Blackboard Launches Corporate Sales Training Solution Integrated with Salesforce CRM

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB), today announced the launch of a cloud-based learning management solution developed specifically for corporations focused on sales training and professional development. Fully integrated into Salesforce CRM, Blackboard Learn™ for Sales, is designed to align employee development programs with key corporate priorities and business goals by allowing sales reps, business partners and service teams to directly enroll in and complete training courses on Blackboard's flagship learning management platform.

The announcement was made today at Dreamforce 2011, the cloud computing event of the year being held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.

With a single Salesforce login, sales managers can measure the impact of training on sales growth, certify reps on new products, deliver training to geographically dispersed or traveling teams, and create targeted courses for reps needing improvement. Blackboard Learn for Sales fully complements the usage of social learning tools and is integrated with Salesforce Chatter, allowing colleagues to instantly share information and ideas.

"Our new solution allows salespeople to parallel their daily Salesforce usage with an engaging interface that delivers impactful and collaborative product, promotion and sales training," said Tim Hill, president of Blackboard Professional Education (ProEd). "Now sales leaders will be able to align training with sales and business metrics. It's high time that companies integrate sales tracking and pipeline management with sales and product training to really move the needle on sales performance. Through our partnership with salesforce.com, we are helping maintain peak employee performance levels that will have a real impact on a company's bottom line."

Used worldwide by millions of learners and by hundreds of companies, associations, and government agencies, Blackboard Learn embeds the concept of informal learning directly into the platform by incorporating social learning tools and Web 2.0 innovations that  enable collaborative, peer-to-peer learning experiences. The application can also be enabled for use on smartphones and other mobile devices.

"Customers coming to Dreamforce will have a chance to see some truly innovative approaches that partners like Blackboard have taken in leveraging the capabilities of the Force.com platform," said Ron Huddleston, vice president, ISV Alliances, salesforce.com. "Apps like these continue to push the social, open, mobile and trusted capabilities customers expect from the salesforce.com ecosystem."

The ninth annual Dreamforce conference will welcome more than 30,000 customers, partners and developers to the new world of the social enterprise. With more than 450 sessions and 250 cloud companies in the expo, Dreamforce offers the content and educational opportunities that enable attendees to tap into the power of the social enterprise. Blackboard will be in booth #1006 in the Dreamforce Expo.  

For more information about Blackboard Learn for Sales, please visit www.blackboard.com/salesforce.

About Blackboard Inc.

Blackboard Inc. (Nasdaq: BBBB) is a global leader in enterprise technology and innovative solutions that improve the experience of millions of students and learners around the world every day. Blackboard's solutions allow thousands of higher education, K-12, professional, corporate, and government organizations to extend teaching and learning online, facilitate campus commerce and security, and communicate more effectively with their communities. Founded in 1997, Blackboard is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Blackboard and other statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including the factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Form 10-K filed on February 18, 2011 and Form 10-Q filed on August 4, 2011 with the SEC. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of August 31, 2011. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's views to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to August 31, 2011.

SOURCE Blackboard Inc.