Ultimate Spoke LMS Review Of 2024

Welcome to SelectHub’s ultimate Spoke LMS review.

We’re here to give you a detailed tour and our honest, unbiased opinions about Spoke LMS — its platform, pricing, reviews, alternatives and more.

If you’re more of a binge watcher than a bookworm, good news! We’ve also recorded a 10-part video series. Check out the first video in the Spoke LMS series below.

Since you’re already here, you know that Spoke LMS is a significant player in the enterprise learning management space. Now you’re doing your homework and trying to figure out if they’re right for your L&D needs and how they stack up against the competition.

This Spoke LMS review is here to guide you like a bloodhound on a hot trail. Let’s go.

Table of Contents

• What Does Spoke LMS Do?
• In-Depth Spoke LMS Review
  • Who Is Spoke LMS Best Suited For?
  • Who Is Spoke LMS NOT Suited For?
  • Top Spoke LMS Features
  • Features Not Supported by Spoke LMS
  • Spoke LMS Pricing: How Much Does It Cost?
  • Spoke LMS Alternatives: How Do They Stack Up?
  • Spoke LMS Review Themes From Users
• Final Spoke LMS Review
• What’s next?

What Does Spoke LMS Do?

Spoke LMS is a highly customizable learning platform designed to help organizations embed learning and coaching into the flow of work for leaders, managers, and employees.

Here are some of the key functions of Spoke LMS’s platform.

• Course Management: Organizations can curate, manage and deliver course content and holistic training programs. Spoke LMS supports various types of content like videos, documents and interactive modules.
• Personalized Learning & Skill-Building: Spoke LMS connects employees with relevant, personalized learning experiences — including classroom training, manager feedback, and skill building opportunities — in one place.
• Continuous Employee Coaching: Coaching through Spoke LMS makes it easy for managers to give feedback, encourage practice, and measure progress with the use of AI, making managers better and improving coaching experiences.
• Social and Collaborative Learning: Learners are able to share their experiences and best practices, discuss events, learn from peers and experts, and share user-generated content.
• Customizable Learner Journeys: It’s easy to create personalized learning paths with blended learning experiences, key milestones and action items.
• Multi-Tenant Functionality: Flexible configuration options support internal and external companies, admins and learners. You can customize branding, content and permissions at all levels of your organization and manage additional business units and clients.
• Comprehensive and Customizable Content Library: Spoke LMS offers a content library of 70,000+ pre-built courses through its GO1 integration. The courses can be self-selected or assigned to drive or supplement learning objectives.
• Tracking and Reporting: Tools for tracking the progress and performance of learners include analytics on course completion rates, assessment scores and other metrics important for understanding the effectiveness of the training.
• Ability to Achieve Kirkpatrick Level 4: Through its own functionality combined with integrations, Spoke LMS is confident in its ability to allow organizations to go as deep as Kirkpatrick Level 4, measuring whether or not your organization is hitting the targeted outcomes of your training program.

By integrating these key aspects of learning into a single system, Spoke LMS helps organizations build relevant, customized training solutions that learners enjoy.

Spoke LMS is a one-stop shop for L&D, from learning and content to coaching, reporting and more.

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In-Depth Spoke LMS Review

As a platform designed to cater to corporate training, Spoke LMS stands out in its field. While popularity isn’t always synonymous with suitability for every organization, let’s explore who Spoke LMS is best suited for, its standout features, pricing, alternatives and user feedback…

Who Is Spoke LMS Best Suited For?

Spoke LMS is ideal for medium to large-sized organizations (250+ learners) seeking a versatile and engaging platform for their training and development needs. It’s particularly well-suited for companies emphasizing continuous learning and skills development beyond compliance.

Key sectors benefiting from Spoke LMS include:

• Professional services
• Pharma
• SaaS/tech
• Banking/financing
• Manufacturing
• Retail
• Hospitality
• Telecom
• Travel
• Logistic, sespecially those looking to digitize and streamline their training.

Overall, Spoke LMS is best suited for the following use cases and scenarios.

