Rapidly growing video content put a strain on Brainshark’s data center, maxing out finite storage and processing resources and adversely affecting end-user service.
Ferioli says, “We would routinely have large influxes of video, customers quickly uploading one video after another, often cyclically at the beginning of a quarter. We’d get absolutely slammed and couldn’t scale, and get support calls about video conversions taking forever.”
Since moving video to Azure, storage and processing constraints are no longer an issue and end-user viewing experience is improved through:
- Adaptive bitrate streaming, which dynamically adjusts video data delivery as bandwidth conditions change.
- Azure Content Delivery Network, which makes content available physically closer to the end user for better performance.
According to Ferioli, “By moving video to Azure we’ve virtually eliminated the management and cost of maintenance we used to incur. We actually spend less with Microsoft than we thought we would on an ongoing basis.”
“Actually, I have not bought a piece of hardware in more than two years.”
The holy grail: completely immersive sales mastery with Azure and HoloLens
In Brainshark Labs a revolutionary new chapter is unfolding, again with Microsoft partnering closely on every front. Thanks to a focus on continuous innovation, the newest generation of Brainshark will put the solution far ahead.
Enhancing the industry-leading core Brainshark solution on Azure with Microsoft’s newest developments in augmented reality, motion sensing, biometrics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and analytics will transform how Brainshark’s customers prepare their people for selling.
Pitch training simulation through augmented reality
Sales trainees can experience a simulated client engagement through Microsoft HoloLens complete with presentation capabilities and life-like avatars representing clients. In contrast to virtual reality technologies, HoloLens combines real spaces with virtual elements, letting trainees practice in places they’re familiar with.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning for real-time interaction and feedback
Behavior of client avatars in the simulation environment is driven by the artificial intelligence algorithms (vision, speech, language, knowledge) and machine learning capabilities of Azure Cognitive Services. As trainees make their pitches, the avatars respond appropriately. For example, if a trainee lacks energy, avatars may act bored and start checking their mobile devices. Avatars may also raise unexpected objections, to test the trainee’s preparedness to respond effectively.
Biometrics and motion sensing for added insights
Microsoft Band biometric feedback sensors and Xbox Kinect motion sensing technology complete the simulation experience. Subtle but important physical cues such as heart rate, skin temperature, body language, and facial expression can be sensed and tracked as real-time indicators of the trainee’s comfort and confidence at specific points in their presentation.
Bringing it all together
Using a full suite of Microsoft technologies, the new Brainshark sales training solution provides a completely immersive simulation environment where salespeople can practice and master their presentation performance before ever standing in front of a live client. Data captured from practice sessions can be fed into Microsoft analytics and used for optimizing pitch content and ongoing coaching from sales managers.
“Now, companies are simply pushing salespeople into the field and they’re learning through experience—a ridiculously expensive way to train. Every deal lost due to lack of confidence costs the company real money. If we can minimize that and actually get salespeople ready to sell, it’ll have a huge impact on productivity,” says Ninivaggi.
Mutual benefit from close partnership
“Our partner relationship has been key,” says Ferioli. “With other cloud providers, it was like, ‘enter your credit card info and off you go.’ With Microsoft, it felt more like, ‘We have this technology and we’re going to help you get started,’ while other solutions would have had us trying to figure it out by ourselves. When a company like Microsoft offers you expertise and resources, it’s kind of a no-brainer.”