Openbravo University

It has been a while since we have had news from the Education department of Openbravo.

Having recently released the 2.50 version of Openbravo ERP, we were presented with a great opportunity to revamp our curriculum offering. We're excited to present you with the new portfolio of training.

A variety of live training courses are available to get up to speed with the new 2.50 release of Openbravo ERP:

• Basic Functional Training: If you need an overview of the application, what functionality it offers, how to use it or what's new in 2.50, this 5-day course led by experienced instructors is the one for you.
• Basic Development: To install and customize our application, this course has been completely revamped with clearer explanations of framework concepts and more hands-on exercises. Aimed at consultants who already have an overview of the application but now need to implement it themselves.
• Advanced Development: Modular and highly customizable architecture is something we are very proud of with the new release of Openbravo ERP. But to unleash these powers, this course has been written from scratch to cater to the needs of developers who want to customize or extend Openbravo ERP. Students will learn how to neatly package their efforts into modules/extensions or how to take advantage of modules others have developed. More examples, more exercises, more how-tos, more fun!

We understand that in this harsh economic climate cutting costs is vital to survive. That is why we have cut the prices of all our training courses and are offering you new online courses for those with limited budgets and resources:

• Online Basic Functional Training: Same content as the live course with a lower price tag and lighter on resources since no travel&hotels are required and the course spans over 5 weeks. Using an elearning platform led by Openbravo training specialist and a dedicated online Openbravo ERP application for each student, efficient hands-on learning is provided.
• Online Advanced Development: Again, the same content as in the live version of this training is provided, however through an elearning platform. Students receive specifications of what needs to be build, are provided with how-to manuals of how individual framework elements are built and have their own dedicated instance of Openbravo ERP server where development is done. They are assisted and marked by an Openbravo training specialist to enforce key learning points.

We would like to point out that the training sessions offered are also a great starting point towards newly released certification program, introduced to set the benchmark standard for Openbravo consultants and engineers working with Openbravo. Once you have undertaken some training and feel you have good experience with working around Openbravo products, you can now prove your expertise!

For larger customers or those in need of a custom-tailored content, customized training delivered at your premises, at our offices or online can be offered.

Finally, for more information on content, schedule and prices of all training, please visit http://www.openbravo.com/services/training.

We hope to see you soon in one of our virtual or physical classrooms!!

Rok Lenardic
Senior Training Specialist

Launch of the new Certification Program!!

The Certification program is one of the new initiatives launched by Openbravo this summer. If you intend to implement or build enterprise applications with Openbravo products, then passing certification exams will help you broaden your knowledge base and prove that you are ready for the job. The certification program can act as a passport to launching your company into the Openbravo ecosystem and giving yourself professional status.

The introduction of certification allows you to capitalize on the time and energy you spent learning Openbravo ERP; either though training classes, self study or 'on the job' experience. Certification offers a win-win-win scenario for clients, partners and Openbravo alike:

• Assures customers of your knowledge and skill and credentials.
• Shows tangible evidence of your ability.
• Adds to your credibility in the Openbravo ecosystem.
• Allows Openbravo to set a brand standard and monitor the quality of our partners.

Certification exams are available to every individual in the Openbravo ecosystem. If you are looking to differentiate and distinguish yourself in the eyes of your customers the most objective way will be to get certified.

The two exams introduced this summer will be at the entry or 'Foundation' level. The exams will be a timed 80 minute test comprising of 50 multiple choice questions and with a 80% pass threshold. Openbravo will rollout the Functional Foundation exam in June and the Technical Foundation in August. The scope of the Functional Foundation Exam is the functional modules available 'out of the box' with Openbravo ERP: Procurement Management, Sales Management, Production Management, Warehouse Management, MRP, Project and Service Management and Financial Management. The questions will be a blend of practical 'know how' and theory. Many of the questions have been written by our Consulting team so they are based on 'real world' experience. If you attempt the exam but fail on the first attempt you automatically get a free retake. However, if you fail a second time you will need to enroll and start the process again. The cost for the foundation exam is 150 Euros.

Foundation implies a starting point; something to build on. It rewards you for your achievement, but says there is more to learn before your become a expert. Therefore, later in the 09 calendar year Openbravo will rollout two more exams set at a higher 'Graduate' level. The objective with these Graduate level exams will be for the examinee to demonstrate that they can configure or build real applications given a set of requirements. Graduate level exams will again be a test of functional or technical ability.

Openbravo also has plans for a third 'Master' layer of Certification with which we really hope to find the 'Top Guns' in the community!

Passing each certification exam is much more than proof of attendance or a piece of paper on the wall. It is a tangible, objective and incremental way to examine, prove and demonstrate if you have the skills required to implement and build production enterprise applications using Openbravo products. Certification will mark you out as an Openbravo Professional! In this sense it is serious business and will take work from you to reach the grade and standard required. Your reward will objective proof of your ability and status in the Openbravo ecosystem.

There are several excellent preparation options available. Ideally if you plan to take the Functional Foundation Exam we recommend you attend the Basic Functional Training class, either in the classroom or on line. Similarly attending the Basic Development Training will prepare you for the Technical Foundation Exam. Find below some helpfull resources to prepare the exams:

• Hands-on instructor-led training
• Online training
• Openbravo Wiki

To enroll for the Functional Foundation Certification Exam, please visit http://www.openbravo.com/services/certification/

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at training@openbravo.com

Eugeni Vives
VP of Global Partner Services

Online courses and Openbravo's e-learning strategy

The end of the year was an exciting period for the Global Partner Services, wrapping up a successful year, planning new products for 2009, while delivering some of the latest ones.

The Education department was proud to introduce the new Online Basic Functional Training in a unique e-learning format. The 5-week long course took place between the 17th of November and 19th of December. Eight students participated and completed the course which was an overall success.

The course covers the basic functionality and usability of Openbravo ERP:

Using a Learning Management System (based on Open Source Moodle platform) and practical use of Openbravo ERP hosted on Amazon, the Online Basic Funtional Training provides a unique learning environment supervised by Openbravo training specialists, which also includes the following:

• Weekly live sessions through webcast
• News blog where live sessions and other news are published
• Materials (navigable slide show) for each module
• Links to additional readings
• Quizzes
• Discussion and Q&A forums answered by Openbravo Training Specialists
• Exercises and assignments
• A link to each participants' own Openbravo ERP application, which is used to experience the product and execute the exercises and assignments
• Evaluation form

This way the students are given various channels of content, making sure that exercises, quizzes and assignments are successfully completed.

Openbravo's online courses are the answer for those individuals with limited time, and who cannot necessarily afford to fly to a location to complete one of our live intensive courses.

As for the upcoming year, we will continue expanding our online course offer to keep pursuing the efficient dissemination of Openbravo knowledge.

Rok Lenardic
Senior Training Specialist