Training for Success

To maximize their technology talent, banks increasingly are building global IT organizations. Though they remain challenged with how to standardize and optimize IT training, with the help of collaborative online training solutions, banks are turning disparate IT talent into cohesive teams.

"Banks need to be able to deliver training quickly," says Ty McBride, EVP for staffing and consulting firm Via-Source (Charlotte, N.C.). "E-learning tools are a great vehicle to deliver training to disparate locations and monitor employee progress."

One tool that is facilitating global training is Genesys Meeting Center from Reston, Va.-based Genesys Conferencing. The Web-based interface supports audio and video for online conferences and training sessions, integrating e-learning tools into the mix. Training managers log onto a dedicated Web site to schedule a training session. Meeting Center then notifies selected users via e-mail of the scheduled training session.

To participate, trainees simply click on the secure link embedded in the e-mail. They then are connected to a secure Web site where they can launch e-learning tools, participate in quizzes or view internal information. "This is a great opportunity to provide training across disperse locations," says Tony Terranova, Genesys' VP of product marketing.

According to Terranova, the solution uses little bandwidth and does not require seat licenses or user caps. "In the past, licensed software required a large capital investment, companies had to download software and, often, there was a 100-seat limit," he says. "Since our solution is Web-based, it can be delivered to an unlimited number of employees."

"Training is always important," says John Goullet, founder and president of information technology consulting firm Info Technologies (West Long Branch, N.J.). "Access to Web-based e-learning tools has been a great improvement in training efforts."