The SaaS model of IMC's tried and tested CLIX Learning and Talent Management System will in future operate on the Microsoft cloud platform Windows Azure, drawing on Microsoft's expertise and reputation. Microsoft specifically selects leading companies from various industries as Cloud Service Partners for Windows Azure, and with IMC it has chosen a strong category leader in the eLearning area.

"The cloud is currently one of the most important topics for Microsoft. We want to demonstrate our strengths in this area by choosing selected industry leaders and providing support to them with our services", explained Ulrich Sawade, Senior Marketing Manager at Microsoft Deutschland GmbH at the joint press conference with IMC AG.

Through this collaboration with Microsoft and their use of the Microsoft cloud platform Windows Azure, IMC AG expects even more acceptance of the SaaS approach by customers. Reliability, transparency, and the high availability of the Microsoft cloud were clear factors in opting for Azure. Ulrich Sawade adds "Particularly for companies like IMC that are progressing their internationalisation, it is important to focus on a cloud with global accessibility."

IMC AG further reports that it has recently supported the training of McDonald's Germany's shift supervisors with an eLearning module. From existing learning folders that cover topics including food hygiene and product safety, IMC has created an individual eLearning course for its customer using modern formats.

With the eLearning module covering "food hygiene and product safety", recurring characters appearing in comic style and examples from everyday situations over several chapters create the right mix of educational fun and goal-oriented knowledge transfer. At the end, users get the opportunity to go through what they have learnt in the form of an overview.

"Learning should be fun. We are happy to combine classic web-based trainings innovatively with a wide variety of modern media elements. Also, with the learning module for McDonald's, it was important for us to render the contents creatively", reports Dr Kathrin Bergenthal, Director of New Media at IMC. Further modules are currently being worked on.