A provocative column recently posted on CIOZone.com raises an interesting issue, which every company faces: The cost of training employees to use new software.

Such training is often expensive. In some cases, training can run as much as $5,000 per employee for one week of classes to get workers up and running with the new product.

Isn't there another way around this? Shouldn't training be part of every new software package deal?

Certainly tech companies make money from the training, and the revenue can add quite a bit to their bottom line. But providing training as part of the purchase price would be more cost-effective for purchasers and could act as an incentive for companies to buy--thus increasing sales for the vendor. 

Buying software without training included is like buying a car without the wheels. It's just another way for a vendor to jack up the prices unfairly.

There is plenty of push back on this issue. Just do a Google search for "free software training," and you will see that there are some opportunities to get around the current market forces. And, you've probably noticed, it's a buyer's market these days. If you want to cut costs, ask the vendor to cut back on training costs or eliminate them entirely.

Some companies are now using web-based training that is free, providing a good overview of how to handle the application. It also may be time to look for open-source software as an alternative. Don't forget that you are in the driver's seat these days, not the vendor. - Judi