Posts tagged with "Industry News"

It should come as no surprise that the fashion industry is at the forefront when it comes to integrating technology into business – fashion relies on being extremely responsive and reacting to new levels of demand, and technology offers complete support in this arena.

That’s why I was interested, but not shocked, to read about the latest venture by Debenhams. The retailer has launched a range of virtual pop-up shops across the UK, and those interested just turn up, download an app to their iPad or iPhone, and virtually ‘try on’ dresses, without the usual handbag throwing and elbow flying normally associated with these type of must-attend events. What is more, you can even send out the virtual image of yourself in the new dress on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to get a quick assessment from followers and friends.

For me, this has to be the future of training. Utilising all of the various training platforms to bring people together into a virtual classroom where experiences and knowledge can be shared around. All trainers know the importance of sharing and communicating (these are probably the reasons that many find it so hard to loosen the shackles of classroom-based learning), and via social networking sites this is made quick and simple.

Forget week-long training programmes, this is modern day learning, where delegates can get bite-sized portions of information as and when they need it, without being tied to a certain time or date. An effective training management system will allow trainers to offer learning in this way, the only barrier to developing this approach seems to be the training companies themselves.

But change is happening, you only need to see our tweets and news posts to see how many training companies that we work with are building their client base and reaching out to a wider audience with the latest innovative products and services. Take Course Manager for instance, it allows training businesses to completely automate the work that they carry out on a day-to-day basis, from the marketing of their programmes to generating the invoices and ‘happy sheets’ at the end of a course. Time, as with any industry is so precious, and it is crucial that companies continue to shift their training programmes from off-line to on-line in an effort to boost engagement with a busy workforce.

Debenhams may well be operating in an IT-savvy industry, but it is still delivering a product or service to human beings, just as training is. The difference is that there is a far wider acceptance and excitement around IT-based interaction within fashion, but as more and more businesses demand the type of development programmes that allow individuals to fit learning into their busy schedules, it is up to the training providers themselves to satisfy this trend, or else lose the business. 

You can get in touch with accessplanit and hear more about the Course Manager software that it has developed. Either call 0845 5430229 or email enquiries@accessplanit.com if you want to read testimonials from current clients or set up a demo to see just how much of an impact the software can have.

Following the death of Steve Jobs, the war for smartphone custom took a respectful and well-earned break from its assault onto global markets. However, the battle is back on, and with news this week emerging that Samsung has managed to pull ahead of Apple in sale numbers, shows that there is no time to waste.

The question is, what can these businesses do to stay ahead of the pack, especially coming into the crucial festive period? Well, interestingly there is a clear link here to online training, because Chinese telecommunications company Huawei (which is developing its new smartphone as we speak) is investing time and effort, as part of its sale strategy, in training up its customer service staff so that they have a sound knowledge of the product and its functionality. As we all know, we don’t just buy a product, we buy into the brand and all that goes along with that brand, so if a business can assure customers of great after-sale service with highly trained and knowledgeable agents, the value of the product is bumped up significantly.

So, how can manufacturers install this level understanding into the staff out on the front line? Well, this isn’t necessarily a new concept, some manufacturers have gone to great lengths to design training programmes that develop understanding of their products, simply because it allows them to sell their inventions and new creations on a different level.

It makes sense. The creator of Wow Stuff! toys has a similar approach, though he only allows his own trained staff to sell his products in stores during the festive period, because this is the way he knows he can maximise sales and ensure that no custom is lost.

For manufacturers that don’t have the resource to go to such extremes, e-learning programmes hold the key. They can be easily accessed (even on smartphones or when at home), individuals can take ownership and responsibility of when they carry out the training, and for both these reasons it can be a really effective way of developing skills and knowledge of a certain product or service.

The training management system software is available to design bespoke training programmes, without the need for programming or design skills.  How powerful could it be to develop a product and then translate the uniqueness of that product throughout the business, from the boardroom to the lab, and from the marketing team to the sales staff?

