Plateau solidifies leader quadrant position in 2003 e-Learning LMS magic quadrant
ARLINGTON, VA – February 14, 2003 – Plateau Systems, a provider of enterprise software that manages all of an organization’s learning and knowledge, announced today that it has been listed in the leaders quadrant for the second year in a row in Gartner’s e-Learning LMS Magic Quadrant – a comprehensive analysis that is considered a main barometer of the industry.
Gartner Inc., an influential technology research and advisory firm based in Stamford, Conn., reviewed 23 LMS companies in its most recent report, titled: “2003 E-Learning LMS Magic Quadrant: Enter the Powerhouse Vendors.” Plateau was once again listed in the leaders quadrant based upon its “ability to execute” and its “completeness of vision.” Plateau 4 LMS is the only fully Web-based enterprise LMS built on J2EE/EJB architecture, considered the industry standard for enterprise software. Gartner cites an open J2EE architecture in the report as an important ingredient in major LMS deals, and federal government officials have cited J2EE as the preferred software architecture for all e-Gov initiatives.
Gartner describes leaders in the report as vendors that “demonstrate good scalable product capabilities and features, a strong install base, acceptable financial performance and good distribution. Leaders do well today and are prepared for the future.”
While much of the e-Learning industry has been adversely affected by the economy, Plateau has prospered. The company is profitable in its current financial quarter, and will continue to be profitable throughout 2003. For the second consecutive year, Plateau grew its revenues by roughly 100 percent. Additionally, Plateau won the largest corporate, nonprofit and government LMS initiatives in 2002 – the American Red Cross, the Gov Online Learning Center, and a Fortune 10 company with roughly 350,000 employees and business units around the globe. Because Plateau has signed many of its enterprise clients to multiyear deals, the company has already contracted a majority of its target license revenue for the next fiscal year.
Plateau’s technological leadership bore fruit in its business development efforts, with DigitalThink (NASDAQ: DTHK) and MindLeaders selecting Plateau as a strategic partner for their enterprise LMS initiatives. Additionally, Plateau 4 LMS was named one of the Top 10 Training Products of 2002 by HR Executive Magazine, and is a finalist in the “Best Corporate Learning Technology Solution” category of the 2003 Codie Awards, sponsored by the Software & Information Industry Association.
“As the sophistication of buyers has grown in this market, Plateau has emerged as the dominant enterprise LMS player,” said Paul Sparta, Plateau’s Chairman and CEO. “In every deal where technical and functional scalability are issues, Plateau has a clear edge. Our professional service organization’s record of implementing our software on time, and within budget, has placed us significantly ahead of the industry from a customer satisfaction perspective. Execution, technology and customer service continue to be clear differentiators for us, and we are honored that Gartner has recognized this in listing Plateau in the leaders quadrant for the space.”
Note: Gartner’s permission to quote its Magic Quadrant research should not be deemed to be an endorsement of any company or product depicted in the quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is Gartner’s opinion and is an analytical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It measures vendors against Gartner-defined criteria for a marketplace. The positioning of vendors within a Magic Quadrant is based on the complex interplay of many factors. Gartner does not advise enterprises to select only those firms in the Leaders segment. In some situations, firms in the Visionary, Challenger, or Niche Player segments may be the right match for an enterprise’s requirements. Well-informed vendor selection decisions should rely on more than a Magic Quadrant. Gartner research is intended to be one of many information sources and the reader should not rely solely on the Magic Quadrant for decision-making. Gartner expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied of fitness of this research for a particular purpose.
About Plateau Systems: Plateau’s enterprise-class software provides the infrastructure to manage all of an organization’s learning and knowledge and enhance its intellectual supply chain. Plateau 4 Learning Management System (LMS) schedules, launches and tracks all online and offline learning events for large organizations, and is built on open, J2EE/EJB architecture, considered the industry standard for enterprise software. Plateau 4 LMS was named one of the Top 10 Training Products of 2002 by Human Resource Executive magazine. Plateau’s global clients include the American Red Cross, Wendy’s International, the Internal Revenue Service, Federal Express, Nestle USA, Motorola and the U.S. Air Force. The company was founded in 1996, and is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. More information about Plateau is available at www.plateau.com
Melanie Goldfader
The SheaHedges Group
6845 Elm Street, Suite 700
McLean, VA 22101
P: 703-287-7827
F: 703-287-7801
mgoldfader@sheahedges.com
www.sheahedges.com
