News

A partnership with a credible, established provider of training services to reinforce the integration of ICT infrastructure, service and support can make a significant difference to clients.

So claims Richard Rayne, Managing Director at On-Site Training, a privately-owned national Proudly South African provider of comprehensive training services covering Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and critical Business Skills Development.

Rayne suggests that many service providers operating within the growing information and communication technology sector are losing out on key opportunities to bolster the client relationship because of insufficient knowledge and experience in the training arena.

“We often hear of technology service providers falling short of their client’s expectations because they are unable to deliver on the necessary training after having just installed software or added new applications. The fact is that many employees will not know how to extract maximum benefit from the software investment because they have not been trained. Service providers are not in the position to help and that is why they need to form a strategic relationship with a training partner in that field of expertise,” he says.

The result is that the client sits with new technology and any number of end users who must continue to do their jobs and remain productive using new software/systems – and a serious need for quick, effective training adds Rayne.

“Productivity issues immediately come into play because the investment in training requires time and money. Alternatively if there was a symbiotic partnership between a training provider and the technical services provider already in place, one service that compliments the other, the client would be assured of receiving a more holistic service and will not be an issue,” he continues.

At the same time Rayne acknowledges the predicament service providers face in having to select the right training partner for the job. “Clearly it should be a provider that has a proven track record, can demonstrate technical knowledge and houses the necessary skills sets, but also understands critical business skills application in conjunction with technology in the workplace.”

According to management at On-Site Training, training provider accreditation is what really counts in the market – and the Channel sees value in certification and affiliation to established ICT focused vendors.

Furthermore the market places an even greater premium on cost saving and education that can deliver immediate value, that places the learner/ organization or business in an automatic advantageous position simply through the investment in training.

“What we have experienced is that service providers seek to partner with operators that have the necessary credentials. As an example, there is an emphasis on official Microsoft accreditation and its place in the market,” says Rayne. “In the training arena having Microsoft accreditation as a Certified Partner for Learning Solutions means that the provider is committed to training quality and adheres to an internationally established and recognized standard.”

A Microsoft Certified Partner for Learning Solutions is legally obliged to offer training that is authorized, makes use of official learning products and is based on the latest available solutions and infrastructure.

“So you know you are being trained on products and technology that is not obsolete, that is relevant and that will make a difference to the marketplace,” says Rayne. “More importantly it eliminates the risk of gaining a qualification that is fantastic on paper, but means nothing outside the classroom.”

A training provider that is accredited with Learning Solutions Partner status has to employ Microsoft Certified Trainers or product experts says Rayne. “This ensures that the quality of training professional that delivers the training has been benchmarked against international best practices.”

Another important accreditation is with a SETA (Sector Education Training Authority), of which IT training providers are ISETT SETA accredited. The SETA accreditation will ensure that clients are able to claim against their Skills Development Levy (SDL), as a result of the training delivered. The SETA accreditation is really a barrier to entry in the training market. Providers without this accreditation should not be considered at all. This achievement gives confidence to the client that the provider’s quality management systems are in place.