For several years now, our Harmony logo has proudly displayed "Team up for digital change". But innovation isn't just something you preach - it's something you need to deliver. That's why we launched the Harmony School App earlier this year, an innovative platform that centralises training opportunities within Harmony and simplifies the entire training process for our colleagues.
It's partly a showcase of our expertise, but more importantly, it's an investment in the continuous development of our people.
First things first: what is Harmony School?
'Harmony School' emerged from our need to share knowledge and experience amongst colleagues in a structured way, specifically around digital transformation topics. This way, we aim to cultivate a genuine learning culture.
Within 'Harmony School', we developed the 'Fundamentals', based on the idea that every Harmony consultant needs certain basic skills to successfully deliver client projects. To meet our clients' needs, consultants require foundational skills in business analysis and project management, as well as communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
In consultation with management, we established a fixed package of internal and external training that every new consultant must complete within two years. This approach prepares consultants to tackle various client challenges whilst ensuring we keep developing ourselves.
Why do we need an app for this?
At Harmony, we believe in the power of our people. We invest heavily in their development because we want to strengthen their talents and inspire them to grow. This commitment has led to an offering of more than 100 training programmes, through which we not only support and motivate our employees to grow but also contribute to our clients' digital transformation.
Until recently, we managed this extensive training catalogue through Excel and PowerApps - a system that worked but didn't align with our ambitions. No offense Excel, but "digital change" was inevitable internally too - we're fully committed to delivering an optimal "customer experience".
The core functionalities
The Harmony School App delivers 3 core functionalities that will make learning easier for consultants:
- Direct insight into learning opportunities: Colleagues can see at a glance which training programmes are available and enrol directly. No more searching through different systems - everything is available with one click.
- Personal learning paths: The app knows your growth path and training history. Within two years, you'll complete a carefully curated basic package, which you can supplement with training that matches your specific ambitions.
- Smart evaluations and recommendations: Learn from colleagues' experiences. Through the built-in rating system, you can immediately see which training programmes are recommended by colleagues and might meet your development needs.
From idea to app
At Harmony, we encourage consultants to participate in internal innovation projects. This includes Myriam, who has been with Harmony for two years now.
'When Cleo told me about the Harmony School Project some time ago - the idea of developing an app to digitise the training overview and process - I immediately saw it as a unique opportunity to learn more about the technical design of learning platforms', she explains.
'For this project, we formed a dynamic team of 4 colleagues, each with their own expertise. From product owner to analyst and tester - everyone flexibly took on different roles'.
'We approached it just as we do with our clients: working agile, short sprints, and collaborating with our IT colleagues for development. The app was built in OutSystems, a low-code app development platform that enables rapid concrete results'.
Looking ahead
We're proud of what we've achieved, but we remain ambitious. In the coming months, we'll further expand the functionalities.
Think about:
- An admin dashboard to better align training needs and offerings
- Proactive recommendations based on your development path
- Direct linking between learned skills and client challenges
The Harmony School app embodies what Harmony stands for. For our clients, this translates into consultants who continuously learn and not only advise on digital transformation but also put it into practice. For professionals, it shows how we invest in talent - with the latest technologies and plenty of opportunities for development.
Are you curious about how we can help your organisation with digital transformation? Or are you a professional who wants to work at a company that truly invests in its people? Then I invite you to come and have a chat. The future of digital transformation starts here.
