Intelligent Data Centres Issue 15 | Page 49

END USER INSIGHT How does your Remote Attendance capability work? CNet works with the latest technology to offer a fully immersive live learning experience. Smart Rooms are fitted with the latest high-definition, bi-directional audio/visual communication and collaboration tools, so all learners and the instructor can see and interact with each other in the usual way. No high-tech equipment is needed to attend, learners are just required to have access to a laptop/PC with unrestricted Internet connectivity and the latest browser and suitable applications for reading PDFs and standard office documents. A USB camera, microphone and separate speakers are recommended or an integrated camera, microphone and speakers. Dual monitors are recommended as ideal to view an extended desktop and further enjoy the experience. Remote attendees simply receive a link from CNet Training to download the necessary free software and login details for the CNet Training Learning Management System. Then, along with the items listed below, remote attendees have everything they need to enjoy the entire learning experience. What has the general feedback been like? The feedback has been extremely positive, and from learners in time zones from across the world. As we have already been running the ‘Remote Attendance’ program for a number of years, our leading instructors have become experts when it comes to teaching ‘virtually’. A recent learner commented that the CNet team has the skills and knowledge to maximise the Remote Attendance capabilities and is pushing the boundaries of what we can do on the platform we use. For those who have been hesitant to go for ‘Remote Attendance’ programs, we have now introduced ‘Remote Attendance Demonstrations’, short 40-minute demos with one of our instructors to get a taste of the interactive learning experience, and these have proved really popular. The majority of people that were unsure about Remote Attendance learning before taking part in demonstration have gone on to book onto a program after experiencing the demonstration for themselves. What has the uptake been like in different regions? We have a full schedule of program dates in most time zones across the world and are able to deliver 15 live classes simultaneously. So, it’s allowed us to keep operating during this unprecedented time. We can still deliver our entire schedule (excluding the COPT and CIIT programs) by way of Remote Attendance utilising our Smart Rooms. The Remote Attendance demonstrations have been really popular to encourage those more used to traditional classroombased learning to try a new way of learning. We have been able to showcase to them just how interactive this way of learning is. COVID-19 has meant people all over the world are having to adapt and learn to utilise technology to continue to communicate and therefore continue to enhance their teams. How successful has it been and does this determine its future development? Our strength is that we are able to continue to deliver education programs seamlessly throughout the digital infrastructure industry during these uncertain times. We haven’t had to buy or learn new technology to run our programs remotely as we have already been running Remote Attendance programs across the world for the last three years. COVID-19 is going to test the limits of data centres around the globe, with more people working/staying at home, the increased traffic combined with data centre operators themselves having to selfisolate will be a challenge. CNet is still able to run a full schedule of programs in time zones across the world that are Guaranteed to Run (#GTR) to ensure our clients are still able to professionally train and develop their teams during this time. It’s never been more critical for data centres to have the right confident and competent PEOPLE ARE VIRTUALLY CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES MORE NOW THAN EVER BEFORE FACE-TO-FACE. teams in place to ensure they can continue running 24/7 with minimum downtime. How will companies view Remote Attendance and remote working after COVID-19? I think the COVID-19 pandemic will impact the way businesses look at technology going forward, ensuring that they have better systems/processes in place to allow people to work from home more frequently, looking at more flexible working options and where possible, hold more virtual meetings rather than requiring everyone to travel for one meeting. The world can’t stop because we aren’t capable of running things the same way we did previously. People are virtually connecting with friends, family and local communities more now than ever before face-to-face. If utilised correctly, there are some fantastic technology tools that can really bring the meeting or education program into an environment that best suits the individual and so is more flexible for them and more sustainable for the environment. There will always be clients that will prefer a classroom-based learning environment or face-to-face meeting, but I do believe the pandemic will reinforce the belief of those organisations that were already working more virtually/remotely, and start to make companies and employees that were previously against this way of working re-assess their approach. I believe it’s the forward-thinking companies and the ones that have the ability and conviction to adapt to change that will lead the way in the future. ◊ www.intelligentdatacentres.com Issue 15 49