Today, internet based communication tools provide essential operation and marketing solutions. Therefore, the first step to ensuring success in future endeavors is to accept new business technology.

What is Web 2.0?

Web 2.0 describes how the types of tools people use for internet based communication are in their second generation. A non-comprehensive list of web 2.0 tools includes:

• Blogs
• Live chat
• Communities
• Social networks and online profiles
• Learning managements systems (LMSs)

According to a study done by McKinsey and Company, web 2.0 tools are essential to corporations around the world.  In fact, much of a company’s success depends on how well it harnesses business technology.

How to Use Web 2.0 Business Technology

While some companies view changing business trends as a trial, others welcome the opportunities web 2.0 technology offers. Ironically enough, most of the obstacles posed by web-based tools are coupled with the best solutions. Here are three examples of this:

• Long Distance Collaboration:
  Using tools like blogs, podcasts, LMSs, and social media networks, promote group interaction, even when a team works remotely. As employees become “less tethered to physical offices” but still responsible for accomplishing group tasks, these tools encourage business participation.

• Establishing Priorities:
  There is a surplus of information, organization, and communication options available on the Internet. In deciding which tools work best for business participation, it is important to consider what content is useful in moving a company’s mission forward. By using Web 2.0 organization tools, it is possible to set priorities and diminish distractions.

• Knowledge Sharing for Business Participation:
  A major fear of knowledge sharing is that it may disrupt the corporate hierarchy that is foundational to a business. However, in a global business environment, there is need for bottom-up collaboration. When this method of communication is incorporated, it is easier to accept Web 2.0 tools, and leverage their capabilities.

One of the most comprehensive and effective web 2.0 tools is a learning management system. The social LMS, TOPYX® combines traditional learning management with administration functions, reporting tools, interactive communication features, Web 2.0 tools and more, on a community platform.

Software providers are aware of the challenges and opportunities companies face when incorporating internet based communication tools. This is why TOPYX provides a popular social learning blog that educates individuals about the benefits of business technologies.

Support services are also available to assist companies transitioning into using LMSs to meet web 2.0 demands. The first step to experiencing the potential of business technology is requesting a free LMS demo of TOPYX.

Business is changing. Technology is evolving. How is it possible to navigate the insurgence of web 2.0 technologies? Accept the challenges and embrace opportunity.

Jodi Harrison
Vice President, Business Development
jodi.harrison@interactyx.com

Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com

The Millennial Generation, or Generation Y, are individuals that were born between the late 1970′s and early 2000′s. So, if you are or know someone who between 35 and 10 years old, you/they are a millennial.

This generation makes up almost 30% of the American population and have seen a tremendous amount of change in their lives so far. From when MTV started by playing music, the Atari, the Cold War, rubik’s cube, Nirvana, beepers, boom and bust economies and the incredibly fast rise to dominance of the Information Age, millennials are not the same (obviously) than generations before them.

So, what are you doing in your workplace to leverage the potential of this group?

Let’s get to know millennials better. I included an infographic below that should help illustrate what motivates them and what they want to achieve.

So, here are some key points about millennials in the workplace:

• Wantto collaborate on projects
• 92% feel education is key
• Looking for direct feedback and increasing responsibilities
• Over 1-out-of-5 chose training as the MOST important benefit an employer can offer. 2/3 said professional development key.
• Comfortable with new technology (but we knew that already)

Training millennials is not just an important issue for this group, but it is also important for organizations to keep top talent and increase productivity.

To get your workplace ready, there are many options. I recommend reviewing social learning management system (LMS) technologies that do not charge per user fees or storage fee.  That way you can implement a system to contribute to the bottom line, instead of breaking your budget.

One such LMS is the award-winning TOPYX®.  It is easy to use and easy to administer for any generation.  There are no license, bandwidth, implementation or customer service fees to make is an easy choice.  Plus, you can get a LMS demo to see why over 10 million users are already using TOPYX to training millennials, boomers and everyone in between.

Millennials may get the quote “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once and awhile, you might miss it.” from the cult hero Ferris Bueller. We have seen a lot of change in the last 20 (even 5) years and there is more to come.  Get your business ready by being able to stay on top of the changing times with the right social learning management system.

Jeffrey A. Roth
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Jeffrey.Roth@Interactyx.com

Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com

Today, businesses have replaced farms as the major engine propelling society forward. Still, a lot of businesses adopt values and practices from the farm.

For instance, a popular term in the corporate world is “silos”. Farm silos are large, free-standing storage facilities for grain. A business community, however, may use this word to describe different departments that exist within a company.