1. Medium to Large Enterprises: Spoke LMS is particularly well-suited for medium to large organizations that require a robust and scalable learning management system for 250 learners or more. It’s capable of handling the large number of users and a wide range of materials needed by enterprises.
2. Organizations Focused on a Variety of Learning Use Cases: Companies looking to improve their leadership training, onboarding, sales training, coaching & skill building, upskilling, compliance training, career pathing, change management and more as part of their culture will find Spoke LMS beneficial. Its ability to offer personalized learning paths aligns well with the needs of organizations investing in their employees’ growth.
3. Industries with a Need for Diverse Training Modalities: Industries like healthcare, technology and finance, which require regular updates to their training content due to rapidly evolving industry standards and practices, can benefit significantly from Spoke LMS. Its flexibility in content creation and delivery is ideal for these sectors.
4. Companies Seeking to Enhance Engagement in Training: Organizations looking to increase employee engagement in learning and development will find Spoke LMS’s gamification and interactive content features particularly valuable.
5. Businesses With a Global Workforce: Spoke LMS is primarily used by companies headquartered in North America and Europe. However, it’s also suitable for organizations with a global presence that need a centralized platform to deliver consistent training across geographical locations, albeit with some limitations in language localization.

Get a Free Demo for Spoke LMS

Who Is Spoke LMS NOT Suited For?

As explained in the previous section, Spoke LMS works well across most verticals for enterprises requiring an LMS that’s easy to use and highly configurable.

Here are three scenarios in which Spoke LMS may not be a perfect fit.

Small Businesses or Businesses Seeking a No-Frills Learning Platform

Smaller organizations (sub-100 users) and those with simple training needs may find Spoke LMS too advanced and cost-prohibitive. For companies that need a basic platform for straightforward content delivery without the need for advanced features like gamification, social learning or detailed analytics, Spoke LMS might offer more functionality than necessary, leading to underutilization of the platform’s capabilities.

Higher Education, Non-Profits and .Orgs

Spoke LMS, while robust in corporate settings, may not be ideally suited for higher education institutions, non-profits and .Orgs. Its design and feature set are tailored more toward corporate training and development rather than the academic-focused needs of higher education and the budget constraints and specific functional requirements of non-profits and .Orgs. These sectors often require LMS platforms with features that support academic course structures and research-oriented tools.

Organizations Requiring Offline or Self-Hosted Solutions

Spoke LMS is a cloud-based solution. That means it doesn’t provide self-hosting options. Also, if an organization requires a platform that supports offline learning due to limited internet access in certain areas or roles, Spoke LMS may not be an ideal choice. The platform requires internet for content access and course completion, which can be a limiting factor for companies with remote or field-based employees who frequently experience connectivity issues.

Compare Spoke LMS to the Top Competitors

Top Spoke LMS Features

Spoke LMS has a lot of learning and development features packed into one product. Here are the top 10 differentiating capabilities that SelectHub found in its review.

Flexible Content Solutions

If an LMS is a car that takes Learners from A to B, then content is the gas that powers that car. Spoke LMS has a competitive advantage in the content space, providing bespoke content development to suit specific industries, as well as top-notch content management and delivery.

• Content Management: You can centralize your learning materials and easily organize assets, supporting a cohesive content strategy across your business.
• Content Delivery: Spoke LMS supports a variety of content formats and integrates seamlessly with various media, making learning dynamic and engaging.

Integrated Coaching Tool

Growth is measurable with Spoke’s built-in coaching tool. Nestled within the Spoke ecosystem, this feature enables consistent and structured feedback and coaching for employees from their managers. It also offers practice opportunities, skills assessments and simulations to validate learning. This is vital for tracking development and ensuring effective skill acquisition.

The manager dashboard for coaching in Spoke LMS. Source

Even better, Spoke’s integrated coaching tool provides AI-powered personalized coaching recommendations. The system uses AI to analyze a learner’s progress, strengths, weaknesses and preferences. It can then recommend action items targeting specific areas of improvement. This results in learners receiving coaching that’s relevant to their current learning stage and career objectives.

Engaging, Dynamic Learner Experiences

Spoke LMS is part LMS, part LXP. While it can handle compliance content as well as traditional LMSs, Spoke also offers engaging methods for delivering upskilling content, including game-like elements, such as points, badges, leaderboards and rewards.

