A quick update on Probe for EPMA remote training. We started our remote training services originally during Covid in 2020, but I have to say that it's been a very positive experience with unanticipated benefits.
In the beginning we felt that this remote training would be difficult, but now after providing dozens of remote training sessions over the last 18 months, and in discussions with our consultants also providing these remote training services, we have to say that in many ways, remote training has some significant benefits to on-site training.
Of course, avoiding travel restrictions is the big advantage to remote training right now, and yes we charge less for remote training since there are no travel expenses to reimburse.
But as for the remote training itself, we find that remote sessions are much more flexible for scheduling, as in the past we've had our consultants show up in a lab where the P-10 gas was empty, or the filament blows just as one is getting started. Also we've found that shorter 4 or 5 hour sessions are better (less tiring) for everyone as the customer can then practice with the software on their own, and gather questions for the next session. And of course remote training really lowers the carbon footprint of Probe Software!
And in addition, the response from our customers has been very positive, many of them ordering additional training on advanced topics for example such as multi-point backgrounds and quantitative x-ray mapping. Finally we also try and arrange remote training with a consultant in as similar a time zone to the customer as we can. Still, it's better than "jet lag"! By the way, our consultants bios are here:
https://probesoftware.com/Support.htmlAnd for those labs that cannot have an Internet connection directly to the instrument, we're even providing remote training in "simulation mode" using Probe for EPMA:
https://probesoftware.com/smf/index.php?topic=837.0If you click on the link above, you might want to skip to the last few pages of the topic, as this "demo" or "simulation" mode is now fully implemented and works surprisingly well for training and teaching (of course we utilize the same instrument configuration as the actual instrument for these simulations). I personally have been surprised at how effective the remote training can be in this "simulation mode".
Yes, there are some advantages to in-person on-site training and we continue to offer such training when it can be arranged, but we have been very impressed with how well these remote training sessions work for everyone.
Please contact Barbara (barbara@probesoftware.com) for more details on our remote training services.