RELOAD - A Semantic-based Learning and Knowledge Platform for Employees of the Do-It-Yourself Industry

The focus of the project RELOAD is set on employees of the Do-It- Yourself (DIY) industry. Employees and consultants in this sector play a decisive role because they communicate directly with end customers during sales and consulting talks. Nevertheless, it is a fact that many employees and consultants in DIY stores are untrained, low qualified workers, or even workers from other sectors. Moreover, RELOAD considers customers with regard to means of informing them on products. Concerning commercial success, it is important for the DIY sectors that end customers know how to use and apply products which are purchasable in DIY stores. Only if this know-how can be transferred, the end customers will buy the respective products. In other words the maxim for this sector is true that ‘the knowing customer buys more’. RELOAD tries to address employees and costumers at the same time by offering a Knowledge Platform as a multimedia and semanticbased solution. This platform contains eLearning modules which are specified to the individual learning needs of the employees and which should enable them to actualise their knowledge much more efficient and faster. Together with the knowledge platform in DIY stores, eLearning applications in form of short learning modules will support the self-directed learning of the employees. This kind of learning can be integrated into dynamic daily work processes more easily than classical types of learning and at the same time it is also more cost-efficient. As a consequence customers of DIY stores will gain more profit through a more efficient consultancy, too.