The Snowflake Training Advantage: Survey Reveals the Powerful ROI of Snowflake Education Services

If you want to add rocket fuel to your organization, invest in employee education and training. While it may not be the first strategy that comes to mind, it’s one of the most effective ways to drive widespread business benefits, from increased efficiency to greater employee satisfaction — and it deserves to be a top priority.

Training couldn’t be more relevant or pressing in our new “AI normal,” which is advancing at unprecedented speeds. According to Gartner®, “85% of business leaders anticipate a significant surge in skills development to keep pace with AI and digital advancements.” Further, a recent global survey found that companies that offer training to engaged employees are 21% more profitable.

At Snowflake, putting our customers first is our top priority. That’s why the Snowflake Education Services team meticulously designs and delivers training programs — both free and paid — with a blend of scientific rigor and thoughtful execution. These programs drive tangible business benefits, such as cost savings and operational efficiencies, while also energizing and empowering employees by enhancing their knowledge, morale and confidence. And we’re constantly refining our approach to deliver even greater impact.

Last month, we completed a global survey of 487 learners and 361 people managers who had engaged in Snowflake training programs, and the results exceeded our expectations. We were also thrilled by the diversity of survey respondents, who varied across industries, job roles and experience with Snowflake. Below are but a few of the compelling insights from the survey. I highly encourage you to download the report to see the full impact our training programs are having on leading enterprises.

Survey methodology: Between August and December 2024, Snowflake sent email surveys to active Snowflake Educational Services learners and people managers. Learners include Snowflake users who participated in a Snowflake education and/or training program. People managers are defined as the leaders who enabled Snowflake’s education or training program for their company’s learners. 

Learners’ survey results highlights

• Over 90% said on-demand training was extremely effective or effective in improving/up-leveling their skills and expertise.

• 88% found the practical experience they gained to be valuable or extremely valuable. 

• “Best free training packages I have ever seen! Very engaging and easy to follow.” — Learner

People managers’ survey results highlights

• 94% of managers strongly agree or agree that Snowflake training increased their team’s efficiency.

• The top three impacts of employee training noticed by managers include:

  • Reduced time to complete tasks

  • Increased performance and productivity

  • Increased employee morale and job satisfaction

• “Snowflake training gave our team much more insight into best practices of using Snowflake, and at much larger scales… We have a clear game plan.” — People Manager

Powerful business impacts

The survey also revealed many significant business impacts as the result of our training. For example, Snowflake customers realized:

• Increased efficiency: 58% of learners said training helped them work more efficiently and accurately.

• Optimization and cost savings: 32% said training helped them optimize their use of Snowflake — and decrease spend in the process.

• Innovation: 63% said they learned about new Snowflake features and capabilities — such as Snowpark, Snowflake Cortex AI, Apache Iceberg™ tables and Snowflake Notebooks — that they were able to apply to their organization's projects. 

We are incredibly grateful for the time and honest feedback of our learners and people managers, and we’re taking an honest look at areas where we can improve our training effectiveness. For instance, 74% of learners said training helped prepare them for certification. I want to see that number higher the next time we conduct the survey. I want Snowflake to be at the forefront of how learners can increase their efficiency and accuracy through Snowflake training offerings.

I couldn't be prouder or more humbled by the dedication of our small but mighty Snowflake Education Services team. If this report is any indication of our commitment to our customers, I can't imagine a better one. It also serves as a valuable barometer for where we can grow, evolve our offerings, and deliver even greater value in the year ahead.

Download the “The Value of Snowflake Training Report” report now.

Gartner Press Release, Gartner Survey Shows 85% of Business Leaders Agree There Will Be a Surge in Skills Development Needs Due to AI and Digital Trends in Next 3 Years, October 29, 2024.

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