SkillSoft Announces SAIL Partner Program to Promote Interoperability among Learning Vendors
Nashua, N.H., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — SkillSoft PLC (Nasdaq: SKIL), a leading provider of content resources and complementary technologies for integrated enterprise learning, today announced the SkillSoft Alliance for Integrated Learning (SAIL), a program for SkillSoft technology partners designed to promote seamless integration among learning content resources, learning management systems, and other learning technologies. Charter members of SAIL, determined in part by market share and mutual customers, include Oracle, Pathlore, Plateau, Saba, SumTotal Systems, and THINQ. Program benefits include access to SkillSoft’s interoperability lab, access to SkillSoft’s product roadmap for product planning, sales and support training, technology exchanges, and participation in special advisory boards.
“SkillSoft has always been committed to developing its content according to the evolving industry standards,” said David Vickrey, vice president of alliances and corporate development for SkillSoft. “The SAIL program is an extension of these efforts. As learning becomes part of the fabric of almost every enterprise, integration becomes increasingly important — and expected. While integration is facilitated by SCORM, AICC, and other guidelines, such standards do not guarantee interoperability. Learning vendors must do additional development work to deliver the seamless learning solutions demanded by customers today.”
One of the key benefits of SAIL is access to SkillSoft’s new interoperability lab dedicated to testing the products and new releases. Located in SkillSoft’s Dublin facilities, the lab will test SkillSoft’s content players on AICC- or SCORM -conformant learning management systems and other learning technology products. The objective of the formal testing process will be to identify and address interoperability issues before products are released to the market and to offer mutual clients documented proof of interoperability testing.
SkillSoft also launched in June a new LMS partner extranet, a single and comprehensive source of technical and support information. The extranet offers fast and efficient service to those partner companies seeking information on SkillSoft’s content offerings, integration guidelines, and player release schedule, as well as relevant white papers and sales collateral. Partners can register for access to the site by going to http://lms.skillsoft.com.
“In today’s rapidly changing technology landscape, it is critical that enterprise software products be capable of coexisting in heterogeneous environments and provide open frameworks for integrating with other business applications in customer ecosystems,” said Kevin Oakes, president of SumTotal. “Interoperability has always been a key element of our product and partnership strategies, as it allows our customers to leverage existing investments in technology, people, and training, and lowers the cost of product implementation, integration, support and maintenance.”
“Integrating learning solution components without technical constraints is an absolute must for companies purchasing best-of-breed products,” said Nick van Dam, global chief learning officer at Deloitte Consulting LLP, a mutual global customer of SkillSoft and Saba. “To build a successful e-learning culture, our worldwide workforce requires a seamless learning navigation experience, regardless of the LMS platform or type of courseware. We support any program that fosters integration collaboration, and are therefore very pleased with our integration of SkillSoft and Saba.”
For more information about SkillSoft’s Alliance for Integrated Learning program, the partner extranet, and other partner-related activities, email alliances@skillsoft.com. More information about SkillSoft, its course library, and other learning resources can be found at http://www.skillsoft.com.
About SkillSoft
SkillSoft is a leading provider of comprehensive e-learning content and technology products for business and IT professionals within the Global 2000. SkillSoft’s multi-modal learning solutions support and enhance the speed and effectiveness of both formal and informal learning processes and integrate SkillSoft’s in-depth content resources, learning management platform and virtual classroom technology and support services.
Content offerings include SkillSoft’s Business Skills collection and IT Skills and Certification collection; ITPro, BusinessPro, FinancePro, EngineeringPro, OfficeEssentials, and ExecSummaries Referenceware(tm) collections by Books24x7; and health and safety compliance courseware by GoTrain. Skillsoft’s complementary technologies include SkillPort, the company’s learning management platform with its powerful Search-and-Learn capabilities, and SkillSoft Dialogue, the company’s newly introduced virtual classroom offering with associated tools for blended learning solutions. For more information, visit http://www.skillsoft.com.
SkillSoft, the SkillSoft logo, Ahead of the Learning Curve, SkillPort, Search-and-Learn, SkillChoice, Books24x7, Referenceware, ITPro, BusinessPro, OfficeEssentials, EngineeringPro, ExecSummaries, Express Guide and Dialogue are trademarks or registered trademarks of SkillSoft PLC in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contacts:
Linda Galloway
Apollo Associates LLC
203 790 1591
lgalloway@apolloassociates.com
“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding SkillSoft Corporation’s business which are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.
