'Enterprises Should Maintain Investments In Training'

Employee training at enterprises is an ongoing exercise. Making it standardised across geographies is important for uniform business practices, which results in similar customer experiences. Gurukul Online Learning Services (GOLS) provides an integrated solution to corporates and educational institutes for conducting corporate training that is enabled with rich media experience. Biztech2.0 caught up with Shailesh Mehta, eLearning evangelist and founder CEO, GOLS, to know the latest buzz in this space.

How would you describe the end-to-end eLearning solution from GOLS?

There are two categories of training available: one is self based and the other is online training. The self-based training can be conducted in synchronous (live training) or asynchronous mode, which means the content can be accessed anytime with no trainer present at the other end. The content is also provided in various formats like Web content, PDF files, HTML pages, animation, 2D or even 3D images. This is called self-based training. In synchronous mode, the trainer can be in a chat mode or in a live virtual classroom sitting at the corporate office. The learner can enter from anywhere provided he has access to a PC or laptop and an Internet connection of 64 Kbps. The trainer could also be at the corporate office or at the place of the workshop and conduct live training. This is known as synchronous training having features of a physical classroom.

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For example, GOLS has provided its solution to a company that is in the finance sector (an NBFC) that includes LMS (learning management system), single sign on, discussion mode, off-the-shelf banking related content. This also includes an assessment solution to help the company in recruitment, training, appraisals etc. The students’ voice can be uploaded to be used for any kind of evaluation.

The above NBFC has offices spread around the country. The congregation of all its employees in one location would be a costly affair for the company. The solution helped the company in saving tremendous amount of money. It helped to provide employees sitting across boundaries to get the best training from a single tutor.

Our video-based solution is software based as against the hardware based telepresence solution. It can even operate on a 10 Kbps line apart from the conventional 64 Kbps connection. The solution is versatile and can work anywhere with an Internet connection, PC or laptop and power. Another positive point is that it can also be integrated with LMS, audio based training. The solution also helps in monitoring the students getting trained anywhere in India.

Which challenges prompt enterprises to go for eLearning solutions?

Induction training is a big challenge for all companies having geographically diverse operations comprising functionsa like sales, marketing etc. Apart from induction, companies in the airline and BFSI sector provide compliance training and skill upgradation from time to time.

In these times of recession, while organisations are withholding budgets, we advise them not to cut their investments in training as our integrated solution can help enterprises to train employees in a cost effective way. We provide Learning Management System (LMS), live virtual classroom, customised content and off-the-shelf courseware for various domains.

Interestingly, we have filed a patent in the USA for video and audio based training. GOLS offers multi-domain expertise in collaboration with various organisations like Retailers Association of India (RAI) for offering retail-based live courses. Basically, we provide custom content, technology, support and domain training to retail companies. We have a website called schoolofinsurance.in where we provide pre-recruitment training for insurance agents appropriately accredited by IRDA. We are educational providers of Financial Planning Standards Board of India (FPSB) too.

GOLS has also partnered with the National Power Training Institute (NPTI) to provide training related to the power sector. There is a similar partnership with the Indian School of Petroleum. We also provide foreign language training to corporate houses either within the Intranet of the corporate or online. The training is provided on a hosted model or via a behind-the-firewall installation. Corporates are also interested in complete outsourcing for support and people. They often look for custom and off the shelf content.