WBT Systems has recently released TopClass 6, the latest version of the integrated TopClass e-Learning suite™ during the Online Learning 2002 Europe Conference and Expo in London, UK. This latest release extends TopClass' existing Learning Management System (LMS) functionality just weeks after being identified as a worldwide leader in LMS technology by Gartner Group. At the same time, the new release supports Microsoft SQL Server 2000, in addition to native Oracle 8i support, allowing a much broader range of organizations to deploy, and benefit from, TopClass.
The new TopClass 6 LMS functionality includes a comprehensive learning catalogue for all web-based and non-web based learning types, Instructor Led Training (ILT) management, approvals workflow processing, the ability to facilitate blended learning programmes and advanced searching capabilities to allow learners to mine the entire corporate education database. Critically, TopClass LMS enables businesses to provide employees with a single access point to all their training needs, and streamlines the management of ILT. TopClass LMS also allows blended delivery of the most effective learning methods with any combination of on-line self-study and ILT including virtual classroom and other materials such as books, videos, and CD-ROMS.
"This is a significant release for WBT Systems not only because of the ground-breaking R&D we have undertaken, but because we are releasing it at a European Conference", said Paul Dooley, COO of WBT Systems. "We've always been focused on the needs of European customers, and this has meant that we have unparalleled abilities in deploying multi-lingual solutions and that we understand the issues involved in pan-European implementations. As the only major vendor of e-Learning technology headquartered in Europe I feel this gives us a unique perspective in this area of the market."
WBT Systems has significantly expanded their product offering with this release and, by extending the core LMS functionality available in the product, has made it possible to manage and organize corporate learning programmes centrally so that they are catalogued, available and may be taken across the entire organisation. The platform is designed as a fully integrated suite that supports the complete learning life cycle and integrates tightly with existing Human Resources and Knowledge Management systems. The suite represents an industry first in linking people directly from a HR system to appropriate learning and knowledge at the granular Learning Object level.
"This release closes the loop between the traditional Learning Management Systems, which were focused around harnessing efficiencies, by managing corporate learning programmes centrally, and Learning Content Management Systems which were primarily concerned with the rapid capture and dissemination of corporate knowledge" said Duncan Lennox, CTO of WBT Systems. "The e-Learning market is maturing rapidly, and one indicator of this has been the realisation that you really need to solve both of these problems, not just one of them. We have a real advantage over all of our major competitors in this area, as we have built our software to integrate seamlessly. We don't have any integration issues because we haven't had to buy in disparate technologies to span seperate product areas, whereas all our major competitors have. This is key, as it allows customers to focus their energies on the learning aspects of an implementation rather than the technology."
