Summary

Mindtools, a 30‐year leader in developing better managers, partnered with StackOne to revolutionize its integration approach. By offloading the heavy lifting of integrations, from single sign-on to comprehensive LMS connectivity, StackOne enabled Mindtools to rapidly deploy key integrations with platforms like SAP SuccessFactors, Workday, and Go One. This partnership not only streamlined client access and reporting but also helped secure critical renewals, allowing Mindtools to focus on what they do best: innovating on new products and building the managers of the future.

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‍It was really great working with the team – super knowledgeable, super responsive.

Company Overview

Mindtools have spent nearly three decades equipping managers and leaders  with the practical tools, resources, research and consultancy they need to excel. With a mission to build better managers and, in turn, better organizations, Mindtools serves a diverse clientele — from small charities to global financial institutions — by offering a comprehensive suite of management and leadership skills development solutions.

The Integration Challenge

At a time when seamless user experience is paramount, integration has become a frequent and critical question for Mindtools’ clients.

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‍In all the time that I've been working in Product and Engineering, the question I have heard most often is  ‘Do you integrate with….?’,

‍Kirsten Wilson, Mindtools

Common challenges included:

1. Fragmented systems: clients often used multiple portals for accessing content, leading to confusion and inefficiencies.
2. Diverse integration needs: while some clients required simple single sign-on, others needed full-scale integrations to unify access, reporting, and usage data.
3. Capacity constraints: developing and maintaining integrations in-house was time-consuming and unpredictable, with projects often extending far beyond the expected timeline.

Mindtools needed a partner who could address these challenges efficiently and scale integrations without diverting resources from its core mission of product innovation.

Why Mindtools Chose StackOne

Mindtools selected StackOne for its ability to rapidly deliver tailored, enterprise-grade integrations.

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‍We wanted to launch new products and move into new market share areas, rather than focus on integrations. Integrations we know historically take a lot longer than we think they're going to take, as no integration is ever the same. So the appeal of somebody else taking the heavy lifting on that, solving our pain points and allowing us to do a more unified integration on our side was very appealing.

Kirsten Wilson, Mindtools

Agility & Speed

StackOne’s unified API allowed for quick deployment of integrations, drastically reducing development time.

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‍It means that developers can speak developer to developer. It just allows everything to be much slicker and more agile. We're not sitting down and having big project meetings all the time. [StackOne] has allowed them to just get on with it.

‍Kirsten Wilson, Mindtools

Technical Expertise

The StackOne team brought deep technical knowledge to the table by modelling API unification across large scale HCM, as well as smaller LMS systems, building robust and scalable integrations.

Focus on Core Innovation

By trusting StackOne with their integration heavy lifting, Mindtools redirected their Engineering efforts towards developing new training tools and enhancing its product suite.

Onboarding Experience

The onboarding process with StackOne was smooth and efficient:

• Rapid integration setup: Mindtools quickly moved from a custom-built integration with Degreed to supporting major platforms—SAP SuccessFactors, Workday, and Go One.
• Streamlined communication: using shared tools and agile methodologies, the development teams engaged in developer-to-developer conversations, expediting problem resolution.
• Customizable solutions: any unique client requirements were met through collaborative discussions, ensuring that even non-standard integration challenges were resolved swiftly.

The Results

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‍One of our clients in Australia renewed their partnership with us thanks to the seamless Workday integration we achieved in collaboration with StackOne. Bringing reporting and access into a single place was essential for our client, and we delivered exactly what they needed .

‍Kirsten Wilson, Mindtools

StackOne’s approach delivered significant, measurable benefits for Mindtools:

• Enhanced customer retention: a client in Australia renewed their contract thanks to a critical Workday integration that centralized reporting and access.
• Operational efficiency: with integrations handled externally, Mindtools’ team could concentrate on launching new products and refining their existing offering.
• Improved user experience: Mindtools’ clients now enjoy a unified learning ecosystem with seamless access to a rich content library.
• Scalable integration infrastructure: StackOne’s agile API solution has built a robust foundation that can support future integration demands as Mindtools expands its product offerings.

Next Steps

Building on the successful integration foundation established with StackOne, Mindtools is excited about its future roadmap:

• Product innovation: recently launched manager skill assessments and an adaptive learning tool (the Manager Skill Builder) are already making waves.
• Enhanced coaching solutions: an upcoming AI-powered coaching tool is set to further empower managers.
• Continued partnership: with StackOne as a trusted integration partner, Mindtools will keep evolving its LMS connectivity and integration capabilities to meet emerging client needs.

StackOne’s unified API not only solved immediate integration challenges but also paved the way for Mindtools to focus on what it does best: developing better managers and, ultimately, better organizations.

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