RWD Technologies Hosts Annual RWD Info Pak Users' Group Conference for Training and Development Professionals.

BALTIMORE -- RWD Info Pak Users from More Than 30 Organizations Gather to Gain Insight, Share Ideas and Learn about Implementation Best Practices

Training professionals, IT experts and ERP specialists from more than 30 organizations across the United States, Canada, and Europe gathered recently for RWD Technologies' Info Pak Users' Group (IPUG) Conference that was held at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center in Ellicott City, Maryland. Now in its third year, the annual event is designed to provide an atmosphere of learning that gives RWD Info Pak(R) users from a broad variety of industries the opportunity to exchange ideas, hear success stories, and network with peers.

RWD Info Pak is a documentation and simulation tool developed and offered exclusively by RWD Technologies. Designed for use with virtually any Microsoft(R) Windows-based application, SAP(R), Oracle(R) and other platforms, RWD Info Pak automates the creation of professionally formatted training materials, including step-by-step end-user procedures, simulations, and online help simply by recording the application. These materials can then be printed, published to the Web, or distributed via online help.

Gary Walker, vice president, New Products and Services, RWD Technologies, said, "For this year's conference, we designed our agenda with two distinct program tracks. The Process Track provided insight to help plan, manage, and implement training and documentation programs. Our Nuts and Bolts Track provided in-depth instruction on creating and customizing training documentation. These two tracks were created so that we could provide various levels of information to all RWD Info Pak users, ranging from managers to administrators."

The keynote presenter was Eric Bruner, division director, Enterprise Products, RWD Technologies. Bruner provided an overview of the past year's development efforts and some of the newest highlights of RWD Info Pak. This year, RWD unveiled OmniHelp, a new component of the RWD Info Pak tool set that delivers context-sensitive help from any application. Bruner also gave attendees a preview of future development efforts.

RWD Info Pak users also shared their insights through the presentation of case studies. Kathleen O'Neill, a strategy manager for Hewlett-Packard, presented "Create a Performance Support Environment for End Users." During the presentation, O'Neill shared her approach to utilizing RWD Info Pak to develop performance support documentation for a global population of end users. By leveraging the RWD Performance Support Model, O'Neill showed how a division within Hewlett-Packard successfully designed, developed and implemented integrated planning processes utilizing SAP.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Stephane Rivest, national manager, Financial Operations and Reporting, presented "User Support and Training, The Days Before...and After." During the presentation, Rivest provided an overview of how the public broadcaster developed efficient electronic documentation to support super-user coaching, build flexible training activities and address first-level support. After implementing RWD Info Pak to document its processes and transactions for use in instructor-led training, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation achieved its goal of reducing the support calls to its help center and increasing the level of satisfaction among its SAP end users.

Other presentations were designed to provide information and advice that attendees could then put to use immediately upon return from the conference. These presentations described best practices for project management, included an introduction to many of the powerful, yet often underutilized features of the RWD Info Pak product suite, and demonstrated ways to customize the solution to meet the needs of the end users. Attendees also had the opportunity to "ask the experts" on both a formal and an informal basis throughout the conference. Networking opportunities included receptions and a tour and dinner at the world famous National Aquarium in downtown Baltimore.

Based on the success of the 2004 IPUG Conference, RWD Technologies is already planning for the 2005 conference in Las Vegas. "Each year, we are impressed with the high level of interest from RWD Info Pak users who come to learn and to share their experiences. We are extremely pleased with the wide variety of organizations that attended. This year, we welcomed participants from public and private companies in the consulting, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors, in addition to attendees from state and local governments," said Walker.

RWD Info Pak users who are interested in attending the 2005 Info Pak Users' Group Conference can email [e-mail] to find out more.

About RWD Technologies, Inc.

RWD Technologies is a professional services organization composed of three operational divisions: Enterprise Systems provides support services to organizations that utilize SAP, PeopleSoft, and Oracle systems and has developed software products to train end users of these systems; Applied Technology Solutions integrates enterprise-class software systems, develops custom applications for pharmaceutical and other regulated industries, and provides global blended eLearning solutions; and Performance Solutions engages in lean consulting and vehicle launch support services to the automotive industry and reliability improvement to the railroad industry, and human performance improvement services to the petroleum and chemical industries. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with offices in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Japan and Australia, RWD serves major multinational corporations throughout the world. For more information, visit: www.rwd.com.

Copyright (C) 2004 RWD Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.

RWD, RWD Technologies, RWD Technologies, Inc., and RWD Info Pak are registered trademarks of RWD Technologies, Inc. in the United States and several countries. All other products and names are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.