Docent Acquires gForce In E-Learning Deal

Consolidation in the online training market continues. On Wednesday, learning-management system supplier Docent Inc. said it acquired learning-content management developer gForce Systems Inc. Financial details weren't disclosed.

GForce supplies Web-based tools for quickly developing and deploying learning content. For example, when a new feature is added to a company product, a sales executive could create an ad-hoc presentation with Microsoft PowerPoint and a Web-based camera, then immediately deploy it to the entire sales team. The technology, already interoperable because of a previous partnership with Docent, will be integrated into Docent's LMS product, which tracks and manages classroom and online training.

The acquisition was driven in part by economic necessity. "Everyone knew the technology and the product, but we were facing difficulties penetrating the selling process," says GForce CEO Katherine Glassey. "If we were to go it alone, continued investment in sales and marketing would push profitability off for a few more years."

GForce customers such as Cisco, Commerce One, and Interwoven support the deal, Glassey says. "They're thrilled there's a strong, innovative company backing the technology."

"Gforce provides a way to take authoring tools down to the level of common business applications and publish them using the same material," says International Data Corp. analyst Cushing Anderson. "They have good technology in a good space, and this is a nice complement to Docent's current offering."