Delivers cloud-based learning solutions to improve organisational agility

Camberley, UK, May 3, 2012 – Addressing worldwide customer demands for a more visual and flexible presentation of learning content to improve workforce productivity, SkillSoft today introduced SkillPort 8, a revolutionary cloud-based learning experience that contextually organises relevant and aligned learning around the user instead of the traditional course-catalogue approach of other Learning Management Systems (LMSs). SkillPort 8 quickly pinpoints targetted content that connects formal, informal, social and mobile learning - when, where and how people want to learn. It also transforms web-based learning from a solitary event to a richer, continuous community-oriented experience that has strong cross-generational appeal and can be integrated with Talent Management Systems, intranets and portals. SkillSoft is a pioneer in the field of learning with a long history of innovation. SkillPort 8 represents the latest delivery of cloud based learning solutions.

SkillPort 8 was unveiled at Perspectives 2012, SkillSoft’s annual user conference. More than 1000 attendees from multiple companies are attending the event which includes over 30 customer-led learning sessions and a keynote address by General Stanley McChrystal, former Commander of U.S. and International Forces in Afghanistan. The theme of this year’s conference, which is taking place April 30 – May 3, 2012 in Orlando, Florida, is “Motivate, Innovate, Learn: Driving Value Through Learning.”

SkillPort 8 features an innovative user interface that gives the learner a unified experience with all their learning content in a friendly, intuitive and highly visual format that is easily accessible from anywhere and from any web-enabled device. Filters and tools to refine search results make it easier than ever for learners to find the information they need. Learners also have more opportunities to collaborate with others across their organisation through social features like commenting, ratings and recommendations that are embedded throughout SkillPort.

“SkillSoft has been a leader in the e-learning industry for more than 20 years by providing innovative solutions for learners of all kinds. With the introduction of SkillPort 8, SkillSoft is once again transforming the industry by fundamentally re-thinking the way today’s generation of workers prefers to find information and develop their skills,” said John Ambrose, senior vice president, strategy, corporate development and emerging business, SkillSoft. “We know that employees do not check their consumer tendencies at their company’s door, so it was important to provide a solution that shares usability characteristics of some of the most popular consumer and social sites people frequent away from the job. By making learning user-centric instead of system-centric, we believe employees can benefit through increased opportunities to develop themselves, learning departments can benefit through greater adoption, and companies can benefit through a more productive and effective workforce.”

SkillPort 8 has been designed to deliver a superior experience for learners using SkillSoft content; as well as to work in conjunction with another learning management system. SkillPort 8 will also support any content that complies with industry standards including SCORM and AICC. Deploying SkillPort is fast and easy--a new site in the SkillPort learning cloud can be up and running in days, a fraction of the time required for an on-premise solution.

SkillPort 8 also features easy-to-use, yet powerful tools for organising and managing learning objectives allowing learners to make the most of their time. Learners can tailor their experience on SkillPort 8 by choosing the content types that best match their needs and preferences. Learners can take a course to prepare for a certification exam, watch a video to sharpen their motivational skills, or read a book to learn a new sales methodology.

“Effectively developing the talent of an organisation by the delivery of targetted content drives true performance results,” added Ambrose. “SkillPort 8 delivers the most relevant and meaningful content from the best courses, books, videos, simulations and other assets, at the point of need throughout the workflow and talent process in an easy-to-navigate and cloud- based platform.”

SkillSoft is targeting Q4 for release of SkillPort 8.

For more information on SkillPort 8, please visit www.skillsoft.com/skillport