In the global business environment, creating communication between silos is challenging because they may be scattered by location and/or purpose. Without efficient communication, a company’s employees can feel separated, disconnected, and isolated from colleagues and superiors.

While effective internal organization makes big business possible, keeping employees connected, especially those who function in different silos, is a constant challenge for all-size businesses.

In creating communication that connects all employees and equips them with the supportive business community, eLearning is the ideal solution.

eLearning is Creating Communication and Building Business Community

Employing eLearning system is the best way to create a progressive corporate culture that thrives on effective silos and is not limited by them. Here are three reasons why:

1. Efficient Communication Prevents Division Between Silos

Often times, in business, there is a lot of concentration placed on developing an efficient communication strategy that exist within a department or silo. While connecting the entire company can seem impossible, it is vital in creating progress and development. By providing an eLearning system where employees learn from one another and share information, companywide communication is attainable.

2. A Business Community Thrives on Shared Information

Efficient communication implies every person has access to shared information, and has means of contributing to a collective knowledge source. For this to happen, communication must extend beyond individual silos and bring various departments together. In other words, team members no longer belong to a single department; they become valuable contributors to the business community at large. Collaboration is easy when using an eLearning system to share content and host collaborative training.

3. eLearning is Creating Communication through Learning Management Systems

A learning management system (LMS) is the best option for creating a connected business community.  By opening channels of communication, silos are able to compare efforts and decide on collaborative approaches to benefit the entire company. An LMS makes this possible by connecting silos through an easy-to-use, online network. As a result, one program can unify all silos to create a strong business community.

A proven LMS known for connecting business silos is TOPYX®. This award winning social learning management system provides communication channels for the many working parts of a variety of companies. Because of its easy-to-use features, simple set up, and flat rate pricing model, this LMS offers the best option for creating communication networks. To experience how this program benefits businesses of all sizes, request a demo of TOPYX.

eLearning is the premier option for creating efficient communication within a business. Unify employees and company silos to build a strong business community. Accomplish this with a learning management system – the best tool for the modern business world.

Jodi Harrison
Vice President, Business Development
jodi.harrison@interactyx.com

Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com

Unfortunately, many companies don’t know this software can deliver the most effective training practices. Some still rely on traditional methods of employee education, even though spending long hours in a classroom can leave employees feeling drained and ill-equipped to handle job tasks.

Using a learning management system (LMS) to train employees allows them to become productive, satisfied members of a workforce. To further understand this, explore three unique reasons why eLearning software offers the best options for training.

3 Reasons to Train Employees with an LMS

1. Efficiency

Efficient employees create a productive workforce. Operating at a level of maximum efficiency – where a company can offer the most products and best services – requires thorough training initially and consistent employee education moving forward.

An LMS is the perfect platform to host new and improved training courses, task performance forums, and realtime chat support.

2. Knowledge Management

When responding to the question, “who is responsible for creating curriculum and conducting training programs?” the answer often points to department heads and managers. After all, they know procedures well and observe knowledge deficiencies on a daily basis.

With easy admin features offered on learning management systems, these busy individuals can create employee education material as they accomplish daily tasks. For instance, using an LMS database when updating department procedures and guidelines, as well as company correspondence, brings a measure of organization to the company and can benefit the training process.

3. System Operations Training

Businesses share a common misconception that their employees will catch onto all operating systems quickly. Yet one of the biggest mistakes a company can make is failing to ensure employees are confident using their software of choice.

Continual training is essential to keeping a workforce up-to-date with online business tools. Making this training available through an LMS allows employee education to take place at any time and any place.

Efficient, knowledgeable, and tech savvy employees are certain to advance any business. Therefore, offering company training with a social LMS can increase productivity and workplace satisfaction.

TOPYX® is an easy-to-use, customizable LMS that is available for a flat rate subscription fee. Explore these benefits and more by requesting a free demo of TOPYX.

Employee satisfaction and increased productivity go hand-in-hand. Wanting to strengthen either area begins with having the right system to train employees. For this reason, an LMS is a catalyst for employee education.

Jeffrey A. Roth
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Jeffrey.Roth@Interactyx.com

Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com

An eLearning center that promotes integration, customization, standardization, and usability provides appropriate reporting options to measure business impact. Employing an LMS is an investment that has the ability to grow company earnings because the effect of a business strategy is measurable.

Four LMS Reporting Solutions to Benefit Business

Integration

Training tools are a standard component on all learning management systems. While these functions teach individuals tasks and procedures, combining training tools with reporting options can advance an entire administration’s understanding of how these applications are fulfilling a business strategy.

