Online customer training is a large and growing field. In a recent study, one-third of businesses reported offering online or blended learning programs to their customers; and by some estimates, the market is growing by 25% per year.

Many companies are successfully turning customer training into profit centers. One primary challenge for these firms is deciding what to charge for the training, and whether to offer the online courses individually or as part of a subscription.

As one example, Best Software prices its online courses at roughly 80% of its classroom course pricing. Lawson Software, on the other hand, charges the same price for an instructor-led course and the equivalent live virtual classroom session. In both cases, Lawson reasons, the learner has access to a live instructor. Learners in a virtual classroom may not get face-to-face time with the instructor, but they have incurred lower travel expenses.

This paper describes how firms are successfully profiting from online customer training, including pricing strategies for live and on-demand online courses and subscription programs. The paper also reviews best practices in online customer training based on research with over a dozen companies.

Pepsi bottlers, as the direct sales channel for Pepsi- Cola, need to be equipped with the latest information on promotions, products, and strategy to effectively sell into a competitive market. Since the content is volatile and turnover is high, the training needs are continuous and ongoing.

Working with ej4, Pepsi-Cola uses industry-specific content integrated through post-course and refresh tests, coaching tools, and live webcasts. Today the company offers 70+ courses in bottler management, supervision, sales, merchandising, administration, operations and compliance. They are adding roughly 10 new courses per month based on the requests of bottlers and are beginning to translate their most popular courses into Spanish.

These programs have been highly successful because of the following:

• Innovative instructional design and use of online video;
• Complete approach to solving the problems of Pepsi bottlers;
• Low cost and ease of deployment.

The details of this solution are illustrated in three short case studies of Pepsi-Cola bottlers: Ab-Tex Bottling, Brown Bottling, and Springfield Pepsi.

Much of the publicity in recent years around LMSs has focused on large-enterprise initiatives with big budgets; however, a significant number of mid-sized training organizations are just now embracing LMSs. These organizations may not have multi-million dollar budgets, but they are making headway in learning management and taking advantage of e-learning nevertheless. This webcast will provide insight for buyers interested in a system that provides not only lower up front costs but also a lower cost of ownership over the life of the system.

Specific topics will include:

• The characteristics of mid-market systems vs. larger enterprise
• System acquisition and operational costs: how much should you pay?
• Criteria for evaluating a system
• Vendors addressing this market

This webinar is free and is hosted by Chris Howard.

• "Mid-Market Learning Management Systems"
• January 27, 1:00pm Pacific/4:00pm Eastern
• SIGN UP NOW