For the past three years we have been developing online learning platforms for use by external companies to provide a cost-effective training platform for their staff and customers. As technology advances, these systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated and interactive and even more attractive for companies to use for a multitude of purposes from product awareness to basic training on such things as installations and servicing.

We were one of the first companies in the North-East to offer web video services and definitely the first to own digital cameras so we do like to try to keep ahead of the game as much as we can.

However where we do fall short is letting our customers know just what our in-house capabilities are and just how our customers can benefit from what we offer, so starting today we a re rectifying matters with a series of communications telling customers what we do, supported by authoritative papers on how these services can benefit the user.

I have an extract from a recent White Paper on online learning that I will share with you jusst to give you an idea of the benefits of deploying these systems within your own business. The White Paper, written and created by GoToMeeting, a leading provider of facilitation software for online learning, is rahter long, so I have split it into several ‘chunks’ to be delivered over a few days so that you don’t suffer from information overload.

I hope you enjoy it and that the infromation contained therein can be used by your comapny at some time in the near future.

Online Learning and Training Systems Part 1

The worldwide economic recession has prompted companies everywhere to scour their business practices for opportunities to increase efficiency and cut costs.

That includes how they train their employees and customers.

Fortunately, when it comes to training, the pathway to meeting both objectives is clear. Companies of all sizes are discovering the benefits of Web-based training. Today’s dizzying array of computer-based technologies has radically enhanced the ability of companies to “connect” with their employees and customers. Among the most profound of these is the ability to conduct live training and meeting sessions via the computer to widely distributed audiences.

Businesses are experiencing dramatic savings by avoiding expensive travel and lodging required for in-person training, while also improving performance and morale. Web-based training applications provide an online environment that combines interactive virtual classroom learning, meeting and Web seminar capabilities to enable eLearning and collaborative Web conferencing throughout the world. They are designed to meet the needs of businesses clamoring for convenient, secure and cost-effective alternatives to in-person gatherings. Another driver for businesses is the increased emphasis on “informal” learning, which comprises most of the corporate knowledge transfer within many organizations.

Collaboration using Web-conferencing technology can be used to encourage and facilitate informal learning activities.

An obvious opportunity for cost savings within any company is the training function, typically a tradition-bound operation scattered throughout an enterprise. Its reliance on instructor-led training results in time-consuming classes that require expensive travel, lodging and lost productivity to meet proficiency training, compliance and other obligations.

Does this sound like your organization?

In many cases, on-site instruction can be successfully conducted in virtual settings via Web conferencing tools. Yet despite these obvious advantages, many companies still cling to the status quo. That invariably means strong resistance from tradition-bound managers who are reluctant to try new technologies and who remain skeptical of today’s “blended learning” solutions.

Ironically, this resistance often comes from the very executives who are seeking to reduce their company’s reliance on fixed resources such as real estate used for meetings and classrooms.

The goal of this white paper is to help professionals overcome that resistance so their organisations can benefit from the many advantages that online learning and training technologies can bring.

Next: 12 Reasons to Employ Live, Web-based Training

About James McRoy

Web marketer, entrepreneur, traveller

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