| Before going live, it will be necessary to train office, field and management employees on the RMAdvanced system. This will be done using a variety of methods including:
- On-site training
- Training-the-Trainer Outlines
- Web based instructional materials
- Telephone training from our California office
- Testing materials
These items are explained in detail below:
On-Site Training
Trainers from the ARS staff will help get users ready for the system roll-out. This typically happens after most of the data conversion work has been completed and custom modifications or enhancements to the software are completed.
Training the Trainer
It will be important to train your trainer who will train the balance of your staff. New materials will be created for this purpose. Outlines for end-user training will be prepared and sent.
Videos
ARS has video courses that will assist with end-user training. Each of the courses requires about a 30 minute review and they provide an informal way to learn about the system.
These videos parallel those of the web-based materials described in the next section. To access these, please go to ARS247.com.
Web-based instructional materials
ARS has been developing a variety of web-based classes that will aid users of its products. The materials are being reworked per RMAdvanced to make them easy to use for users of TEMPLATE.
This will make it possible for new users to come up to speed more quickly, reducing the time that trainers would be required to spend to cover the basic functionality of the RMAdvanced system.
Currently, courses are available for the following:
- Handheld training
- Introduction to the RMAdvanced system
- Basic desktop training
Additional materials are under development. All courses are self-administered and can be completed in about 2 hours.
Support Group
To augment the above-mentioned provisions, ARS will continue to provide support from its team in Turlock, California. Live Support is available from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time). In addition, emergency support is available 24/7, as required.
We also offer a free "Power Hour". Our customers are invited to join this one hour forum where we present a weekly topic, discuss issues, answer questions, and train on new features.
Assistance for a wide variety of issues is instantly available. To access this service, call (209) 632-1122, extension 540.
Testing for Understanding
An essential part of the learning process is student testing. This is necessary for the following reasons:
Expecting a student to test-out on course materials heightens the urgency of paying attention during the presentation of those materials. With the expectation of testing, more student involvement occurs resulting in a better comprehension of the subject.
Passing an exam will indicate to management, teachers, and the student that an acceptable comprehension and proficiency of the subject has been attained. It is suggested that to be productive in their work, students who are unable to pass an exam should be required to re-study the materials until they can test-out.
Training Course Outline
ARS has a standard set of courses for training new users for the Mango System. These courses are:
- Mango Overview
- Customer Service 1
- Customer Service 2
- Customer Service 3
- Daily Route Operations
- Payment Entry
- Handheld training
- Month End processing
The courses include outlines and support materials, and several already have videos in place to support them.
A number of different training methodologies will be employed to assure that all users are familiar with the system and can do their jobs effectively. ARS will work with the TEMPLATE staff to supply appropriate “canned” materials that can be adapted as necessary.
"Their support is the best that you could ask for. I wish I had the same support from other services in my life. RMA has vastly improved our day-to-day operations."
-Morris, Mobile Propane
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