Tata Interactive Systems and PHM collaborate on implementing a series of pan-European e-learning projects
The global e-learning producer, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), and the motor industry specialist channel development and training company PHM have signed a deal to collaborate on designing and developing a part of one of the most ambitious and complex e-learning programmes in the industry. This ambitious project has been commissioned by the Marketing Communications Team of Ford of Europe.
The global e-learning producer, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), and the motor industry specialist channel development and training company PHM have signed a deal to collaborate on designing and developing a part of one of the most ambitious and complex e-learning programmes in the industry. This ambitious project has been commissioned by the Marketing Communications Team of Ford of Europe.
Ford has worked with PHM for a number of years and the combination of PHM's knowledge and experience about Ford coupled with the cutting edge e-learning expertise of TIS promise to deliver e-learning of the highest standards.
The programme, commissioned by Ford of Europe, will bring product knowledge-related learning materials to some 30,000 sales staff and managers in Ford dealerships throughout 21 countries and across 23 different languages across Europe.
"Apart from the technical challenges of delivering the programme in the various countries across Europe there are language and culture issues to be addressed, along with the need to make the learning materials accessible and motivating for people aged from 20 to 65 who possess a wide range and varying degrees of IT skills," explained Peter Hookham-Miller, managing director of PHM.
Making product knowledge related materials available via e-learning on this scale is new to Ford of Europe but the benefits of this approach include having these learning materials available as and when required as both launch information for experienced staff and as introduction materials for those who are relatively new to the Ford franchise, product and brand.
Ultimately, Ford of Europe believes that making all product training available as e-learning available to staff at anytime and from anywhere, will not only be a highly cost-effective way of delivering consistent messages throughout Europe, but will also significantly shorten the time and efforts it takes to get fully trained as well as improving the quality of the learning - all helping Ford dealerships improve their customers experiences.
"Initially, TIS and PHM are working on the production of four e-learning programmes - each one relating to a Europe-wide product launch," said Alan Samuel, head of UK operations for TIS. "Each of these four programmes is being produced in 23 different languages - and each of these will contain approaches and materials that are specific to particular cultures."
"The project is so complex that we needed to find an e-learning producer that had experience of producing multi-cultural programmes and could demonstrate that it met exacting quality standards," said Hookham-Miller, whose company is providing the subject matter expertise for all the programmes' content, following its extensive regular communication and research within various divisions of Ford of Europe.
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