3 Ways Technical Certifications Drive Business Outcomes

Technical skills gaps are a common concern for organizations. According to Cisco, 68% of technology managers say the market for certified technology workers is very competitive, and 65% believe there’s a shortage of qualified workers. Many companies are closing these skills gaps through investment in certifications development programs. 

Technical and learning leaders are looking at technical certifications to upskill their current employees and as a qualification for prospective employees. We can understand this trend when we look at the ways technical certifications lead to measurable business outcomes.  

Technical certifications influence worker productivity. Cisco found that certified workers completed advanced tasks 37% more effectively than non-certified workers. Skill Share Business customer Publicis Sapient saw similar results. As a digital transformation consulting company, Publicis Sapient requires its employees to be adept at navigating complex, evolving technologies. Thanks to a focus on deveoping employee skills related to IT certification, Publicis Sapient consultants are armed with the latest expertise across the most critical technical areas today, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, and big data. And the results are tangible — 49% of Publicis Sapient employees say training directly helped them be more productive. Plus, with a 20% increase in certification across the company, consultants complete projects faster due to their improved expertise.

Simply working faster might not be cause for celebration if the speed comes at the expense of quality. When it comes to technical certifications, the evidence shows that employees with these credentials also improve their accuracy and quality of work. 

According to Cisco, certified workers have 29% fewer errors than non-certified workers. Plus, 66% ​​of managers believe that certification improves the level of service and support offered to IT end-users and customers. Similarly, 44% of managers say certification leads to higher quality output and more effective solutions, according to the IT Certification Council. 

Like many business leaders, technical managers are well aware of project costs. Technical certifications — while they require an initial investment of time and money — appear to drive costs down in the long run. Cisco finds certified workers generate 29% lower total costs than non-certified coworkers. According to the IT Certification Council’s report, 36% of managers say troubleshooting takes less time, 33% say teams complete projects faster, and 29% say teams deploy products and services faster when workers have earned technical certifications.  

Discover how certifications programs translate to business results 

Driving business success through learning isn’t just about encouraging workers to achieve multiple certifications. It also involves engaging workers in their own development, as Ian Stevens, Head of Capability Development for North America at Publicis Sapient, has discovered. “The feedback we’ve gotten back on Skill Share has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Stevens. “Learners love the ease of use, of course, but also the depth of the content and the reputation of Skill Share Business instructors. We’re seeing the capabilities in these key IT and cloud practices grow significantly, and they’re making a huge impact on the business.” Empowered by a workforce with certified knowledge of in-demand technical skills, Publicis Sapient experienced a 20% revenue growth in 2021 — a $280M impact on the bottom line.