SumTotal Systems
SumTotal provides enterprise learning management software as a sub-brand of Cornerstone OnDemand, serving large global organizations with AI-powered workforce readiness capabilities across 180+ countries and multiple verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersGainesville, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What SumTotal Systems does
SumTotal Systems, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, was originally an independent learning and talent management software provider and today operates as a sub-brand of Cornerstone OnDemand following its acquisition and integration into Cornerstone's unified talent and learning platform. The product is positioned as an enterprise learning management system (LMS) alongside other Cornerstone brands such as Saba and TalentLink, with Cornerstone OnDemand itself having been taken private by Silver Lake Peak in 2021.
SumTotal's core offering combines traditional learning management with Cornerstone Workforce AI, an intelligence layer that includes a Skills Inference Model, a Context Graph mapping organizational readiness, labor market data integration, and a set of named AI agents including a Future of Work agent, Embark Navigator, and Skills Architect. The platform also covers compliance management, leadership development, onboarding, performance management, succession planning, and content curation, and is delivered as an open platform with core integrations to AWS, Slack, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Customer-side outcomes cited include United Airlines' 40K+ course interactions, Aflac's 200% lift in onboarding-program conversion, and Konica Minolta's 4x year-over-year course completions.
The business model is a subscription-based SaaS sold via an enterprise field sales motion with quote-based, annually billed pricing and a 'Book a Demo' consultative entry point. Customer concentration sits at the top of the Fortune 500 — half of the Fortune 100 reportedly use Cornerstone/SumTotal — spanning airlines, banking, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, logistics, insurance, technology, and nonprofit, with operational reach across 180+ countries. Go-to-market is reinforced by the Cornerstone Connect regional event series, and the platform is supported by FedRAMP Moderate, ISO 27001, ISO 42001 (AI management), ISO/IEC 27701, SOC 2, and GDPR compliance credentials, which collectively enable public-sector and other regulated buyers.
SumTotal Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SumTotal Systems
- Legal name
- SumTotal Systems (product/brand of Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc.)
- Website
- https://sumtotalsystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- SumTotal provides enterprise learning management software as a sub-brand of Cornerstone OnDemand, serving large global organizations with AI-powered workforce readiness capabilities across 180+ countries and multiple verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SumTotal Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Enterprise Learning Management Systems
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Computer Training (61142)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Learning Management (LMS) & Talent Development (BPACAPAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Core LMS Platforms (Academic & Corporate) (EDAFAAAA), Skills, Competency & Capability Management (Skills Frameworks, Badging within LMS) (EDAFAAAE), Human Capital Management (HCM) & Payroll Platforms (HDAEAEAJ)
Keywords
Where SumTotal Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gainesville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SumTotal Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription-based SaaS: Recurring subscription model for learning management and talent development platform access, sold on a per-seat or enterprise licensing basis
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise pricing - customized quote-based packages |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels8 records
SumTotal Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SumTotal Systems provides an enterprise learning management system (LMS) for workforce learning, training, compliance, and talent development. The platform is now delivered as part of Cornerstone OnDemand's unified talent and learning platform, supporting skills inference, leadership development, onboarding, performance, succession, and content curation. It is sold on a subscription SaaS basis to large organizations across more than 180 countries.