The user dashboard in Spoke LMS. Source

This approach not only makes learning more enjoyable for organizations wanting to lean into gamification, but it also fosters a competitive spirit and motivates learners to engage more deeply with the content. The gamification feature is designed to track progress in a visually appealing manner, encouraging users to reach new levels and achieve specific milestones.

Easy Admin & User-Friendly Interface

By aiming to solve some of the most common challenges with LMS/LXP administration, Spoke has simplified a lot of this process. Its intuitive back-end design for administration ensures ease of navigation and swift changes, most of which are achievable with a toggle.

Admin UI in Spoke LMS. Source

Beyond admin, the intuitive design of Spoke LMS ensures that learners can easily navigate the platform without extensive training. Its clean layout, clear instructions and user-friendly controls make the learning process smooth and straightforward. For administrators, this ease of use translates to simplified course management, user tracking and content creation.

Integrations with HRIS, CRM and ERP

Spoke LMS’s ability to integrate with HRIS, CRM, ERP and other systems is a key feature for organizations looking to maintain a cohesive tech stack. These integrations simplify administrative processes, ensure data consistency and provide a unified learning experience.

Integration capabilities mean that learning data can inform broader talent management strategies and vice versa, leading to a more holistic approach to employee development.

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Personalized Learning Paths

Spoke LMS excels in helps users craft individualized learning paths. By combining micro learning techniques with milestone maps, learners can see and measure their progress.

These customizable journeys are able to cater to the unique learning styles and goals of anyone. Plus, they can be customized based on an individual’s role, career goals, skill gaps and preferences. This ensures each learner engages with targeted content, leading to better learning outcomes.

An example learning path in Spoke LMS. Source

Furthermore, Spoke LMS allows you to combine different learning assets — e.g., courses, tasks, reviews — and display them in an interactive visual experience OR in a list view. It can even be programmed so that managers are required to complete specific tasks within a journey, such as giving feedback.

Admins can auto-enroll groups of learners into a learner journey or make learning journeys available for self-enrollment.

AI-Enhanced Learning Experiences

The integration of AI within Spoke LMS significantly enhances its capabilities, making it more dynamic and responsive to individual learner needs.

Here are a few examples:

• Practice & Apply: Spoke’s AI-driven technology enhances the coaching experience by elevating practice simulations through advanced video analysis and role-play features. This approach provides learners with immediate, personalized feedback on emotions, speech, keywords and transcripts, ensuring an interactive and engaging learning environment.
• Elevated Manager Feedback: Spoke’s “Feedback Insights” uses AI to analyze the quality, structure and tone of manager feedback. That way, managers receive clear and constructive feedback. This approach also promotes professional development and improved communication among team members, contributing to a positive work environment and fostering continuous learning and growth.
• Feedback and Continuous Improvement: AI-driven analytics provide detailed feedback on coaching effectiveness. This feedback helps coaches to continuously improve their approach and adapt to meet the evolving needs of learners more effectively. AI ensures that the quality and relevance of coaching are maintained even as the scale of training increases. It allows for consistent coaching quality across different departments or geographical locations.

Integrating AI into coaching represents a significant advancement in personalized and efficient learning. It enables a more tailored coaching experience, where technology and human expertise work hand in hand to provide comprehensive and effective learning support.

Multi-Tenant Functionality

Spoke LMS’s multi-tenant architecture is a key feature for organizations that operate across multiple departments, locations and/or subsidiaries. This functionality allows the creation of separate “tenants” or instances within the LMS for different parts of the organization, each with its customizable settings, course catalogs and user permissions.

• Customization for Different Units: Each tenant within Spoke LMS can be tailored to meet the specific training needs and branding requirements of different business units or departments. This allows for a personalized learning environment that aligns with the unique culture and objectives of each segment of the organization.
• Centralized Management with Decentralized Execution: While providing the ability to manage the LMS centrally, the multi-tenant functionality also empowers individual departments or locations to administer their training programs independently. This balance of central oversight and local autonomy is particularly useful for large, geographically dispersed companies.
• Efficient Resource Allocation: The multi-tenant architecture optimizes resource utilization by allowing shared access to common courses and learning materials, while also providing the flexibility to develop and store tenant-specific content. This leads to more efficient management of training resources across the organization.
• Enhanced Reporting and Analytics: With multi-tenant functionality, Spoke LMS can generate both consolidated and tenant-specific reports. This feature provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of training programs at both the organizational and departmental levels, facilitating targeted improvements in learning strategies.