Some LMS programs, like TOPYX®, offer advanced reporting metrics through Google Analytics. This gives companies solid research to create strategies and update curriculum so they can effectively integrate employees.

Standardization

Complex data needs to be compiled, segmented, and distributed. For this reason, a standard form of reporting and interpreting data – that allows many people to access the same information and put it to immediate use – is ideal. Unfortunately, easy-to-use reporting options that categorize business specific data are hard to find.

TOPYX meets this need by offering a variety of different reports (course progress, certification completion, and registration are just a few of the available reports). You can also schedule reports automatically, in addition to customizing unique formats.

Customization

Every business is different. Still, a common need is an online platform that allows many branches and individuals to connect over long distances. Many businesses require that complex data be configured into a report for immediate use.  For this reason, being able to customize an LMS so it can cater to unique business needs and allows an administration to set up reporting options is necessary.

Usability

Reporting options are great features for an LMS to offer, but only if they are user friendly. With a platform like TOPYX, it is easy to format company information for specific purposes, as well as create and export data, charts, trends, usage statistics, and more. When data compilation is simple, it not only benefits eLearning initiatives, but also the business at large.

TOPYX is an award winning social learning management system that promotes a variety of tools to integrate, standardize, and customize company data in a user friendly environment. Discover the potential of this versatile LMS by requesting a free LMS demo.

Reporting options have the potential to change a training process so it positively impacts business strategy. A reliable and fast way to collect vital information for these purposes is with an LMS. Learning management systems are more than training centers; they are data tools.

Jodi Harrison
Vice President, Business Development
jodi.harrison@interactyx.com

Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com

There are many great articles below and more on our Social Learning Blog. Enjoy this month’s edition of TOPYX Topics, the social learning newsletter!

Only a few days left!
Vote for the 2013 Best of Elearning! awards today!

Elearning! Magazine has put this award together to give people the chance to nominate their favorite eLearning solutions. The awards are completely based on your input. No judges or shortlists. Your vote matters.

TOPYX social LMS has been a Best of Elearning! award winner for the past 4 consecutive years. We need your help to make it 5 years in a row!

The process is simple and only takes a few seconds. Just visit the ballot page. The suggested categories that are most appropriate are:

1. Best Learning Management System (SaaS, Cloud-Based, or Open-Source Only)

18. Best Social Learning Solution

We appreciate your help in making TOPYX social LMS a Best of Elearning! award winner once again.

Remember, voting is open until the end of April. Cast your vote today!

It may be a little heavy-handed to cal the current trends to leverage online technology to enhance learning and training programs a ‘revolution’. But, there are strong indicators that we can evaluate today to see that e-Learning tactics are continuing to grow.

That growth looks like it will continue. The real revolution is how it is effecting organizations and everyday people due to increased adoption and the reduction of the total costs of e-Learning systems, like learning management systems (LMSs), which allow for more solutions to be readily available.

According to the folks over at Certifyme.net who put together the infographic below, the 2013 statistics on e-learning usage is quite impressive. Here area few highlights:

• Now, 77% of American corporations are using some form of online learning program
• Those corporations see a savings of 50 – 70% when in-person training is replaced with e-Learning programs
• The e-Learning industry is expected to double by 2015

View the full infographic

Managers love seeing their employees collaborate. It often leads to innovative ideas and a greater unity among team members. Whether your small business is just starting out or you’ve been around but are looking to expand, social learning tools and software solutions are something you should be considering.

Social learning is learning that takes place at a wider scale than individual or group learning, up to a societal scale, through social interaction between peers. Even if you run a smaller business with fewer than 50 employees, the potential impact of social learning is enough of a reason that this theory should be considered. Here are a few benefits small and medium-sized businesses can gain from social learning implementation…

Read the full article

SaaS can also be referred to as a cloud-based service. This means any device with Internet connection can access the system from any location. The software itself is not hosted on site. Instead, the vendor hosts and maintains the server for you.

A SaaS LMS is designed for independent business use. All eLearning features are customizable so you can bend the software to your needs, making it simple to manage and requiring little administration on your part.

Knowing more about SaaS may benefit you while exploring business solutions to advance company communication, training, and knowledge management….

Read the full article

While the potential to grow earnings is great, possible roadblocks of franchising include:

• Trouble communicating with franchisees
• Failure to effectively distribute training materials
• Inability to instill franchisees with ownership in the company

To avoid these obstacles and ensure franchisees preserve the quality business management that initially made the company successful, an eLearning center needs to be put in place. In fact, carrying out an effective franchise strategy can be easy when using a social learning management system (LMS).

