A recent survey by IDC shows that computer-based training (CBT) is one of the fastest-expanding sectors in IT, with the European market growing from $320m in 2000 to an estimated $3.9bn in 2004. Worldwide the figure will be $23bn.

E-learning provision is built primarily on partnerships, as few companies have all the necessary skills. Organisations with the expertise to build courses need firms to provide the relevant software platforms or portals, and many seek partners to provide the installation expertise.

This job frequently falls to resellers as it is known that they already have established relationships with employers in niche markets.

Resellers should choose partners with care to ensure their customers receive services that are flexible, expandable and efficient. It must be possible for end users to access a range of quality generic courses, and for corporates to communicate globally.

A learning management system (LMS) manages all aspects of course administration including monitoring students' progress. There is also a course delivery server with further analytical capabilities, and usually software to provide remote access for users not directly connected to the network.

Customers may also want a management mix, allowing their resellers to host course learning while managing sensitive internal information within their own firewalls, including updating employee records with their learning progress.

All e-learning infrastructures originated in the US, but many content providers are UK-based. These are mainly commercial trainers, but they can also be textbook publishers, tertiary educators and professional bodies.

These have the advantage of established accuracy, but it is essential to view sample courses as some colleges have simply collated lecture notes.

Professor Jim Norton, head of ebusiness policy for the Institute of Directors, said: "Good packages are not cheap. These are the ones that make the most tedious subjects interesting, making training less stressful and more absorbing."

One-stop shop

The Scottish University for Industry has launched a one-stop shop enabling students to find online courses from various content providers, and it is now building its own LMS. The university already provides 18 courses, including recruitment, leadership and cash flow techniques.

No organisation appears to have formally compared courses, but some evaluation bodies are emerging. The eLearning Network is a group of users and providers that meets to discuss best practices, and the Association of Learning Technology at Oxford Brookes University is evaluating options for tertiary education.

Video Arts has published a guide to "help identify the world's best training resources", and is an e-learning provider of 25 business titles.

There are several charging options. Most licences are per user or per site, while some charge a fixed monthly or annual fee. Licences can also be in perpetuity, although upgrades will be charged for.

The larger the corporate, the less the unit cost. Small to medium sized enterprises or large corporates requiring subjects to be studied by only a few people could find it more economical to chose CDRoms or open internet sites, but this takes away the ability for employers to monitor progress online.

Even trainers who have long traditions of providing classroom-based courses appreciate the potential of CBT. Ade McCormack, Auridian Consulting's managing director, admitted: "There's no doubt that some employees benefit little from traditional courses as a quarter are above the level and a quarter below."

Mike Cannell, training and development adviser for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said: "Research indicates that only about 14 per cent [of information] is retained."

John Ivinson, vice president of the British Computer Society, sees e-learning as a way of overcoming the problem of cancelled course bookings, which are often attributable to the pressures of work. "It's costing employers millions of pounds a year. Employees also lose out," he said.

Some vendors deal only with end users, including SmartCertify Direct, QA, Manchester City College and Absolutely Training. New Horizons uses resellers, but not for e-learning, as it claims licensing issues are too complex.

Vendors that operate mainly through resellers frequently offer two options. Seamus Coogan, at Educational Multimedia, said: "It's their choice whether they want commission or to provide ongoing support. Some think e-learning has so much potential that they are putting dedicated reps on the road."

Jonothan Sultan, marketing director at Educational Multimedia (EM), explained that CBT can help resellers persuade customers to upgrade software more readily.

"It's expensive to send people off-site to train, and wasteful if early learners have to wait so long for upgrades to be installed that they have forgotten most of it," he said.

Avoiding misinformation

EM has just bought a range of business titles from Brian Tracey, a management guru who normally charges people up to £500 to attend his seminars. Because its CDRoms are now being sold at under £50, a great many more people can take advantage of the courses, which also avoids the risk of people who did attend misinforming those who did not.

Employers can slash training costs by about two thirds through no longer having to pay for staff to travel to classes. Some US companies have reported a 400 per cent return on their investment in the first year.

The concept is for employees to learn at their desks, but some companies are equipping their training rooms with computers, so students can study in a more relaxed environment.

Self-paced courses enable the slowest learners to go back over any sections they do not understand, while fast learners can progress faster or log off earlier. Most courses are divided into modules, making it easier for students to find the time to study. Many are interactive, providing 24-hour access to chat rooms for discussions, which helps to stop them feeling isolated.

Content presentation is increasingly stimulating as providers take advantage of all the visual and audio tools available. However, online scope will remain limited in the UK, compared with CDRoms, until broadband becomes available.

E-learning can help users study for formal qualifications, accreditation and continuing professional development. Some vendors, boards and professional bodies will accept proof of progress through modules, even though final examinations still need to be supervised.

Bloom Training, for instance, has partnered with Learningstore.co.uk, the UK's first educational ecommerce site, to provide courses for certification and accreditation by all major software houses.