Product overview
SumTotal Systems is now operated as a sub-brand under Cornerstone OnDemand, following Cornerstone's acquisition of SumTotal. The product is positioned as part of Cornerstone's comprehensive workforce readiness platform. SumTotal functions as a learning management system providing enterprise learning and talent development capabilities. It operates alongside other Cornerstone brands including Saba (another learning platform acquired by Cornerstone), forming part of Cornerstone's unified talent and learning solutions portfolio. The broader platform encompasses Workforce AI, Skills Optimization, Talent Development, and Learning Solutions modules.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SumTotal Learning Management Enterprise learning management system (LMS) that provides enterprise learning and talent development capabilities, including workforce learning, training, compliance, leadership development, onboarding, performance, succession, and content curation, delivered as part of Cornerstone's unified talent platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Course interactions occur every 3 seconds globally
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use SumTotal Systems
Customer profileNamed customers25 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SumTotal Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
SumTotal Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AWScoreAWS integration partnership enabling cloud infrastructure and technology interoperability with the Cornerstone/SumTotal platform
- SlackcoreSlack integration enabling communication and collaboration features within the learning platform
- LinkedIncoreLinkedIn integration for professional networking and skills data within the platform
- SalesforcecoreSalesforce integration enabling CRM connectivity and enterprise workflow integration
- MicrosoftcoreMicrosoft integration for enterprise productivity and technology stack interoperability
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SumTotal Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Oracle Learning: Oracle's HCM Cloud includes an enterprise LMS that competes with SumTotal, particularly for large multinational and regulated-industry buyers on Oracle's application stack.
- Workday: Workday is a leading enterprise HCM and finance cloud that bundles Workday Learning into its core suite, directly competing with SumTotal for large-enterprise learning and talent management wallet.
- SAP SuccessFactors: SuccessFactors Learning is part of SAP's broader HCM suite and competes head-on with SumTotal in global enterprise learning, performance, and talent deployments.
Direct peers
- Docebo: Docebo is a public, AI-native LMS/LXP focused on enterprise extended-enterprise learning, directly overlapping with SumTotal's enterprise learning use cases while competing on modern UX and AI features.
- Degreed: Degreed is a skills-focused learning experience platform that competes with SumTotal's skills inference and workforce readiness narrative, particularly in skills-based talent strategies.
- Absorb Software: Absorb is a cloud LMS purpose-built for mid-market and enterprise learners, directly competing with SumTotal in corporate training, compliance, and extended-enterprise use cases.
- Skillsoft: Skillsoft is a long-standing enterprise learning content and platform provider that competes with SumTotal in corporate compliance, leadership, and technology training deployments.
- Adobe Learning Manager: Adobe's enterprise LMS (formerly Captivate Prime) targets employee and customer training, overlapping with SumTotal in compliance, onboarding, and extended-enterprise learning.
Emerging players
- Sana Labs: Sana is an AI-native learning and knowledge platform emerging as a modern challenger to legacy LMS providers like SumTotal, with a focus on AI-augmented learning and search.
- iSpring: iSpring offers an LMS and authoring toolkit used by enterprises for compliance and onboarding training, providing a lighter-weight alternative to SumTotal in selected mid-market deals.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SumTotal Systems social profiles
Digital presenceSumTotal Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SumTotal Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
SumTotal Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SumTotal Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A7 records
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SumTotal Systems
What does SumTotal Systems do?
SumTotal Systems provides an enterprise learning management system (LMS) for workforce learning, training, compliance, and talent development. The platform is now delivered as part of Cornerstone OnDemand's unified talent and learning platform, supporting skills inference, leadership development, onboarding, performance, succession, and content curation. It is sold on a subscription SaaS basis to large organizations across more than 180 countries.
Is SumTotal Systems a public or private company?
SumTotal Systems is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was SumTotal Systems founded?
SumTotal Systems was founded in 1984. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is SumTotal Systems based?
SumTotal Systems is headquartered in Gainesville, United States, in the North America region.
How does SumTotal Systems make money?
One revenue line is on record: subscription-based SaaS.
Who are SumTotal Systems's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Oracle Learning, Workday and SAP SuccessFactors. Direct peers are Docebo, Degreed, Absorb Software, Skillsoft and Adobe Learning Manager. Emerging players are Sana Labs and iSpring.
Does SumTotal Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for SumTotal Systems.
What industry is SumTotal Systems in?
SumTotal Systems's product category is Enterprise Learning Management Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAPAG, Learning Management (LMS) & Talent Development, with a secondary code of EDAFAAAA, Core LMS Platforms (Academic & Corporate). Its NAICS code is 61143 and its SIC code is 7372.