Research by Expertus and Training Industry, Inc. also Indicates that Companies that Integrate their LMS with Other Systems Get More Out of Their LMS

Mountain View, CA – June 17, 2008 – Expertus, a global provider of services that optimize the business impact of learning, today announced the findings of its newest study, Training Efficiency: Optimizing Learning Technology. The research, conducted in collaboration with Training Industry, Inc., found that companies that integrate their Learning Management System with other systems and leverage external partners for administration have much higher efficiency gains from their LMS than those that do not. Besides looking at which practices are associated with LMS efficiency gains, the study also uncovered the impact of LMS functionalities and other factors such as time since implementation on expected LMS efficiency gains. These findings and additional survey results can be viewed at: http://www.trainingefficiency.com/system/file /Survey+Results_TechOptimization_TrainingEfficiency.com_Jun10.pdf.

Previously viewed as a back-office function, training administration has recently been a prevalent topic of discussion and research. Training administration includes scheduling, registration, strategic reporting, and other learning operations and support functions, including the technology associated with implementing these administrative activities. Results from Training Efficiency: Optimizing Learning Technology indicate that leveraging external partners for training administration leads to stronger efficiency gains from Learning Management Systems than companies that do not outsource administration.

“Training administration is an often overlooked part of the learning infrastructure that can impact an entire organization,” said Mohana Radhakrishnan, Vice President of Client Services at Expertus. “The survey finding that outsourcing this function can result in LMS efficiency gains underscores our belief that external partners have the ability to deliver improved processes, maximize technology investments, and increase an organization’s efficiency.”

The survey also indicated that companies with any level of integration with other learning or HR systems (from real-time to less often than weekly frequencies) see greater overall efficiency gains from their LMS than companies with no integration at all. As expected, the impact area most affected by whether or not a company integrates its LMS with other systems is more actionable learning metrics. Access to multiple data sources helps training leaders make better decisions about which training courses are making a difference.

“This research emphasizes the importance of a clean, efficient learning architecture that is properly integrated,” said Doug Harward, CEO of Training Industry, Inc. “Growing companies often face a crisis when they’ve expanded quickly and their learning programs and technologies are estranged. This research urges organizations to improve efficiency gains from their LMS by taking a step back and looking with a fresh set of eyes where integration would serve them well.”

Other key findings include:

• An LMS has the strongest impact on compliance readiness, as well as helping learners efficiently find and register for training more easily and reducing administration costs.

• An LMS has the weakest impact on employee productivity, which is also the least understood area of expected LMS impact.

• The LMS functionality which generates the strongest efficiency gain is content management, followed closely by roster management and scheduling.

• The longer a company has an LMS, the higher its efficiency gains in nearly all areas. After the third year of implementation, companies experience the most consistent efficiency gains.

• The biggest challenges in making the most of an LMS are inflexible reporting capabilities and a lack of integration between the LMS and other systems.

These and more survey findings will be discussed in-depth during a webinar, “Secrets of Successful Learning Systems: 6 Ways to Unlock Hidden Value,” scheduled for Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. To register, visit www.expertus.com/webinar2/pr. The one-hour webinar will be hosted by Josh Bersin, president of Bersin & Associates, a research and advisory firm focused on enterprise learning and talent management.

Training Efficiency: Optimizing Learning Technology was a survey of 53 training leaders, most of whom manage or serve as an administrator of an enterprise-wide LMS. Respondents’ organizations varied in their initial LMS investments, number of learners their LMS’ supported, and time since LMS implementation. This was the second of four surveys in 2008 to gather market data on efficiency in training organizations as part of the 2008 Training Efficiency Masters Series. For more information on the research or Expertus, log on to http://www.TrainingEfficiency.com, or visit the Expertus Pressroom at https://www.expertus.com/about/pressroom.html or call 877-827-8160.

About Expertus
Expertus is the leading global provider of services that optimize the business impact of learning. For more than a decade, the firm’s 500+ learning management professionals have defined and implemented plans, processes and technologies that transform training organizations – creating measurable value for the world’s most successful corporations. Customers include ADP, Cisco, ConocoPhillips, EMC, Honeywell and Lockheed Martin. Every day at these and other companies, more than a million employees, customers and business partners are educated as a result of Expertus’ innovative business strategies, outsourcing services and technology-rich solutions.

Based in Silicon Valley, Expertus serves its customers from offices in the US, UK and India. For more information, visit www.expertus.com, or call toll-free 1-877-827-8160.

About Training Industry, Inc.
Training Industry, Inc is an objective and trusted expert on the marketplace for learning. Its mission is to make the marketplace more efficient through the world’s largest online community of training communities and through services such as Training Industry Conferences, Training Industry Quarterly Ezine, Training Industry Webinars and Training Industry Research. For more information, please contact info@trainingindustry.com or visit our website at www.trainingindustry.com.