HP takes channel training online

In a first of its kind exercise, HP India took its training for channel partners online through the Hughes DirecWay service. Its
first rollout of the satelite training was held across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad,
Chennai, Kolkata and Pune. 

The trainer sits at a remote studio, Gurgaon in this case, and interacts with trainees at locations across the country. While this
mode is a sort of electronic learning, the experience of real time interaction with a trainer
is retained. And gives the advantage of adding trainers at various locations. 

HP organized this training for its partners on storage and Unix servers. "We were successful in training as many as 95
partners," says Sonia Nagpal, HP Certification Program Manager, HP India. The training was accomplished in a
few hours would have otherwise taken HP close to two and a half months to complete. "It translates to huge savings in terms of travel
costs of trainers and printing costs," adds Nagpal. 

The other benefits included instant feedback, faster handling of training queries and easier performance measurement of each
trainee on every individual module. "We also realized that reseller satisfaction is much
higher," says Nagpal. It saves on travel costs of partners travelling from upcountry locations too, for now they have a training center in the
vicinity. 

Sonia added that even within HP the response to the initiative had been positive, but to extend the training to other product
categories would largely be a business unit decision. 

MOHIT CHHABRA