Internet Television Improves
Business-to-Business Communications for CAE Developers

Michael L. Bussler
President
Algor, Inc.
Pittsburgh, PA

The value that engineers receive from their Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) software solution derives from the quality of the training, service and support as well as from the usefulness of the CAE software. Internet-TV-based streaming media, often referred to as “Webcasting,” enables CAE companies to offer customers more information and training value for their money while reducing costs and is therefore revolutionizing the way communications are delivered to end users. CAE companies who implement a comprehensive Webcasting program are increasing customer satisfaction by offering training, service and support that is inexpensive, time-efficient and easily accessible. Along with other efficient business practices, the efficiencies realized through Webcasting can then be passed on to customers in the form of innovative, competitively priced CAE software.

Anatomy of a Comprehensive Webcasting Program

There are four Webcasting formats that CAE companies can offer to enrich the value of their services: free, educational product demonstration Webcasts (also available as a customized demo); customized technical support Webcasts; distance learning Web Courses; and customized distance learning Web Courses.

Free, educational product demonstration Webcasts are short sessions on a single product or topic. This type of Webcast gives prospective CAE users the opportunity to explore the look-and-feel and capabilities of a product before making a buying decision; enables new CAE users to become familiar with the software more quickly; and gives CAE end users an overview of capabilities that he or she has not yet had the opportunity to use. Leveraged to the fullest extent, this type of Webcasting program can offer a wide range of topics, frequent live broadcasts (i.e., weekly) and both live and on-demand viewing options.

Customized technical support Webcasts use Internet-TV to answer the questions of an end user or group of end users. Technical support staff work through the customer’s problem step-by-step, live over the Internet.

Distance learning Web Courses are in-depth education seminars presented over the Internet. Web Courses typically cover CAE concepts and theory and provide step-by-step instruction on the software by featuring a variety of example models. Certain Web Courses have qualified for Professional Development Hours for Professional Engineers. As with product demonstration Webcasts, a comprehensive Web Course program should offer a wide range of topics, frequent live broadcasts (i.e., weekly) and both live and on-demand viewing options.

Customized distance learning Web Courses are customized training programs configured to fit a customer’s needs and conducted over the Internet. They offer all the advantages of scheduled Web Courses plus they work through a customer’s project as part of the customized training.

CAE Customers Benefit from Webcasting

Engineers can expect that Webcasting presented in any of these formats offers cost-efficiency, time-efficiency, world-wide accessibility and high-quality presentation and content.

Webcasting is cost-efficient because it enables CAE end users to receive training and service without leaving their office, incurring travel costs or acquiring special equipment. The cost savings multiplies as end users take advantage of Webcasting’s capacity to service multiple end users in multiple locations worldwide simultaneously. An entire department of engineers, regardless of location, can participate in any type of Webcast at a fraction of the cost of traditional means. While product demonstration Webcasts are usually free and technical support by Webcast may be included in the CAE software’s support package, Web Courses are proving to be very cost-efficient as well. Many distance learning Web Courses cost less that traditional training because they are shorter and have a tighter topic focus. 

Focusing in on specific topics makes Webcast-based service and training time-efficient as well as cost-efficient. By tuning into Webcasts on tightly focused topics, CAE users receive education in manageable increments, which promotes the absorption and integration of the information presented. Individual Webcasts and Web Courses have the added benefit of helping CAE users through a project. Thus, the participant progresses on project work while learning. In addition, Webcasting saves engineers’ time because they do not have to leave the office to participate in training. CAE companies that offer free, educational Webcasts and distance learning Web Courses on an “on-demand” basis additionally provide engineers with the option of accessing pre-recorded training sessions at any time, 24 hours-7 days a week.

Webcasts are not only accessible at any time but also at any place in the world where Internet and phone service is available. Although a medium or high bandwidth Internet connection is recommended, the streaming media format used for Webcasting is easily transferable to CD-ROM or video tape. Thus, engineers can benefit from this technology even if Internet connectivity is unavailable. CD-ROMs or video copies of Webcast-based training also enable engineers to build a reference library of educational information.

High quality standards for Webcast presentation, end-user participation technology and content are a vital part of any Webcast program. At the highest level, TV-quality, full-screen video simulates a virtual learning environment by showing the details of the instructor’s computer on the end-user’s computer.  Participants are not just passive recipients of information, but interactively participate through a TV talk show-style phone system. The content of Webcast programming should be of a comparably high quality. Detailed presentations and thorough instruction should be presented by highly qualified, knowledgeable engineers (P.E. and E.I.T. certified) who are advanced users of the software and have field experience using the CAE software. 

Webcasting Enables CAE Companies to Offer More Value and Better Service

The use of Webcasting technology is cost- and time-efficient for CAE software providers as well as for customers. ALGOR therefore embraced this technology early in its development and became a forerunner in the use of Internet-TV Webcasting to educate and communicate with engineers.

Webcasting has become an integral component in ALGOR’s direct-selling business model because its efficiency enables us to offer customers more value in information and training for less money. The efficiencies we create in our business model are also passed on to customers in the form of innovative, competitively priced CAE software.