According to Scaled Agile, over 1 million professionals have been trained in SAFe, with 70% of Fortune 100 companies employing certified SAFe practitioners. In this blog, we’ll try to understand the value of SAFe certification and how that could help your organization achieve agility without any pitfalls.
Let’s discuss one major issue that every single person (who has worked in an Agile organization) must have encountered at some point: Scaling Agile practices in an organization. We all know doing so will require a lot of pieces to come together, and achieving that is no small feat.
At this point, it’s perfect if your teams, portfolios, and programs are not collaborating well. The SAFe framework might be what you’re looking for. SAFe is certainly not another framework amongst countless others in the Agile world. It brings an excellent reputation as it has created an industry standard of best practices amenable for scaling up quickly and purposefully.
What is SAFe Certification? Why is SAFe Important?
Agile is undoubtedly efficient, but let’s be realistic—things can quickly get out of hand when your organization expands to more than a few teams. That’s precisely where the Scaled Agile Framework comes in. It is the ultimate playbook for Scaling Agile throughout an enterprise, aligning teams, optimizing resources, and working toward the same vision. Once you feel the transformative magic of SAFe, you’ll wonder how you survived without it in your organization.
SAFe is synonymous with a structured, scalable approach that allows companies to align their strategy with the execution. Their focus lies on completing the silos and then delivering value systematically at scale. It is keeping pace with but not behind; it is instead ahead of that pace.
What can you expect?
A scalable framework transforms how your organization delivers, invents, and achieves its goals. So, let’s go deeper into why SAFe is that strategy which helps unlock enterprise-wide agility and sets your business apart in a competitive market.
SAFe will help eliminate those problems by proposing a structured yet flexible way of scaling Agile. Backed by principles in Lean and Agile development along with systems thinking, each layer within your organization’s teams, programs, and portfolios is aligned with the overall strategy of your corporation. It aligns high-level goals with actual daily execution that helps in openness, collaboration, and consistent delivery.
Why is SAFe Certification Important for Your Organization
People often believe that getting certified is just some fancy title on LinkedIn. It’s a legit way to bring serious value to your organization. Let’s break it down:
1. Team Alignment = Less Chaos
Have you ever been in a meeting where half the team is giving their Ideas in a convolutive way and the other half is still figuring out why they’re there? Yeah, so when that repeats in the future, don’t worry. SAFe Certification helps everyone get on the same page, a lifesaver for big organizations.
SAFe Certified individuals understand the roles, responsibilities, and workflows outlined in SAFe. This knowledge creates a shared understanding among team members, reducing misunderstandings and ensuring smoother collaboration. Whether aligning on sprint goals, synchronizing deliverables, or communicating effectively with stakeholders, SAFe ensures everyone is marching to the same beat.
2. Smarter Decisions, Faster
An experienced SAFe professional can decompose large tasks into small and easily manageable chunks. The fact is that when you are coordinating, we often see little errors here and there, which are time-consuming. SAFe will help you make a better call.
Under a SAFe adoption, teams can access the Program Increments (PIs) and the Agile Release Trains (ARTs) that empower them to plan and roll out the requirements steadily and successfully. SAFe-certified professionals know how to make the most of these tools to manage risks, outsource work, and get’, to deadline. SAFe also helps in improving decision speed.
3. Effortless Transition to agility leveraging SAFe
Every organization at some point would be interested in adopting and implementing Agile; let’s face it: change is difficult; most people are not acquainted with your setting. But if you follow the procedure, we assure you that teams will avoid the most basic blunders.
Companies get stuck in the inertia of change when trying to embrace SAFe, agile transformation as there is an absence of clarity and definite aim, lack of understanding and dependency on leadership endorsement. To solve this problem, SAFe Certification has developed a prime solution. One can become a Certified Transformational Coach and help the teams successfully navigate their transition towards strategies with the agile mindset.
4. Better ROI
Let us come to the most asked question. We’re all here to know if there is a good return, right? Well the answer is yes, there is a significant amount of return. The structure of SAFe reduces wasted time and resources, leading to measurable gains. You heard us right, which translates to a solid SAFe Certification ROI.
By eliminating inefficiencies and optimizing workflows, SAFe enables organizations to deliver high-quality products faster and at a lower cost. Certified teams are better equipped to prioritize customer needs, adapt to market changes, and continuously improve their processes. This translates into tangible business outcomes, such as increased revenue, improved customer satisfaction, and a more decisive competitive edge.
With SAFe, there have been massive improvements for organizations in the following areas:
- Productivity: Improvement rates range between 20% and 50%.
- Time-to-Market: Improvements range between 30% and 75%.