Security and Scalability

With enterprise-level security, daily database backups, 24-hour monitoring and the power of the Microsoft and Amazon clouds, Spoke LMS takes security and scalability seriously.

• Data Protection and Privacy: Spoke LMS employs robust data encryption and secure data storage practices to protect sensitive information. This includes safeguarding personal details of learners, their learning progress and proprietary course content.
• Access Control and Authentication: The platform offers advanced user authentication mechanisms and role-based access controls. Only authorized personnel can access certain features or data, preventing unauthorized access and maintaining the integrity of the learning environment.
• Audit Trails and Monitoring: The system provides comprehensive audit trails and monitoring to track all activities within the LMS. This feature is crucial for detecting unusual activities, ensuring accountability and maintaining a high level of security.
• Support for a Growing User Base: As organizations expand, so does their need to train more employees. Spoke LMS is designed to scale up to accommodate a growing user base, whether it involves adding hundreds or thousands of new learners.

Custom Software Development

Unlike many other LMS providers, Spoke offers custom software development to tailor the platform to specific business requirements. Whether it’s integrating unique features or developing new functionalities, Spoke ensures that the learning experience aligns perfectly with your organization’s objectives, providing a truly bespoke solution.

Get a Free Demo for Spoke LMS

Features Not Supported by Spoke LMS

The following are features that SelectHub found to be missing or still in development with Spoke LMS. Context about workarounds and whether or not these are planned is mentioned where possible.

• All-in-One Talent Management and HR Functionality: Spoke LMS focuses primarily on learning and development and is not an end-to-end talent management system that covers recruitment, performance management, succession planning and other key aspects. If you want a platform that combines learning and broader HR functions, integrate Spoke LMS with other HR software or consider other platforms.
• AI-Powered Content Authoring & Recommendations: While Spoke LMS incorporates many AI functionalities into coaching, it lacks advanced AI features. Specifically around content generation, translation and more sophisticated machine learning algorithms that predict and adapt to learner behavior over time. This means the platform may not offer highly dynamic content authoring based on in-depth learner analytics, which some AI-driven LMS platforms provide.
• Offline Learning Capabilities: Spoke LMS requires an active internet connection for accessing courses and materials. This can be a drawback for learners in areas with poor internet connectivity or for organizations that need to provide training in remote locations. Learners can’t download courses for later use, impacting the flexibility and accessibility of the learning material.
• Mobile App: Spoke isn’t available via mobile apps. However, the platform is fully responsive and compatible with all device types for cloud-based learning & coaching.
• Most Recent xAPI and cmi5 Standards: Spoke LMS is currently working to upgrade their SCORM and content engines to be able to accommodate xAPI and cmi5 standards. This will allow more content to be loaded and tracked in Spoke, while preserving backward compatibility with previous SCORM content.

Most of the features above aren’t relevant for every organization. Rest assured that Spoke LMS is a comprehensive solution for most teams in need of a cohesive learning platform.

Compare Spoke LMS to the Top Competitors

Spoke LMS Pricing: How Much Does It Cost?

Spoke LMS offers a license-based pricing model dependent on the number of users and the level of functionality required. Subscriptions are available as single-year or multiyear contracts.

While pricing isn’t publicly available, the entry-level price is in the ballpark of $15,000 per year, although it does vary widely based on the factors below.

While specific pricing information is best obtained directly from the vendor, here’s a deeper look into the general aspects that might influence the pricing of Spoke LMS.

