Cloud Control

Your learning curriculum needs a new technological platform, but you don't have the expertise or IT equipment to pull it off in-house. The answer is a learning system that exists online, "in the cloud," where learners can access it anywhere, anytime. For trainers, cloud-based coursework often means greater ease of instruction resulting in greater long-term learning impact. "For the trainer, it brings back the personalization of classroom training," StormWind chairman and CEO Tom Graunke points out. "It allows for the student to see a high-definition, live broadcast of a class and interact with it in real time. It finally delivers on the promise of e-learning." The ability to share so much anytime, anywhere allows for amped-up mentoring. "Some cloud-based training providers offer Web portal access, collaboration, virtual instructor-led training (VILT), and mentoring tools to enhance the learner's experience," says Hatsize Vice President of Marketing Vicki Morris. In addition, the ability to access cloud platforms from any location at any time enables on-the-job training that delivers knowledge at the exact moment workers need it, says Dan Cooper, former CEO, ej4. Lastly, cloud technology can be the most cost-effective choice for a company, says Chris Lennon, director of Product Management, SilkRoad Technology. "Leveraging cloud technology gives companies a financial advantage by being able to quickly respond to changing market needs, industry trends, or regulatory requirements. Without hardware, companies have the ability to use and manage software, including adopting new technologies as they become available," he says.