- Quality: Improvement rates range between 25% and 75%.
- Employee Engagement: Improvement rates range between 10% and 50%.
5. Staying Ahead of the Pack
In today’s hyper-competitive world, agility isn’t optional. Certified teams respond faster to market changes, and that’s a massive win.
With SAFe Certification, your organization can innovate quickly, pivot when needed, and stay ahead of competitors. By fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous learning, and adaptability, SAFe ensures that your teams are always ready to tackle new challenges and seize emerging opportunities.
What’s In It for You?
Okay, we’ve discussed why your organization needs this, but what about you? Here are some perks if you become SAFe Certified:
1. Reputation
Getting SAFe Certification makes you stand out among other candidates in today’s competitive job market. It shows your abilities to scale Agile practices and create a significant impact. It does not matter whether you want to go up the ranks in your current organization or find a different one; getting a SAFe Certification will give you a couple of opportunities.
2. Less Chance of Displacement
Agile is here to stay and, there is a need for SAFe-certified individuals by companies. That’s it.
According to a recent study, the need for SAFe-certified professionals is only increasing as more organizations adopt Agile practices. This certification increases your chances of employment and, most importantly, improves your worth in your organization. These days, when all people think about is how easy it is to become unemployed, getting a SAFe Certification helps alleviate all their doubts.
3. Leadership Skills
You will understand how to manage teams during complex change processes and succeed.
It equips you with the necessary skills to manage and lead your teams during SAFe Certification effectively. From overseeing teamwork across different departments to cultivating an environment of improvement and learning, certified professionals can grapple with the many challenges of contemporary workplaces and enhance the performance of organizations.
How to Measure SAFe Certification Towards the Progression of One’s Career
SAFe Certification will be used for career growth, and this is how to maximize its effect:
Update Your LinkedIn Profile
- LinkedIn has about 810 million active users, so it’s no wonder most recruiters start their talent search there. And a current SAFe certification makes your profile stand out even more.
- When doing so, attach it to your profile, indicate relevant information such as framework expiration dates, and attach a summary under the section ‘Licenses & Certifications’.
- Use “Scaled Agile Framework” and “SAFe Agilist” to ensure people can easily search for you.
Use the SAFe Community Platform to Its Full Potential
If you are certified, you have been given the privilege of having the SAFe Community Platform, which is extremely useful in your career growth- this is why you are active, aren’t you?
Seek out industry experts, participate in discussions, and learn about the Agile world. You’ll learn to lead teams through challenging transitions and come out on top.
Promotion and Better Job Offers
- People often ask, why SAFe? Because SAFe gives opportunities, you can renew the Certification, which proves to employers that you value professional development and are well-versed in Agile principles, who will keep updating their skill set.
- Trust us; we have seen many candidates highlight the potential of their knowledge about SAFe principles in ensuring improved program execution, streamlined workflows, and better team collaboration. They have often received promotions within their organization.
Participate in SAFe Events and Workshops
- SAFe also opens the door to exclusive SAFe workshops, webinars, and training sessions because the world is rapidly changing, and you must stay updated at every step.
- Many candidates appreciate these opportunities as they allow them to learn and, most importantly, network; we can’t stress how significant this factor is as you get exposed to many working professionals who have achieved a lot. You can truly understand the essence of principles and how they have applied them in their organization and lives. Which have deeply impacted them. You can take a high value from these events.
- You can feature these activities on your resume or in your interviews to make you look like a proactive professional who is always taking a step toward their career.
Long-term ROI of Certification Renewal
This allows you to lead Agile’s transformation, offering opportunities in the consulting field, higher pay scales, and more strategic positions. We always suggest candidates consider this a form of investment in lifelong career agility.
SAFe Certification Against Other Frameworks What Makes It So Unique?
When you venture into Agile frameworks, you quickly lose your way amidst the alphabet soup of methodologies. There are so many: SAFe, Scrum@Scale (SaS), Nexus, LeSS, and so forth. Each has its merits, but in all honesty, SAFe – Scaled Agile Framework – is the big name for large-scale enterprise-level agility. This is why SAFe certifications shine even brighter, particularly for organizations handling complex systems and large teams.
1. Enterprise-Wide Approach
While they are brilliant at the minor team’s scale, things get stuck once scaling occurs. Now, that’s the magic of SAFe.
It is not a big-picture alignment on the team but on work at the teams, programs, and portfolio levels.
- Ideal for Large Organizations: When Scrum@Scale or Nexus is good enough for small Agile teams, SAFe is designed for enterprise houses with hundreds of interlinked teams. Their structure becomes indispensable when working at a multinational or for a company running multiple value streams.
