Johannesburg, 01 Jul 2010
Alchemex today announced the launch of its Excel on Steroids online training on the Sage University, an online training portal that services Sage software clients globally.
Gary Boddington, Alchemex CEO, explains that 'Excel on Steroids' originated out of the need from a burgeoning client install base. He says: “For nearly a decade, Alchemex has provided BI software that drives information into Microsoft Excel. We identified the need for a training programme that provided in-depth coverage of specific Excel functionality for enhanced business reporting and decision-making. With the face of business intelligence changing and Excel fast becoming the central character, it is important that users of our software are familiar with the power of Excel to get the most out of the software. It has always been Alchemex's philosophy to provide a 'whole product' and 'Excel on Steroids' training evolved naturally due to this.”
Sage North America has followed through with Alchemex's 'whole product' thinking by launching 'Excel on Steroids' on the Sage University, following the launch of Alchemex BI software as an integrated module of Sage Accpac ERP and Simply Accounting by Sage.
Simply Accounting has furthermore included a free 'Discovering Excel' online course, powered by Alchemex, with each purchase of the recently launched Simply Accounting Intelligence, with the intention of further upskilling users with the 'Excel on Steroids' training.
Boddington is confident that the training will accelerate adoption of the business intelligence software powered by Alchemex. He says: “At the recent Sage Insights conference, in Denver, Colorado, USA, advanced Excel sessions were presented to crowded venues, and BI in Excel really hit a nerve with the delegates. Skills development is an important component of product adoption and advanced Excel training forms part of this.”
Traditionally a classroom-based course, 'Excel on Steroids' is an advanced Microsoft Excel training programme designed to focus on specialised Excel functionality to turn an intermediate Excel user into an accomplished report writer. The comprehensive and practical training, provided in three half-day workshops in most major South African centres, was launched online in 2007 on the Alchemex Online Academy, giving users the flexibility to enhance their skills at a time and place suitable to them. Says Bronwyn Dorrofield, Alchemex Training Manager: “Courses are available for both Excel 2003 and 2007, while work is currently under way on new material for the exciting Excel 2010 release.”
As opposed to a generic advanced Excel course, which gives a general overview of the advanced functionality of Excel, the 'Excel on Steroids' course focuses on specific topics relevant to business reporting, covering:
* Workshop 1: Business reporting using formulae and functions
* Workshop 2: Managing data lists and macros
* Workshop 3: Data analysis using PivotTables and PivotCharts
“It is important that potential delegates understand that intermediate Excel skills are required in order for them to take full advantage of the power of this course,” Dorrofield says. “Our excellent 'Discovering Excel' course is available to bring skills up to the required level.”
Sean Elliot, Alchemex Financial Director, believes the success of 'Excel on Steroids' Online Training on the Alchemex Online Academy to date has been due to two things: “Firstly, the powerful course content provides delegates with an advanced understanding of relevant Excel functionality and practical know-how that will result in significant time-savings each month. Secondly, the nature of online training has created all sorts of efficiencies, mainly because users can now excel themselves anytime, anywhere. It is also cost-effective, saving travel costs and the cost of travel downtime.”
The clients' learning experience does not end with the workshops. Dorrofield adds: “In addition to the workshops themselves, weekly 'Excel on Steroids' Tips and Tricks are e-mailed to delegates for continued learning, while delegates can join the 'Excel on Steroids' group on the BI Community to obtain free access to report-writing and Excel-related queries and solutions as well as value-adds such as free e-books.”
Now the inclusion of the online courses on the Sage University is set to proliferate 'Excel on Steroids' training in North America and worldwide.
For more information on 'Excel on Steroids' online training, go to http://www.alchemex.com or email eos@alchemex.com. The latest 'Excel on Steroids' Tips & Tricks e-Book Volume III is available for download here.
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