OutStart, provider of the only proven, content-centric, integrated product family for learning, announced today the general availability of the latest version of its award-winning software simulation application, SoftSimTM 4.0. Enhancements in SoftSim 4.0 make it easier to create software simulations and documentation to train end users on software applications. The enhancements also improve the simulations’ impact on software end-user proficiency and add powerful learner assessment capabilities, making it easy for managers to track and certify end-user proficiency.
Heidelberg Digital initially purchased SoftSim to train end users on an ERP application roll out. More recently the company has used SoftSim to train employees on navigating knowledge files for environmental health and safety information. “End-users face a tremendous challenge in learning how to correctly and effectively use the variety of applications they encounter throughout the course of their daily jobs,” said Dr. Michael Tarcinale, manager for training and development at Heidelberg Digital. “SoftSim 4.0’s simulations show end users how to master these applications, ensuring that we meet our training goals and make our employees more effective.”
A recent report by leading industry analyst Gartner titled “Simulation May Be Your E-Learning ‘Killer Application'” highlighted SoftSim and predicted that by 2006, 70 percent of all learning content will include simulations. According to the report, simulation software provides significant cost savings, accelerates time to competency, increases depth of competency, and provides scalability.
SoftSim 4.0 improves the experience of simulation developers, and of learners/end users and their managers. Key functionality enhancements for each audience include:
OutStart’s total orders for 2002 increased by 200% over total orders for 2001.
Enhancements for Simulation Developers:
Fewer Steps – Shorten the time it takes to create and launch simulations because fewer steps are required to perform routine tasks.
Simulation Step Preview – Allows the developer to immediately view a specified step as it will appear during playback.
Text to Voice Option – Allows developers to generate audio file attachments from user-defined text.
Drag and Drop Action Objects – Allows developers to simulate a drag and drop event with a drag and drop action object.
Generate PDF – Provides the ability to offer documentation in PDF form viewable with Adobe Acrobat Viewer in addition to MS Word.
Enhancements for Simulation Developers:
Playback Focus Area – Enables the simulation playback to focus on a particular area of the screen, so that the learner is automatically focused on the key areas of the simulation.
Hyperlink Capability – Enables hyperlinks to Help Text and Notes, allowing users to open the desired documents in a new application window when it is needed.
Playback Controls – Allows the learner great control to pause, stop, and move forward and backward among steps during simulation playback.
Freeform Text Entry – Allows the end user to complete a text field with any text, instead of actual text captured during the creation of a simulation.
Enhancements for Managers:
Robust Assessments – Created from existing simulations and include step weighting, number of tries per step and other detailed information that managers can track to certify and record a baseline level of proficiency by individual software end users.
“SoftSim 4.0 reduces much of the pain from enterprise software application roll outs or upgrades by showing end users exactly how to accomplish the tasks they need to do their jobs, while virtually eliminating any extra effort required to create documentation,” said Martin Renkis, Vice President of Product Management at OutStart.
About SoftSim 4.0
SoftSim 4.0 is the most robust, easy to use software simulation tool available. It enables the development of browser-based simulations, training, documentation and tutorials. These outputs increase software users’ speed to proficiency by showing them exactly what steps to take when using a software application or following a related process. This occurs in a simulated environment of the software application, allowing users to try new functions or test their competency on the application, without risking errors in the live environment.
SoftSim won the gold medal at brandon-hall.com and Online Learning Magazine’s 2002 Excellence in E-Learning Awards for the category of “Innovative Technology.”
About OutStart
OutStart provides a proven, content-centric product family for corporations seeking to increase individual and organizational performance to create a sustainable competitive advantage. Our content-centric approach enables an organization to transform its unique business knowledge into practical learning assets, deliver those learning assets to the right person, the right way, at the right time, and capitalize on those assets throughout the extended enterprise to drive sustainable competitive advantage.
Approximately 5,000 customers, including 35% of the Fortune 500, use OutStart’s learning software to realize improvements in sales force and services productivity, call center efficiencies, customer and partner education and technology adoption. Founded in 1999, OutStart is headquartered in Boston, Mass. and has offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dublin, Lake Mary, Fla., London, Los Angeles, New York City, Raleigh, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.outstart.com.