For the smartphone sales battle, it would seem that training and development is an option that could generate significant results, and when you consider just how simple it is to develop the training programme and to then share it with staff – why aren’t more companies taking this approach?

If you want to hear more about the accessplanit Composica e-learning authoring tool, just get in touch with the team on 0845 543 0229 or email enquiries@accessplanit.com.  

For a business that relies on cutting edge technology to ensure that we stay ahead of the game and front of mind for our clients, it would be impossible not to mention the passing of Steve Jobs this week. He captained the team that actually changed the way we communicate; such is the power of technology today.

If the digital age had to have a central midfield maestro, the one brand that pushes industry forward and keeps the general public eager for more, it would have to be Apple. Research this week has shown that Apple, buoyed by iPad and iPhone success, is now among the top ten brands in the world, competing with the likes of McDonalds, Coca-Cola, and Disney. Today, it’s the eight most valuable brand in the world.

And, when you consider that the power and success of a brand is usually down to human behaviour, what does Apple’s assault on the international markets say about us? Clearly, it says that there is a hunger, and an appetite for digital – and there needs to be a knee-jerk reaction to this from business.

Developing and adapting out training management system each day, I work with technology and all things digital all the time, but sometimes it’s shocking to find out that businesses, particularly within the training world, have not accepted the migration by consumers onto digital platforms. You only have to look at the news this week to see how important it is for course providers to tap into the digital age – the Open University recorded 300 million downloads of lectures per year from iTunes.

Apple’s rapid growth is not just about its fantastic brand, it’s also about satisfying a need, which is focused on the fact that people want to learn, communicate and work online. Digital platforms are no longer the scary impersonal places that they once were – today they are the norm, and although the training and course providers that we work with have recognised that, there are still plenty that haven’t.

A poll that we conducted on Linkedin earlier this year showed that any training business embracing the likes of learning management systems (LMS), online booking and email marketing as a way to manage training and win new clients, is part of an elite club. It’s not the norm yet, even though there is so much potential. 

Try out a demo on our training management software  with accessplanit and see how digital platforms can transform the performance of course providing businesses and trainers, just give us a call on 0845 5430 229 or email enquiries@accessplanit.com.

Seeing the traditional establishment and ‘the old way of doing things’ shift to the new and innovative, always catches my eye – and when you work in the technology business, it’s always something worth talking about. The Times, reliable as ever for the technology stories, has picked up on two establishments this week that probably haven’t been too IT-friendly over the years, but have now shown the type of progression that all of us here at accessplanit would like to see the training industry adopt (or should I say, more of the training industry – some businesses do it really well) in the future.

Whitehall is not somewhere you would necessarily expect to be moving at a rapid pace in terms of technology, and it’s not, but it is moving, which is a positive sign that deserves noting if nothing else. The Times report documents the move from handwritten letters to email, and then now on to text – which is the communication of choice for some of the frontbench MPs today. Who would have thought that some of the most important notes and messages are being sent via text between leaders recognised throughout the world?

Then, at the same time, the Edinburgh Fringe has, for the first time, adopted technology in a big way into the creative season this year. Noted for its innovative and ground-breaking performances, the Edinburgh Festival is known globally and visited by arts lovers from across the world. So, it was great to see that technology is being accepted as a route to develop new ideas and explore creative avenues. With soundclouds to Skype, and from video goggles to iPads, the festival has taken one look at the possibilities that technology offers up, and welcomed it in with open arms.

This type of progression means taking a step into the unknown, adapting the way businesses and people operate, but always keeping a keen eye on development and success, and, if some establishments like Whitehall and the Edinburgh Festival are taking strides, what is your business waiting for?

If you want to move your training business into the digital age and embrace the new technology that has proven to save valuable time as well as costs, get in touch with accessplanit today by clicking here or calling 0845  5430229.