Fastly Case Studies Scaling EdTech: Skillsoft's 400% Video Traffic Increase Managed by Fastly

	Scaling EdTech: Skillsoft's 400% Video Traffic Increase Managed by Fastly Fastly

Scaling EdTech: Skillsoft's 400% Video Traffic Increase Managed by Fastly

Fastly

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics Sensors - Camera / Video Systems
Applicable Industries	Packaging Transportation
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases	Time Sensitive Networking Traffic Monitoring
Challenge	Skillsoft, a leading EdTech company, faced a significant challenge when its traffic surged by 400% in a short span of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company, which serves content to 45 million learners in over 160 countries, saw its traffic double between February and March 2020, and then double again from March to April. This sudden spike in demand had the potential to seriously degrade user experience, which is a key factor in EdTech success. Additionally, Skillsoft was also experiencing growth due to global expansion, particularly in India where the EdTech market is expected to quadruple over the next five years. Already, 20% of Skillsoft's traffic was coming from India, and this number was growing. Read More
About Customer	Skillsoft is a pioneer in the EdTech sector, providing training to more than two-thirds of the Fortune 1000. The company serves content to 45 million learners around the world, in over 160 countries. With 90% of its content in video format, Skillsoft relies on seamless and fast delivery to ensure a positive user experience. The company is also expanding globally, with a significant portion of its traffic coming from growing markets like India. Read More
Solution	To manage this surge in traffic and maintain user experience, Skillsoft turned to Fastly. One of the most valuable tools Fastly provided was the on-the-fly packaging service (OTFP). This allowed Skillsoft's streaming content to be packaged dynamically by Fastly in real time, rather than pre-packaged to suit different formats. As a result, Skillsoft didn’t need to store multiple versions of content in their cloud storage service. This led to shorter video latency and load time, resulting in happier users. Furthermore, Skillsoft added Fastly’s Enterprise Support, which accelerates response times for urgent incidents and provides 24/7 availability. This ensured continuity for their users and allowed Skillsoft to count on Fastly as a partner in problem solving as their reach grew. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics

Sensors - Camera / Video Systems

Applicable Industries

Packaging

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Time Sensitive Networking

Traffic Monitoring

Challenge

Skillsoft, a leading EdTech company, faced a significant challenge when its traffic surged by 400% in a short span of time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company, which serves content to 45 million learners in over 160 countries, saw its traffic double between February and March 2020, and then double again from March to April. This sudden spike in demand had the potential to seriously degrade user experience, which is a key factor in EdTech success. Additionally, Skillsoft was also experiencing growth due to global expansion, particularly in India where the EdTech market is expected to quadruple over the next five years. Already, 20% of Skillsoft's traffic was coming from India, and this number was growing.

About Customer

Skillsoft is a pioneer in the EdTech sector, providing training to more than two-thirds of the Fortune 1000. The company serves content to 45 million learners around the world, in over 160 countries. With 90% of its content in video format, Skillsoft relies on seamless and fast delivery to ensure a positive user experience. The company is also expanding globally, with a significant portion of its traffic coming from growing markets like India.

Solution

To manage this surge in traffic and maintain user experience, Skillsoft turned to Fastly. One of the most valuable tools Fastly provided was the on-the-fly packaging service (OTFP). This allowed Skillsoft's streaming content to be packaged dynamically by Fastly in real time, rather than pre-packaged to suit different formats. As a result, Skillsoft didn’t need to store multiple versions of content in their cloud storage service. This led to shorter video latency and load time, resulting in happier users. Furthermore, Skillsoft added Fastly’s Enterprise Support, which accelerates response times for urgent incidents and provides 24/7 availability. This ensured continuity for their users and allowed Skillsoft to count on Fastly as a partner in problem solving as their reach grew.

Impact #1	As a result of using Fastly's services, Skillsoft was able to sustain fast, interruption-free video delivery throughout their massive increase in scale. They experienced no latency issues and required no additional support, preserving uptime and availability for their customers. The real-time configuration changes empowered Skillsoft developers to maintain control and keep things moving. This translated to a better user experience and allowed Skillsoft to consistently meet its Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Furthermore, as Skillsoft continues to grow, they can take advantage of Fastly’s globally distributed POP network and origin shielding, to optimize delivery geographically, increase cache hit ratios, and minimize latency.

Impact #1

As a result of using Fastly's services, Skillsoft was able to sustain fast, interruption-free video delivery throughout their massive increase in scale. They experienced no latency issues and required no additional support, preserving uptime and availability for their customers. The real-time configuration changes empowered Skillsoft developers to maintain control and keep things moving. This translated to a better user experience and allowed Skillsoft to consistently meet its Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Furthermore, as Skillsoft continues to grow, they can take advantage of Fastly’s globally distributed POP network and origin shielding, to optimize delivery geographically, increase cache hit ratios, and minimize latency.

Benefit #1	400% increase in video traffic managed seamlessly
Benefit #2	Traffic doubled between February and March 2020, and then doubled again from March to April
Benefit #3	20% of traffic coming from India, a rapidly growing market

Benefit #1

400% increase in video traffic managed seamlessly

Benefit #2

Traffic doubled between February and March 2020, and then doubled again from March to April

Benefit #3

20% of traffic coming from India, a rapidly growing market

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Overview

Scaling EdTech: Skillsoft's 400% Video Traffic Increase Managed by Fastly

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit