DiscoverLink Brings Hospitality E-learning to Independent Operators

    CHICAGO, IL, June 07, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- DiscoverLink, Inc., the leader in e-learning solutions for the hospitality industry, announces the availability of DiscoverLink Learning, a new e-learning solution designed for independent operators and small chains. This new solution enables small restaurant businesses to improve training effectiveness, accelerate learning and reduce employee turnover by using a proven, complete training platform created specifically for restaurants.

DiscoverLink Learning combines a restaurant-optimized learning management system (LMS) with its extensive library of mobile-ready e-courses, an integrated exam and checklist builder, and an inspiring employee recognition solution. Based on the technology of DiscoverLink's enterprise solution, DiscoverLink Talent, this new cloud-based product provides a self-service platform that operators can set up themselves in just a few minutes.

Throughout its 15-year history, DiscoverLink's e-learning solutions have helped more than 200 restaurant brands improve their training programs. E-learning programs in restaurants have been shown to:
• Improve training quality, consistency and effectiveness
• Accelerate learning and raise staff competency
• Reduce employee turnover and increase engagement
• Decrease training costs and eliminate paper-based processes
• Enhance guest satisfaction by providing consistent brand experiences

"We are excited to bring the benefits of e-learning to small chains and independent operators," said Tom Tankelewicz, Vice President of Strategy for DiscoverLink, Inc. "Now small restaurant businesses can leverage the same solution that major chains have been using for years."

Independent restaurants and small chains are now outperforming large restaurant chains in terms of both traffic and revenue growth, according to a report by Pentallect, Inc., a foodservice consulting firm based in Chicago. The firm projects independent operators' revenue to grow by 4-5% annually through 2020, while chains are forecast to grow by 2-3%. However, independent operators still face recruiting difficulties, which remains a top challenge for the entire restaurant industry, according to the National Restaurant Association.

"These market dynamics will put additional pressure on independent operators to invest in development of their employees in order to maximize the opportunity ahead of them," said Tankelewicz. "With DiscoverLink Learning, independent operators don't have to reinvent the wheel - they now have the same training support available to them as larger restaurant chains."

Proven courseware from the DiscoverLink Content Library is available for license in DiscoverLink Learning, including restaurant-specific courses spanning five major categories and 21 competency-based packages:

Employee Compliance
- HR Compliance
- Safety Compliance
- OSHA Compliance

Manager Compliance
- HR Compliance
- Menu Compliance
- Data Compliance
- Harassment Prevention

Employee Development
- Skill Development
- Leadership
- Train the Trainer
- Supervisor

Manager Development
- Team Development
- Human Resources
- Shift Leadership

Leader Development
- HR Leadership
- Business Skills
- Personal Development
- Staff Development
- Communication
- Unit Leadership
- Hospitality

"DiscoverLink's training features employees dressed in restaurant uniforms and working in restaurant settings, so everything feels much more relevant to our learners," said Patrick Yearout, Director of Recruiting and Training for Seattle-based Ivar's Restaurants.

With pricing that starts as low as $10 per month per store, DiscoverLink Learning provides an affordable solution to restaurant businesses of any size. Operators can choose from three packages designed to meet the individual needs of each business:

• Starter, which provides basic access perfect for managing one or two courses,
• Entree, which offers more customization and allows restaurants to incorporate their own training content, and
• Feast, which includes advanced functionality like automatically assigning learning programs to new employees based on their skill position.

DiscoverLink Learning can be accessed at learning.discoverlink.com.

About DiscoverLink, Inc. (discoverlink.com): DiscoverLink is the leader in e-learning for the hospitality industry, offering a unique combination of content and technology solutions supported by extensive development and implementation expertise. Founded in 2002, DiscoverLink has delivered e-learning solutions for more than 200 restaurant brands, including many of the industry's leading chains, leveraging the 25+ years of e-learning experience of its founders.

DiscoverLink partners with its clients to develop solutions that combine its library of more than 90 restaurant-specific training courses, with custom-developed courses and a learning management system optimized for the restaurant industry. DiscoverLink uses a metrics-based methodology to measure the success of e-learning programs it deploys for its clients. This ensures a high return on investment that enables further investment in training programs.

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