EDUCATION

The Benefits of Knowledge-Sharing

At BDP, education for employees and customers can make all the difference

According to English philosopher Francis Bacon, Knowledge is power.

However, at BDP, we like to think shared knowledge is even more powerful because it benefits the many, not just the few.

Over the last 10 years shippers have increasingly outsourced key elements of their supply chains and typically logistics providers like BDP have been the beneficiaries of that activity. What also can happen during outsourcing is that shippers lose internal expertise, which is further complicated as new employees join their organizations.

“We began to see the need to not only train our own employees but also to respond to a demand for educational services from our customers. We looked at how we could best meet those needs,” said Frank Bolte, BDP’s Chief Administration Officer.

For some time, BDP’s popular Regulatory Compliance and Trade seminars in the United States were one of the staples for global trade management education for customers and other members of the industry. The seminars are held in the United States in Philadelphia, Houston, and in Europe and Singapore (others are being scheduled for the Middle East and South America). The seminars provide the most up-to-date information and hot topics in regulatory compliance, as well as an occasion to network with peers.

The company decided to take its education programs to the next level—externally and internally. “The success of those compliance seminars prompted us to do more,” Bolte said.

“In a world where every little bit helps, when it comes to differentiation, we believe our approach to education is a key differentiator, not only for us but also our clients.”

Frank Bolte, Chief Administration Officer - BDP

As the company expanded its list of seminars on global trade, it also began to develop a number of webinars. Recently, when BDP announced a webinar for the Korean Free Trade Agreement, within 24 hours over 400 registrants had applied.

“It is that kind of response that confirms the need for ongoing education. Customers and prospective customers are responding very positively to our efforts. Our ability to share our knowledge is growing each week,” says Michael Ford, Vice President of BDP Regulatory Compliance and Quality.

“In a world where every little bit helps, when it comes to differentiation, we believe our approach to education is a key differentiator, not only for us but also our clients,” Bolte added.

BDP’s webinars reach over 250 individuals at different companies every month. BDP instructors explore critical import and export topics. “It’s easy and quick. Customers register and can follow a different subject every month for one hour from the convenience of their desk. And based on a customer’s request, BDP can also provide specific one-day learning events, either at the BDP offices or at the client’s premises,” Ford added.

Internal expertise for external results

In 2009 BDP reached another milestone in its education programming with the development of BDP University, an internal program for employees.

BDP U, as it is called, was the first stake in the ground to begin creating an online education world, which could become the foundation of the structure of our educational services efforts, Bolte said.

According to Sarah Meaney, Manager of Training, Education and Development, “The education of our employees is paramount to the quality of the services we deliver to our clients. If we regard our employees as one of our most important assets at BDP, we must make the appropriate investment in those individuals,” she said.

From day one all BDP employees are engaged within BDP U globally, Meaney pointed out. “Where we have BDP U in place, all employees are held to rigorous standards in terms of their activity in BDP U on an annual basis,” she said. “While we don’t dictate all courses are taken—because everyone is at a different stage in their own development—we do have a standard that says BDP employees must earn a minimum of 12 credits annually through the University.”

“The education of our employees is paramount to the quality of the services we deliver to our clients.”

Sarah Meaney, Manager of Training,
Education and Development - BDP

Meaney said feedback from some of BDP’s newest employees indicate that education is one of the key tools employees are looking for in an employer.

“Most recently we launched interactive, simulation-based courses, where students engage in a simulation of an actual work issue. We are always looking for that next advance in education…innovative ways to deliver education to our employees, which in turn helps our customers,” Meaney said.

“The whole BDP U concept, including the Leadership Development Program, as well the mentoring process, is a huge competitive advantage for BDP,” Bolte said. “How many companies our size have a university?”

Since BDP U was founded, more than 175 on-demand courses have been introduced within the curriculum. The courses can be taken anytime, day or night.

The company also supports various centers of excellence within the company. For example, Ken Wensel, BDP Chief Global Sales Officer, decided to create a School of Sales within the University, where each new salesperson studies as part of their orientation.

“We place such a strong emphasis on training and education—not only for our employees but also as a provider of education services for the marketplace,” Bolte said.