The landscape of corporate learning and development (L&D) is undergoing a seismic shift, moving beyond traditional educational models to embrace a new paradigm: "Dynamic Enablement." This evolution, detailed in the recently released "Definitive Guide to Corporate Learning" by Josh Bersin, posits that L&D teams will increasingly leverage their expertise and existing knowledge repositories to provide employees with immediate, context-aware support precisely when and where they need it – within the flow of their work. This transformative approach is being accelerated by the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), prompting a swift and widespread market response from technology vendors.
The Genesis of Dynamic Enablement: Beyond Education
Historically, L&D departments have focused on structured training programs, skill certification, and the foundational knowledge required for employees to perform their roles. However, the modern workplace demands a more agile and responsive approach. The concept of "dynamic enablement" emerges as a direct response to this need, recognizing that employees often require immediate answers, deeper dives into specific topics, connections to subject matter experts, or even spontaneous learning opportunities to navigate complex tasks and evolving business challenges. This goes beyond simply "learning in the flow of work" to a more proactive and integrated support system.
"We used to call this ‘learning in the flow of work,’ but it’s more: enablement may be answering a question, digging into a topic, finding an expert, or perhaps learning something new," explains the foundational report. "We use our peers, managers, and experts to ‘enable us’ all throughout the day." This underscores a fundamental shift from planned, periodic training to continuous, on-demand support.
AI as the Catalyst: A Market "Lurch" in Progress
The rapid adoption of AI technologies has become a significant catalyst for this market evolution. The ability of AI to process vast amounts of information, personalize content delivery, and automate complex tasks has made the vision of dynamic enablement more attainable than ever before. Within weeks of the "Definitive Guide" publication, the market has witnessed what the report describes as a "lurch" – a swift and energetic movement by numerous vendors to align their offerings with this emerging need. This "lurch" is driven by a clear recognition of a massive market demand that AI is uniquely positioned to address.
Understanding the Mechanics of Enablement
The effective delivery of an enablement experience requires a nuanced understanding of employee needs. When an employee requires assistance, a variety of support paradigms can be considered, including:
- Formal Training: Structured courses, workshops, and certifications.
- On-Demand Learning: Access to knowledge bases, articles, and explainer videos.
- Peer-to-Peer Support: Collaborative platforms and forums for knowledge sharing.
- Expert Consultation: Direct access to subject matter experts within the organization.
- Contextual Guidance: Real-time prompts and suggestions during task execution.
The report emphasizes that the most effective enablement strategies integrate "all of the above." The specific nature of enablement varies significantly based on the role. Enabling an Uber driver, for instance, involves different considerations than supporting a middle manager, a software engineer, a sales representative, or a manufacturing worker. Therefore, the core task for HR and L&D departments is to integrate an appropriate "enablement platform" that precisely fits the diverse use cases within an organization.
A Frenzied Market: Navigating the "Lurch"
The current market for dynamic enablement solutions is characterized by a frenetic pace of innovation and vendor activity. This "lurching" moment means that while numerous exciting solutions are emerging, organizations are advised to conduct thorough evaluations before committing to a single vendor. The rapid development means that what is cutting-edge today may be superseded by more advanced offerings in the near future.
Key Players and Emerging Solutions in Dynamic Enablement
The report highlights several prominent vendors and their innovative approaches to dynamic enablement:
Arist: Mobile-First Enablement and Autonomous Learning
Arist, a company that partners with Josh Bersin’s firm on various HR training initiatives, has rapidly evolved from a mobile-first enablement platform to a comprehensive end-to-end solution. Initially focused on dynamically generating and delivering chunked training content to mobile devices, Arist has now introduced an "AI Performance Consultant." This innovative feature can interview operational staff, identify critical problems, and then autonomously generate content to address those issues. This represents a significant step towards "autonomous corporate learning," where AI agents proactively identify and resolve performance gaps, akin to self-driving vehicles. Arist’s platform is lauded for its creative technological approach and its ability to adapt to complex training needs, such as those in pharmaceutical sales, regulatory compliance, and technology sectors.
Sana (Galileo Learn): AI-Native Powerhouse with Deep Integration
Sana, now part of Workday, is recognized as one of the most advanced AI-native learning platforms available. Founded in 2016 with a vision to revolutionize learning, Sana has integrated AI technologies from its inception, even before the widespread popularity of tools like ChatGPT. Its robust AI core has enabled the development of an end-to-end learning platform, accessible through its Galileo offering on a per-user basis. The introduction of the "Sana Agent" platform further enhances its capabilities, functioning as a dynamic learning, knowledge, and AI agent development environment. The impending launch of Sana Enterprise will allow direct integration with Workday data and transactions, solidifying its position as a powerful dynamic enablement solution.
