Silicon Valley-based Docent is looking to expand the Asia-Pacific market for Web-based corporate training with its release of a double byte-enabled e-learning software program.
Officials said the introduction of the Docent Enterprise 5.0 suite, which supports Chinese and Japanese character sets, was expected to help organisations in the region manage their global workforce skills from one application.
'This is a strategic move for Docent as the e-learning market is beginning to gather real momentum in the region,' executive vice-president and chief technology officer David Mandelkern said.
Asian companies were eager to embrace e-learning to capitalise on its promise of fast, flexible training, enabling workers to keep pace with new developments in their organisation, such as the marketing and support of new products and services.
International Data Corp (IDC) forecast the Asia-Pacific e-learning market would generate revenues of US$235 million by 2004. The worldwide e-learning market was estimated to be worth US$7.1 billion by next year.
According to IDC, the e-learning market includes training content, delivery technology, such as course management systems and services, and custom course development.