Get a Free Spoke LMS Price Quote For Your Specific Needs

• Subscription Model: Pricing tiers are based on annual or multiannual subscriptions. Long-term commitments offer cost savings compared to annual subscriptions, as implementation fees are waived with multiannual agreements.
• Number of Users: Pricing scales with the number of users or licenses required. Consider your current and future learner counts to ensure the pricing plan accommodates growth without significant cost spikes.
• Features and Customization: The more advanced features and customization options a company opts for, the higher the cost. Features like advanced reporting and custom graphic designs of interactive learning paths may add to the cost. Carefully assess which features are essential to your learning objectives to balance functionality with cost-effectiveness.
• Implementation and Support: Costs related to implementation, such as setup, data migration and initial training, can impact overall pricing. With every purchase, customers receive personalized assistance from Spoke’s dedicated support team and a customer service representative.
• Content Library Access: Content is a significant aspect of pricing. Some LMS platforms charge extra for full access to their content libraries. Needing a vast library of pre-made content will likely result in higher costs compared to developing most content in-house.
• Integration and Scalability: Costs may vary depending on the level of integration required with other systems (like HRIS, CRM) and the scalability features. Evaluate your current and potential future integration needs to better understand the associated costs.
• Training and Consultation Services: Some LMS providers offer professional services like training workshops, consultation for best practices and content development assistance, which could be part of the pricing structure. If you need extensive onboarding and training services, factor these into their overall budget.
• Custom Development: Additional customization or development of specific features is required can incur extra costs. It’s best to discuss your unique needs with the provider to get an accurate estimate of any custom development costs.

Pricing specifics are best obtained directly from Spoke LMS, as they offer customized quotes based on the specific needs and scale of an organization. It’s advisable to get a demo and discuss pricing scenarios relevant to your organization’s unique requirements.

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Spoke LMS Alternatives: How Do They Stack Up?

Googling “Spoke LMS alternatives” will lead you down a rabbit hole of LMS solutions.

• Capterra claims top Spoke LMS alternatives are SkyPrep, eloomi and Wooqer.
• SoftwareAdvice lists Absorb, Tovuti and Trakstar Learn.
• G2 says Seismic Learning, Docebo and TalentLMS.

While Spoke LMS alternatives include a lot of the platforms listed above, the most common — and most competitive — would be enterprise-specific training platforms, primarily focused on internal training. These include the likes of Docebo, Learning360, Absorb, Fuse, Bridge, Cornerstone and others.

In reviewing why organizations may choose Spoke LMS alternatives, reasons include:

• Lack of Integrated Authoring Tools: Other systems have integrated authoring tools that allow users to create and tailor content directly in the platform. This feature appeals to clients needing frequent updates or customized training materials.
• Specific Industry or Feature Requirements: Certain LMS platforms cater to specific industries. For example, Blackboard and Canvas are popular in academic settings. Organizations in certain sectors might prefer LMSs that are tailored to their unique industry requirements and learner demographics. Some organizations, for instance, may require specialized learning modalities, such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), or immersive learning experiences, which are not a focus of Spoke LMS.
• Budget Constraints: Cost considerations often play a significant role in the decision-making process. Organizations with tight budgets might opt for more cost-effective solutions. Pricing models more favorable for small to medium-sized enterprises can influence the choice of an LMS.
• Geographical and Multilingual Support: Organizations with a global workforce may need an LMS that offers extensive multilingual support and localization options. While Spoke LMS supports 13 native languages and is adding more regularly, there are many it does not currently offer.
• All-in-One Talent Suites: Organizations seeking a unified solution for HR, talent management and learning may prefer alternatives like Workday Learning or others that offer an integrated suite of HR and finance tools alongside the LMS.

Now that we’ve covered the reasons why businesses might choose Spoke LMS alternatives, here are several reasons why you should choose it over the competition.

• User-Friendly Interface: Spoke LMS is known for its intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for both learners and administrators to navigate. This includes developing topic-based pages and providing context for the content, ensuring that learners access the right content at the right time.
• Easy Admin: Spoke simplifies the administration process. Recognizing that L&D administrators are not software programmers, the platform is as user-friendly for administrators as it is for learners. Admins are supported with simple workflows for uploading, organizing and assigning learning items, making it straightforwared to manage educational content.
• Engaging Learning Experience: The platform’s focus on gamification —including points, badges and leaderboards — makes learning more interactive and enjoyable. This can enhance learner motivation and engagement, leading to better learning outcomes.
• Custom Content Development: Spoke LMS offers robust services for custom content development, allowing organizations to tailor their training programs specifically to their needs. This is essential for businesses that require specialized training materials.
• Insights for Managers: Unlike many of its competitors, Spoke provides detailed insights and analytics not just for administrators, but also for managers. They gain automatic access to interactive reports on their team’s development and learning progress, enabling a more informed and proactive approach to team development.
• Multi-Tenant Functionality: For organizations operating across multiple departments or locations, creating separate learning environments under one umbrella system is a distinct advantage. This is particularly beneficial for large or geographically dispersed organizations.
• Skill Building: Spoke LMS excels in supporting continuous skill development. It encourages collaboration between learners, managers and/or coaches, focusing on aligning, developing and measuring growth. This process involves acquiring knowledge from content, applying it in practice and sharing insights.
• Industry-Leading Customer Support: Spoke LMS provides excellent customer support, including technical assistance and training for administrators, which can be crucial for organizations without extensive in-house expertise in managing LMSs.