- More than Team Agility: SAFe extends Agile up the scale into an entire organization, encompassing every facet of agile portfolio management.
- Bottom line: If your business is more sprawling, an enterprise-scale framework offered by SAFe that resists buckling will likely appeal.
2. A well-structured education curriculum
SAFe certifications offer an alternative deep dive into the agile world. Here’s how:
- Vast Scope: While LeSS limits its scope additionally to crew-level Agile scaling, SAFe is quite vast in scope and includes Lean, Agile portfolio management, DevOps practices, and governance techniques.
- Actionable know-how: It’s not just a complete classroom-based education but equipping the practitioner with a method to act right now, from software execution strategies to building a culture of continuous improvement.
- Knowledge for the future: With each renewal, you’ll receive training on updated fabrics and equipment to keep you up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry.
- Comparison: LeSS, Scrum@Scale and Nexus are good value in the context of character, but commonly lack the scale presented to company agility through SAFe.
3. Global recognition and acceptance
A globally recognized framework used by big names across industries.
- Major players: Companies including Airbus, Cisco and Intel have followed SAFe, a testament to its scalable and robust performance.
- Wide demand: Demand for SAFe-certified professionals is growing, with many organizations preferring it over certifications such as LeSS or Nexus.
- Why it matters: When your Certification is globally recognized, it expands your career options. You don’t just master the technique – you gain access to a global network of agile practitioners and thought leaders.
4. Continuing education through certification renewal
Unlike various frameworks, SAFe takes its certification system’s philosophy of continuous development as correct.
Beyond Credibility: SAFe certification renewal isn’t just about maintaining your credentials—it’s about staying at the forefront of agile traits.
Contrast with others: Frameworks like Scrum.Org provide lifetime certifications, but specialists risk stagnating without renewal. SAFe ensures that you are constantly improving your skills and staying relevant.
Is SAFe Certification Worth It?
Here’s the bottom line: SAFe Certification is far more than Agile terminology. It’s about driving real change in your organization. Whether it’s cutting down delivery times, improving quality, or just making the day-to-day grind less stressful, the benefits are undeniable.
Organizations that embrace SAFe Certification experience higher productivity, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. They’re better equipped to deliver value to their customers, adapt to changing market demands, and achieve sustainable growth. For professionals, SAFe Certification is a game-changer that enhances career prospects, builds confidence, and empowers you to make a meaningful impact.
So, if you’re on the fence, consider this your sign to go for it. Your teams will thank you, your boss will thank you, and honestly, future-you will thank you, too. Let’s make Agile work for everyone.
Ready to Take Your Agile Journey to the Next Level?
At ValueX2, we help you every step of your SAFe journey. Our comprehensive training programs are designed to equip you with enough skills and knowledge to drive significant organizational change.
ValueX2 is a Silver Partner with SAFe. We have been working closely with SAFe and providing high value to our clients, we hope to continue the same. If you are looking for a flexible learning approach, reach out. We’ll be more than happy to consult you for free!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is SAFe 6.0 Certification?
SAFe 6.0 Certification is a professional accreditation for individuals now trained in the latest version of the SAFe. It is designed to certify candidates for using Agile, concentrating on alignment and collaboration in effectively getting things done over several teams.
2. Who Should Consider SAFe Certification?
SAFe Certification is excellent for those who participate in Agile transformation processes, like the executive, managers, consultants, and Agile team members looking for advancement opportunities and training.
3. What Are Prerequisites for SAFe Certification?
There is no particular requirement, but knowledge of Agile fundamentals and experience with Agile is invaluable.
4. How Can SAFe Certification Benefit My Organization?
Organizations benefit from having professionals certified in SAFe, with higher alignment across teams, increased productivity, higher quality deliverables, and improved responsiveness to the market.
5. What kind of support does ValueX2 provide when getting certified?
ValueX2 usually provides 2-5 days of live training, access to SAFe Studio, and SAFe certified Trainers and the latest knowledge on SAFe principles and how you can apply those in your career.
Bhavna is an Agile Coach and Consultant with over a decade of experience in advisory, corporate finance, IT assurance, and operations at Big 4 and within the industry in the UK and India. She has recently been the CEO of a start-up where she implemented agile practices within HR, Marketing, and Product teams.
She is also a SAFe® Practice Consultant (SPC) and authorized instructor for ICAgile Agility in HR (ICP-AHR), Agility in Marketing (ICP-MKG), and Business Agility Foundations (ICP – BAF) training courses. She provides training for agile transformation to corporate, public, and private batches, as well as consulting for enterprise agile transformation.