Help employees gain necessary skills with Microsoft E-learning from Workgroup

In a rapidly evolving, competitive environment, and with the strong use of IT being common in many businesses today, the majority of companies around the world today use Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel and Access. The rise of the Internet has also seen an influx in demand for IT skills ranging from programming and Web design to e-business skills and networking.

However, getting your employees to gain (and retain) the necessary skills involves more than simply giving them the hardware and software to use. It is also vital to give them access to high quality training in order to stay competitive. In the past, this might have involved considerable expense for classroom training, and the hidden costs of employee "time away from role".

Through Workgroup, organisations can now train and up-skill their employees in-house with the Microsoft eLearning Library (MELL) - Desktop Edition. The Desktop Edition contains interactive lessons on Microsoft Office and Microsoft Windows, and a complete in-depth reference library of appropriate e-Books. A powerful search tool combines with this huge information-base to deliver training and guidance to users on-demand.

Says Cassandra O`Riley, Microsoft Product Manager at Workgroup: "Employees that need to learn or increase their skills and self-confidence in using certain programmes can do so with this product, as it not only provides a complete training library on key Microsoft applications, but also boasts a powerful new online search tool and online references that will help reinforce learning, increase productivity and reduce downtime."

The Edition can be installed on an individual PC or deployed across an entire organisation using the simple Learning Management System (LMS) provided with the library. As all of the materials are in XML format, and are accessed via a browser interface, this potentially enables any user to access their learning from any PC or laptop that can connect to the network on a 24-hour, 7-day basis. The LMS also comes with an easy-to-use administration tool, making reporting and customisation very easy. Says O`Riley: "The benefits of using a solution such as this to train staff in-house, or helping employees enhance their skills, are enormous. Besides receiving the benefits of better productivity, creativity and innovation from employees, costs and employee turnover is also reduced. It can also lead to increased revenue and an increased return on investment as workers who gain new skills are more likely to exploit technology, interact with clients positively and identify new and better ways of doing things.

"In addition, there are levy grants available. Those who train their staff in-house, who pay their skills development levy, and who train their employees according to a workplace skills plan or a learnership agreement, can claim back their 1% contribution."

So ultimately, to remain competitive and empower your employees with the necessary skills they need to succeed in the workplace today, it is important to have the right learning tools available - tools that will not only help you and your workers update your skills in the most efficient and cost-effective way, but that will also enable you to do so without the fuss.

An online demonstration of the MELL Desktop Edition is available at: http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/business/demo/