Short Quiz-Based Learning Proves Popular and Boosts Participation

Meeting Growing Demand for e-Learning and Addressing Instructor Shortages

First, could you tell us about your business and your own roles?

Our company specializes in educational services for the pharmaceutical industry, with a particular focus on training Medical Representatives (MRs). Under our brand “e-Pronesty®,” we offer a range of eLearning courses. My responsibilities include creating, editing, and analyzing training videos and test questions.

Could you tell us about the background of your need for an e-learning platform?

Around 2019, we began considering a shift from traditional in-person training to eLearning. Previously, we relied on dispatching instructors and conducting all training materials and tests on paper. This approach posed significant challenges: high printing costs, manual effort, and the time-consuming process of collecting and grading tests.

Additionally, instructor availability was often limited, especially during the busy season for onboarding new employees in the spring, making it impossible to fulfill every training request.

At that time, pharmaceutical companies increasingly began to embrace online training, prompting a broader industry shift to eLearning. We received requests to offer our training programs online as well, but hesitated initially due to the high upfront costs associated with many LMS solutions available at that time.

Comprehensive Feature Set, Excellent Cost Performance and Continuous System Evolution

Can you tell us how you first heard about learningBOX?

We first learned about learningBOX (formerly Tatsuno Joho System, K.K.) at an education industry exhibition in 2019.
Given our previous experience with costly LMS implementations, often requiring hundreds of thousands of yen just in initial fees, we were impressed by learningBOX’s cost efficiency. I clearly remember thinking, “Is it really okay for it to be this affordable?”

What were the deciding factors for the introduction of learningBOX?

There were three reasons for our decision. The first is that the system has all the necessary functions to implement e-learning training. Second, the cost of implementation was very reasonable, and although the price is still low enough today, I was really surprised at the time. And third, the system itself had a policy of evolving through successive updates in the future. This was also a major decisive factor.

Achieving Progress Through Small Goals

How do you utilize learningBOX for your business?

We operate our eLearning programs via learningBOX, branded as “e-Pronesty®,” targeting mainly employees in their 20s at pharmaceutical companies.

While online learning has become the norm, we also continue to offer traditional face-to-face sessions for those who prefer them.

Can you give us an overview of the training programs that you offer at e-Pronesty®?

Our main offerings include foundational education for new MRs, ongoing professional development, as well as exam prep courses for the MR certification exam.

These prep courses feature lecture videos, practice tests, and a question bank product called “Success.”

We also offer services such as “Week Check,” which delivers and analyzes 100 new questions weekly, and “Blank-Fill®,” a fill-in-the-blank drill exercise launched in April 2025, both of which have received positive reviews. These tools are intentionally designed with gamification and microlearning in mind to increase engagement and effectiveness.

For in-person sessions, we supplement traditional lectures with online quizzes hosted on learningBOX to reinforce learning.

Could you give us examples of the functions you use for each content and what is you focus on your teaching materials?

We utilize primarily video, quizzes/exams and questionnaire. Videos are kept concise, and MR test prep materials are matched in difficulty to the actual certification exams.

The “Blank-Fill®” exercises apply the concept of “chunking,” breaking down large sets of questions into manageable segments of about 10 questions each. This incremental approach helps learners experience a sense of achievement as they progress through each section.

How often do you create and update content, and what is your production and operation system?

We update our content annually. Content creation is managed by a team of three, with two administrators overseeing platform operations.

Materials are primarily developed using PowerPoint and Excel, while videos are edited with specialized software before being uploaded to learningBOX.

One challenge involves generating plausible incorrect answer options for test questions, a task that comes naturally to experienced educators but is time-consuming for less experienced staff. To improve efficiency, we have recently begun utilizing AI-powered tools.

We will continue to enhance the AI features on learningBOX, so please take advantage of the various features.

Smooth Transition and Easy Mobile Learning with a Simple Interface

Was the rollout from introduction to full operation smooth?

At first, it took a bit of time to get accustomed to the platform, but we were able to launch the e-learning system more smoothly than expected. The transition to e-learning was seamless, and there were no major issues.

What aspects of learningBOX do you find most convenient or user-friendly?

The intuitive and straightforward interface stood out right away, it significantly lowers the learning curve for administrators.

Being able to upload videos and create quizzes is also very helpful. Learners appreciate the convenience of accessing courses from their smartphones and are making use of spare moments, such as after lectures, to continue studying.

Are there any features you wish could be improved or challenges you’ve encountered?

When importing materials from Excel, some formatting—like superscript, subscript, and underline—doesn’t carry over. While a minor issue for some, it’s quite important when handling pharmaceutical content, which often uses these formats. Addressing this would make the system even more suitable for our needs.

How has your experience been with our sales and support teams?

Overall, we’re very satisfied. There are times when responses are impressively quick and other times when it takes a bit longer, depending on the inquiry. However, the support is always courteous and reliable, which gives us confidence.

Significant Improvement of Efficiency and Printing Cost Reduction

What benefits has learningBOX brought?

The biggest benefit has been the dramatic increase in training efficiency compared to when we relied on in-person instructors. We no longer have to deal with the hassle and expense of printing tests, and moving our question banks online has lowered our print volumes—saving us about 100,000 yen annually on printing costs for tests alone.

Have you seen any other changes or improvements since adopting learningBOX?

 Questionnaire feature is used to conduct 360-degree evaluations (feedback from supervisors, peers, direct reports, and other departments), which used to be time-consuming to manage.

learningBOX makes organizing and analyzing this feedback much easier. It would be even better if reporting and analytics functions continue to improve in the future.

What feedback have you received from learners?

Our newly launched “Blank-Fill®” fill-in-the-blank exercises have been particularly well received. Learners report that it’s easy to interact with via smartphone and enjoy tackling quizzes during their commute. The feature received high marks in our surveys as well.

Boosting Engagement and Motivation

What are your future plans for using learningBOX?

We’d like to strengthen our “blended learning” approach by combining various learning experiences, for example, pairing short instructional videos with comprehension checks.

We also plan to gather employee feedback more proactively to refine training programs and encourage more employees to participate. Additionally, we are interested in expanding gamification features.

Are there any features you would like to see added?

We would welcome even more gamification options. For instance, a system where learners earn points, level up, or display badges in real time—much like an RPG—would help boost motivation. Bonus points for high scores and various achievement incentives would also be great additions.

learningBOX is a System that can be Introduced with Confidence and Grow Together

Do you have a message for those considering learningBOX?

learningBOX is a system you can trust, offering both security and the potential to grow together. The flexibility to accommodate our needs has been a major advantage. With its ease of use, new users can feel secure trying it out—especially with the  Free Plan available.

The product is constantly evolving with updates and new features, so it feels like we’re growing together with the platform. We see learningBOX as a long-term partner for our training needs.

Thank you very much for your valuable insights!