Business Connexion has partnered with Netcampus to provide a technology-based collaborative learning platform to its stakeholders to achieve accreditation anywhere, at any time and at their own pace.

According to Willie Ackerman, GM of services integration and workspace at Business Connexion, the company signed a three year contract with Netcampus early this year in response to customers requesting a more intuitive, cost effective and flexible training solution.

"We are the forefront of the IT industry, offering cloud computing solutions to our customers and we are all about connective intelligence, which needs to be evident in all spheres of our business offerings - whether to a customer or an employee.

"After a rigorous screening of what learning partners offer in the market, we signed Netcampus as a partner of choice based on their collaborative learning platform and innovation that they implement in the learning arena," says Ackerman.

"Additionally, as one of South Africa's largest provider of IT services, the partnership with the technology-based institution is in line with our core business pillars, and will become one of our offerings to our customers as part of the deployment solutions. "By being one of Netcampus key organisational partners, we are also showcasing the impact that technology has on current day business operations, where training courses are made available electronically to our stakeholders," adds Ackerman.

The collaborative learning platform will be the primary interface used by Business Connexion's customers and employees to book their courses.
"We encourage customers and employees to use this interactive platform to further their training, as this will be their access point to retrieve course material and additional resources. Employees can obtain the access to the portal via the internal workzone, and customers will have access via our company Website," adds Ackerman.

According to Netcampus' Paul van Niekerk, the collaborative learning platform uses a similar principle to computer based training. However, it introduces a collaborative component to the learning process, allowing learners doing the same course to share ideas and thoughts with each other.

This system leverages technology to offer benefits of classroom-based learning in a virtual online environment, where social platforms such as chat, mail, instant messaging or phone play a big role. According to Ackerman, the key component that distinguishes Business Connexion is its ability to intelligently and intrinsically connect its people and skills to provide simple yet extraordinary solutions to everyday businesses.

"To demonstrate this, we have set up a Netcampus at one of our branches in Midrand to allow an instructor to provide onsite training as frequently as there is demand for it, and we are also exploring the possibilities of additional sites at other Business Connexion offices."
Ackerman explains that although the collaborative platform is effective, alone it is not the answer to all training requirements. "Classroom training can never be replaced by an electronic based platform, and therefore we ensured that our stakeholders achieve the best outcome learning by utilising both online and onsite training.

"We believe that highly specialised training requires hands-on experience and access to an expert in the subject, who will guide learners through the course. By offering a truly blended learning solution, we combine the collaborative learning platform with classroom training to ensure that learners and their organisations achieve the best results that learning can offer as an enabler in their jobs or businesses."
Business Connexion, as a certified learning partner for Microsoft, has an added advantage in that Microsoft Certified Trainers are available to the company to bring theoretical knowledge experience to the learners.

The partnership with Microsoft, Cisco and CompTiA also allows Business Connexion to get involved in early product releases therefore ensuring that relevant and up-to-date information is made available, as well as an opportunity to be part of the ready-to-market learning. "Also, we are able to incorporate Certified Trainers to combine theory and experience, making the learning experience practical for the stakeholders. As an added benefit, companies will be able to claim back their skills development spend from ISETT SETA, making this a cost effective and viable option for up skilling their employees," says Ackerman.

"A business environment that embraces diversity inspires stakeholders to be positive, creative and reach their fullest potential and that is what we believe we are creating. We also offer training on Cisco, ComptiA and other major vendor certifications," concludes John Jenkins, chief executive for services group at Business Connexion.