Outsmart was started as a joint venture between Volvo AB and Sigma in June, 2000. The company was founded by Richard Englund and Peter Béen. Richard was previously responsible retailer training at Volvo Trucks. Peter Béen was Deputy CEO of Sigma Information design, Sweden’s largest product information company.
In the mid 1990s, Volvo was still training their retailers in the traditional way via their central facilities in Gothenburg, using a so called train-the-trainer approach and seminars to train hundreds of instructors from Training Centers around the world. During the latter part of the 90s, the complexity of the company’s products increased dramatically and the frequency of new product launches increased. At the same time, the retailer network also expanded. This led to a dramatic increase in the need for training among retailers.
The obstacles of long lead times and high costs led Richard to start an initiative within Volvo designed to make the training processes more efficient using IT solutions, including Learning Management Systems and computer-based self-study materials. Richard saw that there was a need for a quality-minded supplier in the newly established e-learning industry. Peter, meanwhile, saw the same problems and needs from the supplier's side of the issue. The two joined forces, decided to start a company to meet this demand, and Outsmart was born.
From its start in 2000, the company has evolved into Scandinavia’s largest dedicated eTraining company, is a preferred eTraining supplier to four out of five of the largest companies in Sweden, and now employees over 40 people at its offices in Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden.
Outsmart’s courses are used on a regular basis by over 120,000 people around the world, and are translated into some 25 different languages.