Implementing a social LMS that puts multipurpose communication channels, virtual training options, and unique collaboration tools at a company’s disposal, can help franchisees fulfill their commitments to quality business management. The following three features display how an LMS can help reproduce a company’s successful business model through franchising…

Read the full article

• The Changing Landscape of Learning
• The Value of a Customizable LMS
• Promote Informal Learning with an LMS

It is now possible to do all kinds of things online remotely when previously it was necessary to be in a location in person.  The range of possibilities is huge, from doing the grocery shopping to studying for a degree.

More and more universities are discovering that they can attract a wider range of students via online teaching tools, thereby making learning accessible to those who are unable to attend a college in person.

Benefits of online learning

Today’s world is a very fast-paced one, and an individual that thought about going back to college may have dismissed the idea when considering the practicalities of attending regular lectures and seminars. For those who are working this is often completely impossible; however, with online learning all of this is achievable via the Internet.  A student is able to choose the times that they study rather than be tied down to strict lecture timetables.

Via online learning, students are able to study whenever and wherever they want and learning online also means that assignments can be submitted directly to tutors.  Tutors and lecturers can be contacted by email if their advice is needed and most courses ensure that students get a high level of support from their tutors.

Online learning can also mean part-time learning so that nobody needs to be put off by the amount of time it can take to get a degree or take a course.  A full-time degree course might be three or four years in length, depending upon the subject, but the courses can be taken over a longer period of time and the same result can be achieved.  This is much more fitting if a student has a working or busy family life.  Another benefit is that the student does not have to live in the same area as the college, and can even take courses with colleges abroad if desired.

The range of subjects that is on offer is also now much broader than it used to be, with IT training being just one of the options available alongside traditional academic subjects, such as history or literature.  IT online training courses are designed to be easy to follow and offer qualifications that are not only recognized by employers but will give the student more exciting prospects in terms of choice of a future career.

Accessing learning materials

While some universities still send out hard copies of learning materials to students taking online courses, most opt to simply put them on the website or college intranet so that the student is able to access them as and when they wish.  This means that coffee breaks can become more productive – studies have shown that learning in short bursts can be very beneficial.

Lectures may be presented in the form of written notes, although many colleges and universities are choosing to record lectures in either audio or video format that allows students to stream them online or download as a podcast.

One of the most important aspects of college life is the chance to meet other students, make friends and talk about courses.  This can still be possible for online learners as most universities have forums where students can chat online and make friends.

Universities need the right systems in place to facilitate online learning. See how online learning tools like TOPYX® learning management system are changing how students gather, interact and learn. Request a free LMS demo today.

Jeffrey A. Roth
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Jeffrey.Roth@Interactyx.com

Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com

While the potential to grow earnings is great, possible roadblocks of franchising include:

• Trouble communicating with franchisees
• Failure to effectively distribute training materials
• Inability to instill franchisees with ownership in the company

To avoid these obstacles and ensure franchisees preserve the quality business management that initially made the company successful, an eLearning center needs to be put in place. In fact, carrying out an effective franchise strategy can be easy when using a social learning management system (LMS).

Implementing a social LMS that puts multipurpose communication channels, virtual training options, and unique collaboration tools at a company’s disposal, can help franchisees fulfill their commitments to quality business management. The following three features display how an LMS can help reproduce a company’s successful business model through franchising.

1.  Give Sense of Ownership  with Two Way Communication Channels

A social LMS platform ensures multipurpose communication tools, like video conferencing, screen sharing, realtime chat and more, are available to both the company and business owner. When franchisees have access to the franchisor, questions can be answered quickly and problems will get resolved. This allows for an increased sense of confidence in the business.

2.  Ensure Quality Business Management with Virtual Training Options

Effective training is a crucial part of ensuring franchisees will preserve quality business management.  With cloud based technology, an LMS ensures training options are available to franchise owners at any time, through a variety of devices. In addition, easy administration tools guarantee updated training curriculum is instantly distributed to all franchisees.

3.  Offer Ongoing Support with Unique Collaboration Tools

Every franchise will have different organizational needs. Ongoing support can be provided through an LMS that offers collaboration tools. Using online profiles, franchisees can upload bios and pictures, establish a virtual community, keep track of employee training schedules and more. In addition, there is the possibility to connect with a larger support system provided by the company.

An LMS that includes these features and assists the execution of franchise strategies is TOPYX®. The award winning social learning management system is available for a flat rate annual subscription that allows a company to expand franchise initiatives without increasing training costs.

