E-learning for enhancing management development programme is the new buzzword among corporates these days in the financial services, real estate, retail, telecom, pharmaceutical and FMCG sectors. According to Muralidar Rao, president & COO, NIS Sparta—part of the Reliance ADAG, “About 1,000 small and medium term enterprises (SMEs), including corporates, will look at investing Rs 500 crore in storing and accessing e-learning in the next two to three years.”
As for the rationale behind the move, Rao explained that e-learning will benefit corporates in reducing content time for face-to-face communications as part of the training programme, saving time in commuting and number of days apart from logistics costs as well. E-learning will rather increase business competencies apart from enhancing knowledge skills.
“This year, we hope corporates including SMEs to reduce their content time for face-to-face communication by 66% from 33% reduction, at present. Most corporates prefer video conferencing, experiential training apart from e-learning as an important tool to improve best practices,” he added.
Reliance Communications is all set to start storing and accessing cross-knowledge e-learning this year in order to bring in customer centric culture, improve talent management procedure and create common group culture. Prior to the move, Reliance Capital and Reliance Energy has already introduced this technology.
According to industry sources, in the real estate segment, Delhi-based Unitech is planning to adopt e-learning technology soon. Besides, Videocon Industries in the consumer durables segment is understood to be tapping the e-learning opportunities for enhancing its global competencies.
An IDC report estimates that worldwide revenues from e-learning would be $21 billion by 2008. India is one of the largest Markets in number of users and global elearning players are eyeing this opportunity. CrossKnowledge is a leading European player in distance training solutions.
According to Gartner, “One of the top 10 positions among global 1,000 Companies of the future will be that of an online learning designer. Companies today are vying with each other to be the learning designer of choice and are tying up across the world to deliver their programs.
CrossKnowledge has tied up with NIS Sparta, leveraging the reach and years-long expertise of NIS Sparta to deliver their programs to a large Indian user base. CrossKnowledge is in India to launch over 248 elearning modules in partnership with NIS Sparta, fulfilling both requirements for elearning