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Singapore, 23 August 2002
Widening use of e-Learning in corporations |
Corporate training managers and analysts say a successful E-learning initiative is complicated. Multiple elements in just the right proportion are needed to elicit employee adoption and acceptance and to achieve financial savings.
With leadership in place, the first challenge for business managers is to develop a strategy, then sort through the hundreds of vendors offering a wide range of products that promise to improve training while cutting costs. The E-learning market is highly fragmented and includes different learning-management systems. Some of which use Internet technologies and protocols to track and manage online and instructor-led employee training; learning content-management systems, which manage formal and informal content used as part of the courses; and content-development applications, which let users create original content in a variety of formats. In addition, E-learning service providers offer online courses over the Internet.
Many corporate managers in charge of e-learning surveyed mentioned that the biggest challenge for those involved in implementation is that there's such a plethora of options and there's a lot of vapourware out there.
Many employers offer training courses via company Intranet, according to an InformationWeek Research survey of 500 large companies. Those businesses say that 25% of their employees have completed third-party E-learning courses, while 35% have completed company-customised E-learning courses.
The potential for profits in E-learning has also attracted large, established technology vendors. Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, and Sun Microsystems have either introduced or are testing their own learning-management systems.
Despite strong customer interest and predictions of huge growth, developments in recent months have shown that the E-learning industry isn't immune to the impact of macroeconomic changes. Training budgets are often the first to be cut when businesses face declining revenue and profits. The Sept. 11 attacks have prompted some businesses to shift spending to security and disaster-recovery technologies.
Despite some problems, more businesses are adopting E-learning. General Motors Corp. and Prudential Securities Inc, have signed contracts in the past month with two leading learning-management systems vendors while learning-management system provider.
Procter & Gamble Co., the $39 billion household-products manufacturer in Cincinnati, uses e-Learning systems to track and manage training for more than 35,000 employees.
At NEC America, they feel that companies that don't use a learning-management system end up paying more than they should for outside training because they can't efficiently track dollars and courses. NEC America, a subsidiary of $43 billion communications equipment supplier NEC Corp., achieved savings in training costs of more than 40% in one year and a 16% return on investment, he says. About 3,000 NEC employees use online training for technology and leadership courses.
Nevertheless, more companies are expected to shift much of their training to E-learning systems. The ability to provide a wider variety of courses and cut costs at the same time provides benefits too attractive to resist.
With more than 1100 courses available on PurpleTrain.com, those eager for self improvement can choose from business training courses such as MindLeaders and skill builder courses such as Change Management or Project Management to name a few.
Those looking to beef up their IT qualifications can take up NCC certified courses or IT Industry Professional certification such as CISCOTM or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
Proof is in the pudding as many adult students who are signed up are looking to arm themselves with better skills in the corporate world. Other online courses that are academic in nature range from diploma courses to doctorate level courses for those who strive for the academic peak.
To find out more about the courses, visit PurpleTrain's Course Catalogue or send your questions about courses to enquiry@purpletrain.com
About Informatics Group
The Informatics Group, established in 1983, is a multinational corporation providing training and educational services in information technology and business management. Through its international franchising program and strategic acquisitions, Informatics presently has a global network of more than 450 centres spanning 42 countries.
The company presently offers five franchise products: Informatics Computer School, Thames Business School, CAL Computer Training Centre, Cambridge Child Development Centre and RACC. For more information, please visit http://www.informaticsgroup.com.
About PurpleTrain.com
PurpleTrain.com is the e-learning service provider which offers a one-stop service for business and IT education programmes, corporate training courses and education-related services. By combining innovative technology with world-class training content, PurpleTrain.com offers companies and individuals a high value, quality and effective online training solution. Over 1000 online courses are available, offering PhDs, masters, degrees, diplomas and certificates in business and IT programmes. Its e-community now stands at over 55,000 users.
PurpleTrain.com is a 100%-owned venture of Informatics Holdings Limited, a leading training and education provider listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
For more information, please contact :
Andrew Yap
Marketing & PR Manager
PurpleTrain.com
Email : pr@purpletrain.com
Website : www.purpletrain.com
www.informaticsgroup.com
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