AutoZone Selects VIP’s Meridian Software for Training

Chantilly, Va. - August 14, 2008- Visionary Integration Professionals’ (VIP) Talent and Learning Management practice – dba Meridian Knowledge Solutions - has licensed its enterprise learning management system (LMS) software to AutoZone, Inc. to help the company improve the delivery and administration of professional training programs.  Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., AutoZone is the leading retailer and distributor of auto parts and accessories in the United States.  AutoZone has more than 70,000 employees in 4,000 stores within the 48 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.  The company also has 130 stores in Mexico.   

Once AutoZone puts Meridian's LMS into service, the auto parts retailer will use the software to improve the way employees, known as "AutoZoners," deliver advice to customers, as well as the way trainers develop and report on curriculum and managers evaluate the results of training.

“We believe the LMS will give AutoZoners a single place to turn for reliable and accurate training, which will help them quickly deliver the best advice to our customers," said Anita Mills, manager of Training & Development at AutoZone.  "Trustworthy advice is what our customers have grown to expect from AutoZone, and we feel Meridian's LMS will give AutoZoners an easier way to tap into our accumulated know-how."

The Meridian LMS will enable AutoZone to streamline training by immediately providing new hires with access to the LMS online. New employees will follow a prescribed "learning path" that teaches them basics such as customer service, sales techniques and managing inventory.  After completing the training program, new hires will be considered "AutoZone Certified." The LMS will also help AutoZoners keep tabs on their job-related certifications and licenses, and develop personalized training profiles in either English or Spanish.

"The training profiles that employees can create with our LMS are not unlike the kind of social networking profiles that people build to catalog their accomplishments, certifications and awards," said Roy Haythorn, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Meridian.  "Our LMS profiles help employees take charge of their professional and on-the-job education and give managers a quick and easy way to assess their workers' skills and know-how."

"We still intend to offer a mix of online and classroom training, but the LMS will help us eliminate certain types of printed training that can be better done over the web," said Mills.  "Building a better learning experience for AutoZoners will ensure customers continue to get the advice they trust.  And we feel our new LMS will help us create that experience."

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About Meridian
Meridian Knowledge Solutions, Inc. (Meridian), a wholly owned subsidiary of Visionary Integration Professionals, is a leading provider of enterprise learning and knowledge management products and services. Its flagship product, Meridian Global LMS, integrates learning content management, workforce analytics, knowledge management and competency modeling in one learning management system (LMS).
Meridian serves 4.5 million users at more than 200 public- and private-sector employers. Its software is used by companies from >100 to 900,000 employees. Clients include AutoZone, Panera Bread, Sodexho, the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Navy, Whirlpool and more than 80 federal, state and local governments. Meridian is the number one ranked learning-technology company for customer loyalty. For more information, please visit www.meridianksi.com.

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About VIP

Established in 1996, Visionary Integration Professionals (VIP) is a global technology and outsourcing firm that has provided solutions to over 900 clients in multiple industries as well as federal, state and local government. VIP helps companies challenge boundaries and uncover new possibilities to increase productivity, maximize revenue, improve performance, mitigate risk, and reduce costs. With nearly 1,000 staff companywide, VIP offers expertise in areas of Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing, SAP Integration and Consulting, Technology Integration and Operations, Talent and Learning Management, Quality Management, and Management Consulting. VIP’s corporate headquarters is located in Folsom, California with offices in Sacramento, Minneapolis, Dallas, Denver, New York City, Alexandria, Houston, and Bangalore, India. More information can be found at www.vipconsulting.com.