APICS, the association for supply chain management professionals, wants to make it easier for its members and customers to choose the education and credentialing programs that best fit their needs and lifestyle.

In order to do this, the group announced the launch of new self-study courses and an education selector tool last week.

APICS Executive Vice President of Education and Certification Dean Martinez said the organization hopes the new tools will  allow customers and members to make a more informed decision not only on what is the right learning modality for them but also which is the right learning tool based on where they are and where they want to go.

“We heard from our members and customers, and also our partners, that they were looking for an easier way in which individuals coming to our website could make a selection about what is the right offer for them,” Martniez said.

To create a more intuitive process, APICS launched the “Which Program Is Right For Me?” selector tool, which allows users to see the different types of education and certification offerings as well as the different time and financial commitments that each require. Users can also compare offerings side by side.

In addition, individuals can also determine and choose offerings that are designated self-study or instructor led. Realizing the importance of self-study to its members and customers, APICS introduced a self-study kit and an online course to provide alternative education paths.

Both of the new tools are intended to better meet member needs. “Essentially our goal is to empower and make it easier for our customers to make an informed decision,” Martinez said.

The tools are also part of APICS’ commitment to staying ahead of trends and challenging the status quo.

“The world is changing very, very quickly, and our members are changing as fast, so we cannot have our heads in the sand and assume that because we’ve always done it this way, we have to continue doing it,” Martinez said. “Frankly it’s the opposite. We need to be challenging ourselves as often as anyone else, particularly as often as for-profit organizations.”

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