So you've decided to upgrade your Sitecore version. Great idea, but have you also considered your team of Sitecore users and marketers? Maybe you have someone new who has never used Sitecore before? This is when you should consider Sitecore training to ensure your team can use all the features and benefits from the Sitecore upgrade.

Not upskilling would be akin to buying a Ferrari, parking it in a garage, and never taking it out on the road.

The features in your new Sitecore version may change significantly depending on which version you upgrade. For example, if your previous version of Sitecore used Web Forms For Marketers (WFFM) and you upgraded to the latest Sitecore 10.x version, which uses Sitecore Forms, there will be a significant difference in how you create and use forms. If during your upgrade you migrated from Sitecore Experience Platform (XP) to Sitecore XM Cloud, and a composable stack, there are even more changes.

Some Sitecore customers upgrade to fix issues with previous versions or gain more features like Sitecore SXA,  A/B/n variable testing, or to finally get the marketing team to use the powerful Sitecore personalization features and marketing automation which have become increasingly easier with each new version of Sitecore. If any of these scenarios rings true for you, and your team is going in cold, they may struggle to adjust to terminology or find themselves in unfamiliar territory; especially if they were used to working in other marcom tools.

Don't leave your team behind as you upgrade your Sitecore version. Include the following items in your Sitecore Upgrade checklist:

1. Understand the platform changes that will impact your team and the way they do their daily tasks.
2. Assess your team's knowledge of the current and future capabilities of your Sitecore platform.
3. Prepare a gap analysis for each team member, listing the areas where Sitecore training will be needed.
4. Schedule appropriate Sitecore training with your team. Download a Sitecore Training syllabus here.

Lastly, building a happy and knowledgeable workforce has many productivity and profitability benefits for your company's bottom line.

1. Employee turnover decreases - 94% of employees stay with companies that invest in their professional development.
2. Productivity gains - workers are 37% more productive than others in similar roles at organizations where workplace learning isn't a priority.
3. Increased business agility - organizations that emphasize and value learning are 58% more likely to have the skills in their talent pipeline to meet an ever-changing marketplace.
4. Increased innovation & competitiveness - Jack Welch, the former CEO of GE, is quoted as saying, "An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage."

Sitecore coaching and training allows your team to get up to speed quickly thus giving your company a competitive advantage while at the same time making your team happy and more efficient.

Download a Sitecore Training Syllabus today.