Despite a crowded space and a long list of alternatives, Spoke LMS is a solid category leader for enterprises looking for a bespoke, end-to-end learning platform.

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Spoke LMS Review Themes From Users

There are many customer stories about how Spoke LMS has helped organizations. Here are three themes commonly mentioned in Spoke LMS reviews.

• High User Engagement: Many users consistently highlight the engaging nature of Spoke LMS, especially praising its gamification elements like points, badges and leaderboards. Reviewers note significantly enhanced learner motivation and participation as a result, making the learning experience more enjoyable and effective.

• Ease of Use: Users frequently commend Spoke LMS for its user-friendly and intuitive interface. Both learners and administrators appreciate the ease of navigating through the platform, accessing courses and managing content. This ease of use is seen as a key factor in the platform’s overall effectiveness and the quick adoption rate among users.

• Customer Support: Clients consistently praise the exceptional customer support. The vendor offers extensive support hours supplemented by specialized training and consultations, ensuring teams maximize the platform’s capabilities.

Conversely, here are some of the cons of what users say they would like to see improved.

• Lack of Dedicated Mobile App: One notable limitation of Spoke LMS is the absence of a dedicated mobile app and the ability to allow for “offline” learning. However, the platform is fully responsive and compatible with all device types for cloud-based learning & coaching.

• Advanced Reporting: Some users have said the reporting in the system is adequate but could use more advanced functionality to make it even more valuable. Similarly, some users say that they would like more flexibility with reports.

• Certain Quality-of-Life Features: Some users have suggested small quality of life improvements, such as making notifications more transparent, making it easier to upload training certificates from external parties and improving custom code. None of these constitute significant drawbacks.

Individual experiences with Spoke LMS vary, and user reviews may not be representative of all users’ experiences. It’s essential if you’re considering Spoke LMS to evaluate the platform based on your specific requirements and to get a demo to better understand its capabilities and potential fit with your business.

Get a Free Demo for Spoke LMS

Final Spoke LMS Review

Spoke LMS stands out as a user-friendly learning management system, particularly praised for its engaging and intuitive interface. It excels in enhancing the learning experience through innovative gamification features, making it not only effective but enjoyable for users.

The platform’s strength in providing flexible, highly customizable learning paths is a significant asset, allowing organizations to brand the platform as their own and create almost any learning experience they can dream up. Additionally, Spoke LMS’s customer support is frequently lauded for being responsive and supportive, ensuring that any issues are promptly addressed.

With its focus on ease of use, robust functionality and excellent customer service, Spoke LMS is well-suited for organizations looking to invest in a scalable and efficient learning solution. Its capacity to foster a culture of continuous learning and development makes it a valuable tool in the arsenal of any organization focused on enhancing its human capital.

Ultimately, if a friend said, “Hey, I’m thinking about using Spoke LMS” here’s what I would say…

Spoke’s approach to skill building, user-friendly navigation, and straightforward admin sets it apart as a tremendous learning solution in the market. Its analytics are valuable for tracking and improving training programs. Plus, the platform’s customer support is outstanding, providing prompt and helpful assistance.

If you’re looking for a scalable enterprise LMS that enhances the learning experience and supports continuous development, Spoke LMS is well worth considering.

What’s Next?

Still haven’t decided on the right LMS? Behold these resources.

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About the Author

About Devon Hennig: Devon is SelectHub’s sultan of software selection. He most recently served as VP of Marketing for Docebo (Nasdaq: DCBO) and, prior to that, he was VP of Demand Generation at Vendasta, the leading provider of white-label products and services for global resellers. His passion is helping companies find the right solutions for their tech stack. Visit devonhennig.com for more information.