Some might say Rob Scher took a big risk when he invested millions in an idea he believes will bring big returns.
But as president of Web-Based Training in Streetsboro, Scher says his firm’s technology and business plan will take his newest division, ontimetraining.com, to the top.
By now, corporate America has learned that Web-based training is an accessible, accountable and affordable alternative that brings learning onsite and on screen. Advantages include easy, convenient and paperless learning, less downtime, accurate results tracking and big cost savings.
Scher says businesses are using fewer live presentations every year, and next year, 70 percent of American corporations will be using Web-based training. With that in mind, he scrutinized providers that offer engines for Web-based training and found that most are software companies that don’t offer a turnkey solution for the end user.
“They can’t sell their product unless they have content,” Scher says.
Since his firm was originally a content provider for live and Web-based training, Scher decided that instead of licensing an engine from somewhere else, he would build his own.
“That’s why ontimetraining.com is exclusive,” he says, confiding that he invested in the “large six figures” just to develop the engine.
Scher saw unlimited opportunities for strategic partnerships by offering “the full package.” In addition to interactive generic courses (such as sales techniques and workplace issues), his firm also develops programs specific to a company’s needs — from the training curriculum to the software design.
Ontimetraining.com sets up an “online university” site for a company, with a menu of desired courses. Using an assigned password, users log on and select courses they need to take. To track results, ontimetraining.com developed a special user enrollment process and assessment management software, so administrators can determine which employees have taken which courses, how much of each course was completed, and what the scores were.
Other communication methods for instruction within that company’s university include chat room training sessions and advice postings through e-mail and newsgroups.
To ensure users actually learn and gain expertise, programs are developed by Scher’s in-house, Ph.D.-level instructional design staff. From screen presentation to multimedia usage, every aspect is designed to maximize results.
Scher says that when it comes to training, content is king. He amassed some of the world’s leading sales trainers, human resource consultants and management development authorities to provide program content. Some of the names on the roster boast experts from our own back yard, such as sales and customer service expert Hal Becker; Alan Weiss, founder and president of Summit Consulting Group Inc.; and high-risk workplace issues consultant, Timothy Dimoff.
Scher says the ontimetraining.com supersite will be complete by the end of December, and will offer the most extensive menu of interactive training programs. Among hundreds of clients already onboard are A. Schulman Co., Bruner Cox LLP, Davey Tree Expert, Kent State University, Little Tikes Co., Sheraton Suites, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Timken Co. and West Point Market.
“Our goal is to be the leading provider of training via the Web,” Scher says. “I expect that in 2000, ontimetraining.com will really bear fruit.”
How to reach: ontimetraining.com, (330) 422-2028