Seismic: Leading the Charge in Sales Enablement
Seismic stands as a leader in the substantial sales enablement market, a sector valued at $4-6 billion and experiencing double-digit growth. This market focuses on providing sales teams with the necessary tools, content, and knowledge to effectively engage with prospects and close deals. This includes resources like pricing guides, product launch materials, sales scripts, and competitive intelligence. While Seismic is a prominent player, it competes in a crowded field with companies like Allego, Mindtickle, Highspot, and Showpad. The report notes the absence of a significant entry from Salesforce into this specific space, despite their broader AI initiatives.
Docebo: Next-Generation LMS with AI-Driven Skills Intelligence
Docebo, a publicly traded Learning Management System (LMS) provider, has made aggressive strides into AI-native learning and enablement. The company has introduced AI tutors, AI-native content authoring tools, and templated AI assessments designed to complement its existing offerings in revenue-generating training and corporate L&D. A recent strategic acquisition of 365 Talents has equipped Docebo with a comprehensive AI-driven skills intelligence system. This system can identify skills within content, build organizational skill taxonomies, and align learning initiatives with identified skill gaps. Prominent European organizations like SNCF and Airbus utilize Docebo, highlighting its effectiveness in addressing complex enablement needs, such as guiding employees on acquiring new knowledge in specific areas.
LinkedIn Learning: AI Coaching for Enhanced Skill Development
LinkedIn Learning has become a trusted resource for L&D leaders and a major provider of corporate learning content. The recent launch of "LinkedIn Learning AI Coaching" represents a significant step into the dynamic enablement space. This feature provides users with an AI-powered coach to assist in their learning journeys. The AI Coaching system allows users to discover relevant content and then engage in AI-driven role-playing scenarios designed to build confidence and practical application skills. While offering a robust, albeit less customizable, approach to enablement, it serves as a valuable tool for leaders, new managers, sales professionals, and individuals entering new domains.
Uplimit: Performance Support Focused on Practice and Feedback
Uplimit positions itself as the missing performance support component in many L&D technology stacks. Challenging the outdated notion of fixed learning styles, Uplimit emphasizes learning through doing and practicing, a principle long advocated by learning scientists. The platform focuses on technical and sales training, where skills are best developed through hands-on application and iterative feedback. Uplimit guides learners through real-world projects and AI-powered role-plays, delivering personalized feedback at scale. This approach allows learners to build proficiency by actively engaging with material, receiving constructive criticism, and refining their skills. For L&D teams managing cohort-based programs, Uplimit offers scalable, personalized coaching for communication, scheduling, and just-in-time support without the need for proportional headcount increases. Fast-growing companies like Databricks are among its users.
Degreed: AI-Native Content Generation for Contextual Coaching
Degreed, a pioneer in the Learning Experience Platform (LXP) sector, has long championed performance enablement. The platform has now integrated extensive AI-native content generation capabilities. Its next-generation platform, Maestro Studio, empowers L&D and sales enablement teams to create custom AI-driven experiences, including coaches and simulations, without the necessity of constantly shipping new courses. For existing Degreed users, Maestro acts as a contextual coach, analyzing a learner’s skill profile, past learning, and pathway progress to offer targeted suggestions and feedback directly within their learning pathways. The integration of adaptive assessments and coaching further enhances the real-time support provided to employees.
Perceptyx: Leveraging Employee Feedback for Targeted Enablement
Perceptyx, a recognized leader in employee engagement surveys, has acquired Lyceum, a company specializing in AI tutor development from existing content. This integration aims to equip employees and leaders with dynamic enablement tools to address workplace challenges effectively. For example, if an engagement survey reveals a manager’s tendency towards micromanagement, the insights from the survey can directly inform their coaching needs. The AI agent, integrated within Perceptyx, can guide the manager through leadership content and provide coaching to foster improved leadership practices. This acquisition signifies a broader trend where traditional employee experience and survey platforms are evolving into front-doors for enablement, blending feedback mechanisms with actionable learning interventions.
Disprz: AI-Native Platform for End-to-End Enablement
Disprz offers an AI-native learning platform designed for comprehensive solutions across onboarding, performance enablement, upskilling, reskilling, mobility, and compliance training. The platform is built with an "impact-first" philosophy, ensuring that all learning initiatives are directly tied to measurable business outcomes, rather than solely focusing on completion rates. Disprz distinguishes itself by integrating dynamic content development with advanced analytics and automated performance coaching. While enjoying strong traction in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, the company is actively expanding its presence in North America and Europe.
