATE.”
Information topics covered in the Pre-Boarding
program regarding Thomson Reuters include
company history, markets and solutions, content,
corporate culture, and more.
Background
Thomson Reuters had a requirement for a
redesign of its onboarding training curricula. The
company’s former induction training program
was unbranded, made use of dated PowerPoint
slides, and felt like three disconnected courses
instead of a single learning experience. New hires
were required to make trips to Thomson Reuters’
branch locations in New York, London, or Hong
Kong for a two-week period which significantly
For information please contact Interactive Services
[email protected]
phone: +353 1 8111300
increased costs in terms of travel, accommodation, etc.
Inadequacies and the cost of the company’s existing ILT induction program were
ultimately what led to the development of the new Pre-Boarding program.
The Challenge
Thomson Reuters identified the need to develop a global learning solution to:
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Engage new hires
Increase speed to new hire productivity
Reduce induction training overhead
The challenge was to develop an innovative learning solution using responsive HTML
so the program could be accessed on different web browsers that would make
training, materials, sites, and servers easily accessible to new hires through their
personal and work PCs and tablets.
The Approach
Thomson Reuters decided from the beginning that a mobile learning solution was
required.
Interactive Services consulted with Thomson Reuters’ target audience, crosscompany experts, HR, legal reviewers, and key stakeholders to determine what the
best approach would be in terms of development and deployment of the program.
Thomson Reuters believes the development process was paramount to the success
of the program. As Sharon Claffey Kaliouby, Head of Sales Academy Learning
Partners at the time the solution was built, confirmed, “the Interactive Services
development process was a key differentiator between this program succeeding and
failing. We did not need to create a development process on our own –a process was
provided with checkpoints, including stakeholder check-in, legal reviews, content
curation, and team reviews. The project came in on budget and on time, which was
another key component to its success internally with stakeholders and the Sales
Academy!”
Key Features
The vision for the Pre-Boarding program was a learning solution that could be
accessed through mobile and tablet devices and needed to reflect the innovative
design of their flagship product – Eikon.
The program is rich in digital media. It incorporates a variety of features, which
together help to convey the program’s key messages and engage new hires with
their new employer from the beginning.
The key features are the following:


Responsive HTML framework
Accessible on mobile and tablet devices and various web browsers (IE (8, 9, 10),
Chrome, Firefox)
For information please contact Interactive Services
[email protected]
phone: +353 1 8111300
“The Pre-Boarding
program was a lot
more engaging and
media-centric to
accurately reflect
the company's
place in cutting
edge technology.”
“It felt more
welcoming than a
traditional piece of
e-learning and I
liked the fact that I
was in control of
the learning.”
“The visuals were
crisp and engaging
and the lack of
quizzes made
exploring the
orientation
information seem
less arduous or
perfunctory”
“Feedback from
sale specialist
candidates has
been very positive.”



Accessible through both Thomson Reuters’ internal network and externally (outside the
firewall)
Incorporates onscreen text and audio for user guidance and education
Incorporates a wealth of video and graphics to create a more engaging learner experience
Outcomes
Managers interviewed stated they felt the Pre-Boarding program, blended with EXCELERATE,
provided a strong first touch-point that allowed their new hires to be as productive as possible, as
soon as possible, after joining Thomson Reuters.
The primary KPIs of this program were cost savings and increased revenue. Initially designed as an
exclusive solution for the company’s sales onboarding, the program was adopted by all functions for
pre-boarding across the Finance & Risk organization since its initial launch. The program delivered on
its goals and brought unanticipated benefits:

Measurable cost savings were achieved for the sales
organization within the first rollout alone, due to new
hires, globally, not having to incur costs of travel and
hotel (see appendix).

The five-day branded blended program (Pre-Boarding
program blended with EXCELERATE) allowed for
business generation.

The program expanded from the sales organization to
the entire Thomson Reuters Financial & Risk segment.

The business goal and criteria of success were met;
this was validated by surveys, evaluations, and
interviews with the stakeholders, managers, and new
hires.
For information please contact Interactive Services
[email protected]
Biggest Achievement:
The primary goal of the
program was to engage
new hires and increase
the speed at which new
hire productivity was
accomplished – this was
all achieved within the
first nine months.
phone: +353 1 8111300