Maximize the Impact of Corporate Training in Your Organization

Online learning has blossomed over the last few decades. Not surprisingly, so has online corporate training. Thanks to videoconferencing, online learning modules and other digital tools, employees can develop essential skills anywhere, anytime.

Organizations already recognized the benefits of e-learning in terms of cost and time savings. They also had an easier time designing training modules using sites like Articulate Storyline and Adobe Captivate. As the pandemic wore on and offices shut down, e-learning became the only option for training workforces.

Employees will return to the office eventually, but online corporate training won’t end anytime soon. In fact, it will continue to evolve to meet the needs and preferences of workers, and to maximize the increases in engagement, flexibility, productivity and information retention.

Here are some of the trends that are shaping corporate e-learning and can be implemented to maximize the impact of corporate training in your enterprise.

Mobile-friendly Learning Platforms

Checking email, reading the news, watching TV… we do almost everything on our mobile devices these days. People are using them to access corporate training courses as well.

Your employees may or may not have a dedicated work computer or landline, but they almost certainly have a mobile device (particularly Millennials and Gen Z’ers). Your corporate training courses are more likely to be completed – and the information retained – if they’re accessible on mobile devices.

The same best practices for an optimal mobile experience apply to optimal mobile e-learning. Make sure your modules are attractive and easy to navigate on mobile devices. Keep sessions short and enable learners to proceed at their own pace.

If you’re training a global workforce, you might consider localizing certain elements, not just the language but also graphics and colors, to meet your workforce’s various cultural sensibilities and improve overall engagement.

The Use of Immersive Technology in Hands-on Training

Hands-on training is essential for certain fields like medicine and engineering. However, it’s not always possible to have the resources needed to provide this training, especially when employees are located on multiple locations. Augmented reality, virtual reality and other immersive technologies fill the gap nicely.

It’s not easy to replicate an organ transplant or maintenance on an oil rig. Putting such a scenario together using physical properties can be costly and risky. In an immersive environment, all the pieces can be put in place in a safe, cost-effective manner. High-pressure situations require as much real-life experience as possible, and technology that replicates these situations without creating the same level of harm provides an ideal venue for workers to get the experience they need to manage these situations in the real world.

If you’re responsible for training workers in high-pressure situations, consider developing an immersive environment. It should be as close to real life as possible, including all the possible scenarios that could arise. The more “real-life” experience your workforce accumulates, the more proficient they’ll be when they need to put their learning to practice.

Video as a Learning Tool

Numerous studies show that consumers like to learn about a new product or service through video. These studies also show increased retention of the information when delivered by video. It makes sense, then, that workers going through corporate training would enjoy the same benefit.

Video can be a powerful tool in the corporate learning experience. Segments of the course, product demonstrations and other key takeaways have more impact when delivered in a video format.

Your video will generate the best response if it looks professional, with optimal sound and resolution and the ability to be viewed on any device. Keep themes neutral so the same video can be seen across your global workforce.

Speaking of global reach, consider closed captions, subtitles and voiceovers to make it accessible in multiple languages. Lastly, take advantage of the video transcription trend and add a transcript to your video, either into the primary language or in each of the languages your workforce speaks.

The Adoption of Gamification 

Earlier, we talked about the benefit of using immersive technology to replicate real-life situations. Gamification works the same way.

It would be a stretch to say Operation® is an exact model of an operating room or Monopoly® is an accurate portrayal of real estate, but they’re still fun to play. A game based on a potential real-world scenario (ideally, a realistic one) can be just as fun and still pass along valuable insights to employees.

Games are also a good option for assessing employees’ knowledge of relevant topics. A trivia game after a module or a contest among trainees (with a prize at the end) make the learning more engaging and enjoyable, and they can make the learning more memorable and entertaining than a standard quiz.

Learning from Peers

For many people, the best way to learn is from the people who work alongside them. Also known as peer learning, this trend allows learning sessions to be conducted by colleagues and supervisors who have firsthand experience dealing with the issues your employees face – which makes their insights a lot more compelling.

Peer learning may be a customer service manager giving tips on how to handle irate customers, a sales rep advising her colleagues on more efficient prospecting and the right thing to say to close, or an IT director providing updates on new platforms and running training sessions on a new technology.

Corporate training is an essential strategy for keeping your workplace up to date on your company’s operations and workflows. As your workforce grows, so does the need to ensure engagement and retention. Employ these e-learning strategies and maximize the impact of your corporate training program.