Request a free demo of TOPYX today and explore the most affordable option in franchise training and communications.

Franchising is a big decision for any company. Tools for communication, virtual training, and collaboration are necessary.

An LMS is the best way to help franchisees with quality business management. Acquire a trusted system and achieve business growth.

Jeffrey A. Roth
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Jeffrey.Roth@Interactyx.com

Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com

When seeking a cost effective way to manage training and valuable content, increase collaboration, and maintain effective communication channels, incorporating an easy to customize LMS is the wise choice.

With a software as a service (SaaS) LMS, you can customize your platform to fulfill the various needs of your users – for example:  social learning features, profiles, learning paths, navigation and more.

A  LMS SaaS solution means that IT maintenance, hardware and hosting of the servers are the responsibility of the LMS service provider. This means you can focus your time and energy on your business, not internal maintenance. And, you do not have to invest in additional IT support and hardware.

Customization is the act of tweaking your online platform to perform specific functions that allow you to keep up with changing learning and training needs. Since unique software development costs can be very expensive, it is wise to find an LMS that is equipped with intuitive administration tools, which are often included in SaaS options. These programs allow you to customize the software to your liking without having to consult a service provider before making changes.  This can include branding your online learning environment to match your look and feel or adding custom designs with html to support your core objectives.

The Value of Simple Customization Options

One size does not fit all.

The value of simple customization is evident when considering how your budget will support creating and updating your online environment so that it consistently suits your company’s evolving needs. In fact, after providing an eLearning and service center to your learners or partners, they may offer feedback that can help guide the future changes you implement.

Time is valuable. You need administrative options that can be managed as simply as just a few clicks.

No company can escape the varied and unique training and collaboration needs. Having a flat rate subscription SaaS LMS enables you to meet growing expectations without increasing overhead costs. This type of system provides you with a framework in which you can successfully create an effective online service environment, without adding prohibitive costs.

Ultimately, learning management systems benefit businesses because they are a cost effective way to enhance user engagement, deliver valuable content when needed, provide a repository for informal knowledge and collaboration, and much more.  You need to find the right solution to fit your unique needs.

An inexpensive way to secure this type of learning platform is by using TOPYX®, an award winning social learning management system that is available to you for a flat rate, regardless of how many users you want to incorporate.

TOPYX is a SaaS LMS solution that is user friendly, with unique design features that make customization simple. There are areas for adding custom design elements, it is easy to turn on/off options with one-click, and other features intentionally designed to reduce headaches and free up your time.

See for yourself by requesting a free LMS demo today.

Making sure your learning program has the features you need and offers you the power to quickly make changes will help your program grow as your organization evolves. Being able to customize your LMS goes a long way with users and administrators that will be using the online environment the most.

Jodi Harrison
Vice President, Business Development
jodi.harrison@interactyx.com

Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com

It may be a little heavy-handed to call the current trends to leverage online technology to enhance learning and training programs a ‘revolution’. But, there are strong indicators that we can evaluate today to see that e-Learning tactics are continuing to grow.

That growth looks like it will continue.  The real revolution is how it is effecting organizations and everyday people due to increased adoption and the reduction of the total costs of e-Learning systems, like learning management systems (LMSs), which allow for more solutions to be readily available.

According to the folks over at Certifyme.net who put together the infographic below, the 2013 statistics on e-learning usage is quite impressive.  Here area  few highlights:

• Now, 77% of American corporations are using some form of online learning program
• Those corporations see a savings of 50 – 70% when in-person training is replaced with e-Learning programs
• The e-Learning industry is expected to double by 2015

See more great points on the infographic below:

Corporate culture is changing to become more efficient by leveraging e-Learning systems. Student coming up that are the future employees are already accustom to using online learning programs. This trend will continue to drive the populating of online content, learning management systems, and other informal learning tools

What is your organization doing to deliver better results from your training program?

Research what is currently available that will fit your unique objectives. Start with learning management systems that have no per user fees and incorporate social learning tools, like TOPYX social learning management system.

Also, make sure your valuable content is made available for online consumption   The use of mobile learning to reach learners when they need the information is growing in popularity as mobile devices become more sophisticated.

These e-Learning trends are here to stay.  If you haven’t yet seen what the right resources can do for your organization, it is time to start. Request a live LMS demo of TOPYX and see why over 10 million users trust TOPYX as their e-Learning solution.

Vive la Revolution!

Jeffrey A. Roth
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Jeffrey.Roth@Interactyx.com
Interactyx Limited
interactyx.com