News story

Corporates rethink generic e-learning

Cirencester, UKLearning NewsFosway

Elearnity, Europe 's leading Corporate Learning Analyst, today announced research concluding that large corporate adopters are changing their approach and contractual commitments for generic e-learning to better focus the value proposition. Corporates are focusing on driving recurrent usage around a narrow set of generic titles linked to major business initiatives, and are increasingly adopting non-traditional forms of e-learning such as on-line reference materials for on-demand learning support to an often sceptical audience.

Elearnity, Europe 's leading independent Learning Analyst, today announced research concluding that large corporate adopters are changing their approach and contractual commitments for generic e-learning content to better focus the value proposition. Based on analysis of background research discussions together with conclusions from a recent Elearnity Forum corporate roundtable on E-learning Content, Elearnity has concluded that whilst vendors have largely focused on growing the breadth of their curriculum through acquisition and expansion of catalogue, big catalogues are seemingly not the primary drivers of usage and value for corporates. Elearnity analysis of corporate activity is showing:


  1. Greater focus on driving high recurrent usage around a narrow set of generic titles; often linked to specific major business projects or changes, which may cycled over time

  2. Rapid growth in adoption of non-traditional forms of e-learning content, particularly on-line reference material, driven by significant increases in perceived relevance and value from an often e-learning skeptical audience

  3. More focus on industry-specific (vertical) or job-role-specific (horizontal) content, often from niche providers with a proven understanding and brand in their niche

  4. Increased desire for flexible adoption of e-learning content, embedded within mainstream learning programmes (the so-called ‘trend to blend')


These changes are linked to increasing maturity of experience of generic e-learning within corporate learning and e-learning managers, as well as increased innovation and competition from the vendors.

“Many organisations are still struggling to achieve expected usage levels from their generic e-learning” Said David Wilson, eLearnity's founder and Managing Director. “This represents a continued challenge to the commercial basis of purchasing content, linked to a more-targeted value proposition. Corporate preference is towards shorter-term, more targeted contracts linked more directly to actual needs and usage.” He also added that “Although vendors may be resistant to this trend, we believe the reality of market competition is forcing their increasing compliance.”

Further conclusions from this research including associated trends and implications are available from Elaine Wilson by email at elainew@elearnity.com .

Elearnity Press Link: http://www.elearnity.com/news/ournews?110505