The same week that big E-learning vendors such as SmartForce plc and Click2learn Inc. warned of first-quarter revenue shortfalls, Cargill Inc. became the latest company to change one of its E-learning providers, joining other companies, including Air Canada.

Complaints about previous generations of E-learning products range from integration issues and interoperability concerns, to bandwidth and scalability problems, to a lack of features and functionality. But the fact that businesses keep trying shows that they believe E-learning tools can help them reduce costs and enhance productivity-and new products aim to cement that impression.

Cargill's learning-management system, the software that tracks and manages employee training, is key to its E-learning initiative. But the Minneapolis agricultural services provider couldn't get its original E-learning content software, which the company declined to identify, to integrate with the learning-management software. So Cargill switched to KnowledgeNet for its E-learning content, which integrates easily with the system, says Kim Miller, manager of training and development services.

Integration troubles also plagued Air Canada's first E-learning deployment, designed to provide crew-member training. "It's not unlike the experience of integrating an ERP system," says Brian Corbett, E-learning manager at Air Canada, in Montreal. "The integration struggles are all the same." This month, the airline will roll out an "extensively customized" E-learning content system from an undisclosed vendor that will let it track and develop content, he says.

E-learning vendors say they're addressing some concerns. Last week, Centra Software Inc. updated its CentraOne platform to include a satellite server facility that takes the E-learning traffic load off company networks. It provides easier integration with software, including Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes. The updated version is priced at $75,000 for 100 user licenses.

CentraOne and a new version of WebEx Inc.'s Training Center offering that starts at $275 per month per desk let students attend a live class via the Internet. Training Center also lets users share applications in breakout sessions so that they can work on projects together and bring the work back to the class.