Cornerstone: Skills-Based Learning and Evolving AI Capabilities
Cornerstone provides a suite of skills-based learning and talent products aimed at enhancing workforce agility and sustaining performance amidst evolving work designs and roles. Its platform aims to elevate learning, development, and performance management through personalized, multidimensional experiences aligned with business and individual goals. The upcoming rollout of Cornerstone Galaxy, its new skills-based talent and learning system, is anticipated to introduce significant AI-native learning features. Historically, Cornerstone has offered microlearning content, dynamic content development, job aids, and a broad network of partners to facilitate learning within the workflow.
360Learning: Collaborative Learning and Democratized Content Creation
360Learning champions a collaborative learning model built on the principle that "everyone is a teacher." Its platform empowers subject matter experts – including sales professionals, IT specialists, and other domain experts – to author courses, share content, and disseminate knowledge without requiring extensive instructional design expertise. While initial skepticism regarding expert-led content creation has been observed, organizations adopting this approach often report surprisingly high quality, increased organizational agility, and improved performance. The market for knowledge sharing through democratized content authoring is expanding rapidly, with platforms differentiating themselves through industry-specific workflows. Syllog is cited as another example in this space, focusing on rapid content authoring for specific industries like manufacturing and finance.
Frontline Enablement: A Specialized and Growing Market
Beyond general corporate enablement, a distinct and growing market segment is emerging, specifically focused on frontline workers.
Axonify: Brain Science and AI for Frontline Reinforcement
Axonify, a pioneer in frontline enablement, leverages principles of brain science and AI to deliver adaptive training. The platform tailors training to individual employees’ roles and knowledge levels, reinforcing critical behaviors through spaced repetition. This ensures that essential information and skills are retained and applied effectively in operational settings.
Kahuna: Operational Training and Skills Validation
Kahuna specializes in operational training and in-depth skills validation, with a strong presence in industries such as oil and gas, energy, manufacturing, and distribution. The company’s recent recognition as a Workday Gold Innovation Partner underscores its ability to enable frontline workers in skill recertification and advancement.
Unique Enablement Providers: Niche Solutions for Specific Needs
In addition to broader market trends, several niche AI-powered enablement solutions are addressing highly specific needs.
IMMERSE: Enhancing Language Fluency and Communication Confidence
IMMERSE offers an AI-powered performance platform focused on language fluency. Moving beyond traditional proficiency certificates, IMMERSE utilizes AI and live enablement experiences to bolster communication confidence across languages. This addresses the critical need for effective cross-cultural communication in globalized work environments.
Feedly: Translating Market Signals into Learning Moments
Chalhoub Group, a luxury retail conglomerate in the Middle East, has integrated Feedly into its AI-enabled L&D stack. This allows the organization to translate external market signals into continuous, role-relevant learning moments, ensuring employees remain current and informed for real-time decision-making.
Glean: AI-Powered Search for Real-Time Content Discovery
Glean, an AI-powered search engine, has evolved to provide real-time content discovery and access through platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack. Positioned as a "work platform," Glean can function as an ultimate enablement tool by surfacing relevant information precisely when employees need it, thereby streamlining access to organizational knowledge.
The Future of Enablement: A Collapsing Market Landscape
The pervasive "lurch" towards dynamic enablement is fundamentally reshaping traditional market categories. The distinctions between Learning Management Systems (LMS), Learning Experience Platforms (LXP), Microlearning solutions, and Employee Experience Platforms (EXP) are blurring. The report posits that in the future, these categories will largely collapse as AI-native capabilities become standard.
For instance, platforms like Microsoft Viva, which previously served as HR portal consolidators, are now expected to integrate AI-driven functionalities like MS Copilot, making their existing functionalities appear "old school." This trend extends across the entire market, with every HR-related platform recognizing the opportunity to embed dynamic enablement capabilities.
Dynamic enablement, therefore, represents the convergence of validated internal expertise, external expert knowledge, and expertly crafted experiences tailored to the specific roles and needs of employees. In the burgeoning era of enterprise AI, where organizations are increasingly becoming "builders" rather than mere "buyers" of technology, a careful examination and experimentation with these evolving solutions are paramount. The journey towards truly dynamic and intelligent enablement is well underway, promising a more agile, responsive, and effective workforce.
