Dimension Data Learning Solutions (DDLS) is of the firm belief that there are still opportunities in the downturn for training to help an organisation.
With a lot of industries feeling the pinch as a result of the global financial crisis, the IT training industry is holding firm. In the last nine months, the demand for specialised IT training such as VMWare is leading the way with an increase of over 50% year on year, as organisations look to technology like virtualisation to reduce cost and drive productivity gains. Unlike the last major economic downturn, technology is integral to most businesses. It underpins both internal and external business processes and many organisations simply cannot operate without ongoing investment in their technology resources.
With many organisations cutting costs and requiring increased productivity they are investing in training employees to realise an even greater return on their existing investment (ROI) in technology.
As one of the leading training providers in the Australian market, DDLS has seen an increase in demand for training in specialised IT training. There are a number of areas that have been particularly popular during the past six months.
Government boosts training for in-house specialists
In particular, the government sector is focused on investing heavily in training its in-house staff. It aims to drive long-term IT cost cuts by reducing its reliance on external contractors. In its 2009 Federal Budget, the government outlined plans to save $166 million by minimising the use of IT contractors and replacing their services with fully trained internal staff. Over the course of 2009, the government will analyse its use of contractors and determine how many new jobs it will create and how many staff will undergo specialised IT training.
DDLS anticipates that this directional change for the government will result in opportunities for existing employees to upskill and broaden their knowledge, and current contractors who aren’t taken on in a full-time capacity will need to ensure that they embrace the latest technological advances to ensure they are relevant to the current market.
Virtualisation helps organisations deliver on ‘more with less’ mantra
Virtualisation is still hot on the IT agenda as is evidenced by a growing demand for skills. According to a recent study by analyst company Gartner, 95% of companies will expand their virtualisation footprint in the next 12 months.
The biggest drivers for virtualistion continue to be business benefits which help deliver significant cost reductions, increased efficiencies and green benefits through a reduction in power consumption and cooling requirements.
For organisations to realise these benefits and maximise their investment in virtualisation technology, they need to consider training as an integral part of the implementation process.
DDLS has seen an increase in both desktop and server virtualisation courses, with Citrix training demand remaining constant despite the economic decline. With the recent introduction of Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 virtualisation capability and the VMWare offering, DDLS has the complete virtualisation training package.
Successful project management to drive business performance
In the current economic climate, it is vital businesses are able to adapt and respond quickly to changing market dynamics.
Companies are investing in project management and business analysis training to streamline business processes and ensure they are aligned with business goals. 40% of IT projects fail. In the current economic climate, organisations - no matter how large or small - simply can’t afford to take this risk. It is imperative that IT projects meet the business objectives and are delivered on time and on budget.
DDLS views the remainder of 2009 as an opportunity for organisations to continue to consolidate and invest in their resources to drive productivity improvement. It is also a time to review current service levels and investigate the potential to improve customer relationships. Continued growth in the professional development training area indicates that smart organisations have realised that good customer service is key to continued success.
*David Gage, General Manager, Dimension Data Learning Solutions.