Web-Based Training Speeds Delivery And Saves MoneyWeb-Based Training Speeds Delivery And Saves Money

In a weakened economy, businesses are looking for a quick return on their technology investments. That makes Web-based training appealing to companies that have mostly used in-person training.

Technology integrator Avanade Inc. expects to save more than $1 million annually in travel costs alone after switching to a suite of Web-based live collaboration applications for staff training from Interwise called the Enterprise Communication Platform, which it implemented in October.

Microsoft and consulting firm Accenture formed Avanade two years ago to provide technology integration and support to more than 300 companies through its staff of 900 technical consultants.

The Seattle company faced a challenge because of its worldwide operations and its reliance on instructor-led courses, which made it hard to keep employees trained on the latest technology, says Kate Guersch, director of training. Typically, new courses were designed in Seattle and instructors had to travel to teach the topics to employees in five-day sessions. Not only did that approach take time away from customer projects, it created "a knowledge lag time between developing a course, then scheduling it out," Guersch says.

Avanade decided to shift training to the Web and selected the Interwise suite because it offered higher-quality voice-over-IP service, easier-to-use student and teacher interfaces, and the ability to handle firewalls better than competing products, Guersch says. "There were no connectivity issues because you securely connect through the Internet," she says. "It's one of technology's strongest features."

The software suite starts at $75,000 for up to 300 licenses per department. But Guersch says it's worth the price because it pushes knowledge out to employees much faster: "Consultants in Singapore no longer have to wait three months for an instructor to come visit."

Other companies are expected to follow suit. Analyst firm Eduventures.com predicts that the size of the live E-learning market will jump from $125 million in 2000 to $750 million in 2005.